I used to love this country for its variety of scenery and culture. The Grand Canyon, Hollywood, Bourbon Street, and Graceland — all under the same flag. How cool is that?
Somehow, all the states managed to coexist without imposing their values on each other. Alas, no more.
So, what happened? I blame (mostly) social media. Now we know each other too well. The Ketchums of Kansas and the Kardashians of California keep up with each other, too easily, on Twitter and Facebook. And none of them like what they see.
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Kind of ironic if, instead of old Europe becoming more like the United States with the Euro, open borders, etcetera, the U.S. becomes more like old Europe, split into 50 squabbling states, each with its own culture and laws.
I’m used to hopping into the car and driving 500 miles through multiple states, no fuss. But soon, driving into a neighboring state might require hours of pre-trip research, simply to make sure you don’t run afoul of the law. Or the local “norms.”
Sad.
But that’s what it might come to, because I can’t picture Oklahoma abiding New York City rules, nor vice versa.
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I used to think that Russell Brand was just a celebrity goofball who boinked, however briefly, Katy Perry (above).
But I stumbled on Brand’s YouTube podcast and was intrigued by his interview with activist Deeyah Khan.
He also steered me to this article about arrogant global elites and their big plans for the rest of us.
Interesting. I guess he’s not such a goofball.
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There’s no question that YouTube harbors a wealth of fascinating, illuminating, and historical videos.
So why am I so easily distracted by crap like this?
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Apparently, this is front-page news. Big deal.
When I was a scruffy child, I found myself trapped on a ride called “The Bullet” at the Renville County Fair, wedged in a seat between my teenage sister and her teenage friend. The ride came to a sudden halt and suspended us some 35 feet in the air. With the door open. With the safety bar, attached to the open door, unfastened. Oh, and we were upside down.
There we sat, for ten minutes or so, just a strong wind away from tumbling to our demise.
It didn’t even make the local paper.
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