At this point of my life I decided that I do not give a shit anymore. I religiously observed all picket lines and boycotts, attended meetings, rallies, contributed to progressive causes, limited unnecessary consumption, recycled etc etc. - only to wake up one day to realize that 70% or so percent of people around me love what they have - their tee-vee, their cars and SUVs, their suburban dwellings and wasteful consumption patterns their encourage, they are overwhelmingly proud of their troops "kicking the butts" of some dark-skinned people in other parts of the world, they are extatic about Bush (who received highest approval rates since FDR), they hate everything public and staunchly refuse to pay for it, they love everything private. And you know what? I decided this is not the place I want to spend the rest of my life. I do not belong here. I may hang out here for a while to finish what I need to finish, but I do not want to be bothered by the noise and clutter this sick society generates anymore. I want to have a relave peace and a semblance of a life style that I actually enjoy. I gave up tee vee and the car, I walk or take the bus, I shop at the nearest store that offers me the level of service that I like, travel to Europe as much as I can afford, I still volunteer for my community association, but I will not sacrifice that semblance of what consider a normal life so some flag-waving US-ers can get a better wage. I simply do not care anymore about what is going on in this country.
Wojtek