Blinded by Ignorance, Again.

I am another to add to the list of those who haven't heard about the Armenian massacre/genocide. I have always been frustrated by a lack of knowledge concerning world affairs, injustices and histories. This is why I took this class, to hopefully educate myself on a higher level, to attain further understanding and awareness. It is sad to me that most of my education has contained little to no information about these topics, but rather it usually just consisted of memorization of war dates and president names. (I don't remember those either, because they don't matter to me; the stories are what make history come alive- human connection is the powerful key to teaching it, in my opinion.) 

Why is the wool always pulled over our eyes?

 Yes, partially I am to blame for my ignorance. I accept that. However, I have been a good student in school, one that does well with a little direction, rather than self-propelled learning alone. I don't feel I have been given enough nudges to learn about things outside of my local needs and desires- even in this time where the global community is growing powerful- there is still not a real NEED to learn about others, history, to learn from them. Why? Because we are comfortable. The path of least resistance is so easy to concede to in a small town in the United States. This is why I feel change and knowledge, experience, are so vital to greater understanding. We have to take a little initiative and risk, expose ourselves to generate awareness. That being said, I think our schooling system, our social constructs, our family constructs, the media as a whole (except for the news and documentaries- and even these have agendas and choose what to give importance as 'news')  fail to push us to be aware, as a whole, beyond the scope of the Armenian massacre. There are two main responses to the injustice of the world- flip out or become numb. This culture is overwhelmingly apathetic; we don't care, because not caring is easy. I also think that there is a lot we aren't encouraged to know. If we knew all the injustices that went on right under our politically sensitive, yet completely ignorant noses, we would probably choke on our McNuggets and keel over on the spot. Of course we aren't encouraged to know about every injustice! That could create political, social and economic instability! The leaders of the country, but more than that, the owners of the businesses that profit from exploitation are often the ones promoting racist, sexist, classist systems....Yes. Rambling. Good.

Well. No, I haven't heard of it. It doesn't surprise me. Though we have technology, our ideological systems and methods for education are still a little fucked up on different levels.

BUT...sidenote...If you want to hear a great song with powerful lyrics about 9-11, listen to the song "Wake Up" by Cold Duck Complex about ten times through. It still gives me chills. It is on myspace in the music section. Look it up. Do it.

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