Of Santorum, An Astronomical Analogy, And Cynicism

I'm a huge fan of the absurd. Given how things are going these days, I should be in a state of constant amusement and heartfelt appreciation for the likes of Senators Ted Stevens, Bill Frist, Dennis Hastert and Rick Santorum. Not to mention Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, and the Lexis-Nexus from Texas himself, George Bush the Younger. What a crew. When they get together, it must be like the Algonquin Roundtable in the Bizzaro World.

If an intellectual is described as "bright," they must surely be the darkest of the dark. Knowledge and wisdom shed light and heat, and from that grows civilization. Like the sun that slowly transformed our lifeless planet into a wet, warm oasis in the cold, empty universe. Ignorance, bigotry, corruption and cynical manipulation are the guiding principles of this regime. Each of these characters is like a black hole from which nothing of substance can exist without being warped and distorted.

Some leaders endeavor to guide others with compassion, respect and intelligence. These things do not. Every public concern is an opportunity that they seek to crassly use to their favor. If you've been paying attention at all, you know that this regime never hesitates to use fear to get what they want. From terrorism to Schiavo to stem cell research to delicate matters surrounding spirituality, they can't feel shame and have no moral scruples. They are each a muse for those who celebrate irony, either as an artist or an aesthete.

The problem with this brand of absurdity is that it's not funny. On the contrary, it is excrutiating and tragic. But not in any kind of romantic or poetic way that makes your heart swell or brings a tear to your eye. No, they bring the sort of sadness that leads to despair and shame at being human. If you're not paying attention, or you don't know mmuch about how the United States operates these days, this analogy may help you understand. Imagine an ethically bankrupt car salesman trying to use the recent death of a dear friend to get you to buy a car you don't want. If you can do that, you can begin to understand how these people operate.

A comrade recently asked me why I don't write about politics more on my 'blog. Since I'm a very politically-minded man, it only seems natural. Especially given my inclination towards activism when I was younger. This post is my answer to that question. I don't write about politics often because it is both trite and profoundly upsetting at the same time; like deconstructing a comic book in an insane asylum.