Looking in the mirror and seeing the reflection of America (...my yearly rant)

PRISONS vs. SCHOOLS

I look at the writing and I see "aciremA", but after looking in the rear view mirror I recognize it's "America" a reflection  an image of what we've become. Recently I was having a discussion with an esteemed friend who is a Doctor of Psychology at a California state prison she made mention of the transvestite population at this all male prison and the fact that they could not be housed at a female prison (What???) until they've had they're "final operation". However until then the state is obliged to provide them with hormone (estrogen) shots because the "process" (of gender alteration) had already begun before they were incarcerated and due to Federal Law they were required to be cared for. If the said inmate is not administered his gender changing shot the inmate can file a lawsuit and be entitled to compensation. Yes all people should be entitled to basic care and have their civil liberties an inalienable rights respected. My daughter has to bring her own school supplies to kindergarten and my son buys his book for college, they too want to change their station in life. Should not their needs be accommodated their "process" (of education) has already begun too.

MASS MEDIA GONE TO THE DOGS

Our obsession with "shock-value" news, beautiful villains, charismatic con artist's and adorable victims consume our "reality news" shows. We watch as the media acts as judge, jury and executioner for countless subjects be it Richard Jewell (the falsely accused Olympic bomber) who was slandered by the media for a crime he did not commit; the Duke rape scandal when Crystal Gail Mangum falsely accused three white members of the Duke lacrosse team of sexual assault or now the "high tech" lynching, jailing and bankrupting of former football star Michael Vick for abuse against animals. This is America's mass media mess the "Never Ending Worthless Stories" (N.E.W.S.). Even I contribute to the news in my own narcissistic way. Like a pack of stubby legged datsun dachshunds amusing a 300lb gorilla, a giant in the jungle is now just a mere circus animal. It's mind being occupied by the dogs, it's appetite for life satisfied with bananas. America's nightmares, passions and dreams made for your viewing pleasure between the hours 12:00am to 11:59pm in HDTV.

FAME AND FORTUNE BOTH IN 15 MINUTES FOR 15 MINUTES

The rise and fall of the reality show much like the game shows of the late seventies and eighties when people dreamed of a better life via the $100,000 question. "In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." I'm bored with that line. I never use it anymore. My new line is, "In fifteen minutes everybody will be famous." -Andy Warhol. Now celebrity comes from random acts of kindness to the most heinous crimes imaginable. Fortunes can be amassed from semen stains on a blue dress (see Monica Lewinsky's dress on EBay) to eating live insects (see Fear Factor) for cash prizes while audiences have the dry heaves and nausea. We all no matter what the state of denial have an inner voice saying "that could be me", "I can do that", why are they famous for nothing (F4NADA)? This is what America has become. Our priorities are narcissistic. Who do we serve a nation of masters, opportunists or contestants?

My yearly rant,

Bycha Buxton