Slow show

So as I sit here once again typing something that I hope will lead somewhere I can't grasp anything solid. I'm kind of mad for no special reason, just mainly at this whole Kony thing that has popped up on facebook, which I hate myself for. Actually I'll tell you why it makes me mad. I am so cynical sometimes and yeah it's unhealthy but I just can't help but be disgusted by the KIND of attention the issue is getting - the shock and disgust generated by the truly horrific nature of these crimes creates a sensation that kids my age and younger just latch on to because it scares them and in turn excites them, not because there is any sense of connection or empathy. It's easy to reblog something or share something and think that you're helping, like that's your little contribution to the terrors on this earth but the reality is, awareness is important, yes. But awareness is nothing, nothing, without action. What NEEDS to occur IS action, something that our government in particular seems incapable of, something that people are afraid of because it IS frightening but necessary nonetheless for change. Hopefully all this hype surrounding Kony will actually eventuate into something positive and tenacious instead of just inspiring some terrible horror movies or comments such as this which are genuine comments from some facebook friends of mine:

'All this shit about 'Kony' is as annoying as Cunts that clog your news feed with Photo sharing!'

'Kony is a dog.'

'who is this Kony bloke'

and so on and so forth.

I hate to get all 'kids these days' on you but I feel like, while the ideals of my generation are incredibly admirable most of the time, well-positioned hearts aren't enough to change the world. You have to create change yourself, by actually moving, by taking steps or even just a step, towards something better. And sure, you're probably reading this and trying to figure out just how I got up on a horse so high so I'll say this - I don't know anything about anything at all, I really don't. All I know is that I got more satisfaction both viscerally and physically from partaking in organised events for charity, be it service projects or raising money by gift wrapping or coin collecting or whatever, than I ever have in the past by reblogging or sharing on facebook or linking to a YouTube video. The fact that I, and my friends, have actually organised and completed these charity events ourselves speaks volumes for our generation I think. Which brings me to the next thing...

Today in class we discussed our brains, specifically, the way our brains are wired with neurons and whatnot so that when we are touched, we feel it, and the same neurons that tell us we are being touched are activated when we watch someone else get touched. The only reason we don't feel it is because our skin receptors aren't telling us that it is us who is being touched. Kind of confusing, I know. But the bottom line is, the only thing that's separating us is a layer of skin. We all feel the same. We are all capable of empathy and we are all afraid of being alone and everything that has ever been felt by anyone, physically or emotionally, will be felt a million zillion trillion billion times over by generations to come. We are all just stardust according to big wig scientists, and let's just put aside the absolute gorgeousness that is that image for a second and think about that - we are all just matter, that has been, for some reason, allowed to think, and allowed to evolve in this specific way. I think it's important to remember how we began, and to consider how we are likely to end as a race - and the changes we must make to ensure life is as good for one person as it is for the next. God knows we've really made a mess of things so far, but despite my dirty cynicism I want to believe that there's some kind of a hope for us to change for the better. But I guess I just don't know, just like the rest of the world. We don't really know anything at all.