71) Legacy Of The Hopeless

Join us for a long awaited YOMcast as I rant on about America's war in the Middle East, explain a view on Don't Ask Don't Tell, reflect on the past decade of events (video), look at Korea's tension war, North Korea's willingness to open up, and prepare a message for the future...

62) Wolverines!

Damn it THQ. You and your creative minds stealing my video game ideas. Or maybe we're just both that good at predicting the future.

Their newest project in development is a game based on current political headlines. It's about the North Korean Army invading U.S. soil after things go bad. The title of this new game, Homefront, pretty much says it all. Check out the trailer:

As this article so clearly states (Alt video link in there too), the game is turning heads because it's based on today's political troubles. People often forget that North Korea likes to play with nukes. Or as my friends love to deflect: "If it ever happened, we'd nuke their asses."

And so hypotheticals are becoming eerily true. With the ailing Kin Jong-il standing down, it seems that his successor, Kim Jong-un, couldn't possibly make things worse. Or at the very least, he couldn't make things any better.

But as our fictional trailer illustrates, America is more than likely to tread a hard path in the future. Not to say that the U.S. is actually going to get invaded, but then again, North Korea has the capacity to copy American foreign policy: "Bullets solve problems."

If it happens, let's hope they don't crack open the nukes.

At the very least, this game is some delightful political commentary, if not just an excuse to switch public enemy number one from Nazis to Communists. Gamers are so tired of shooting Nazis in their favorite World War 2 video game that they've even explored the next best option: Nazi Zombies.

Thing is, I could actually see the United States starting this entire thing. I stick to my motto: "When the shit hits the fan, and the U.S. is involved, it suddenly becomes life, liberty, and the pursuit of crappiness."

Which brings me to my next question: How many wars will be fought in my lifetime? Scratch that. It's how many wars I will help fight in my lifetime.

And so if it starts with the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan and ends in North Korean control of the world, is that really such a bad thing?

Think about it: an entire world united in peace and prosperity, with the only real war coming from civil unrest, which could only help fuel improvement. Everyone's happy, and we advance as a society that got past that ugly thing called war. Problem is, you can't make a utopia without killing alot of people.

Sure they say that democracy is the best, but more than two hundred years of American policy has produced ALOT of wars, at a frequency, ferocity, and aimlessness the human race hasn't see since the Crusades.

And while the U.S. wastes away in the Middle East causing more and more deaths, we're still arguing over whether we should allow gays to serve openly. If I showed you a picture of three caskets and told you one of them was gay, could you tell me which one it is?

But back to our Korean point. With North Korea supposedly having free: housing, food rations, healthcare, and an educational system sporting a 99% literacy rate, some might argue that personal liberties are worth giving up for this society. Just don't ask too many questions if your neighbor suddenly disappears one day.

They also make some damn nice music:

At least the citizenry can act happy. I'm guessing if they believe it hard enough, it'll become true. I've seen enough of American democracy to want to know what it's like on the other side. Only for perspective, of course. Wouldn't want to be labeled any kind of traitor. That would be the worst.

But don't take my word for it, go watch The Vice Guide to North Korea. Once in a lifetime show:

And if there is indeed no heaven on earth, then we can all just wait to die. Sit back and watch the world destroy itself in a fallout shelter.

48) Amerika

One of my favorite games ever, Fallout 3, hosts a giant, talking robot soldier in the finale, sporting a full arsenal of eye lasers and backpack nuclear grenades. His name is Liberty Prime, and his charm comes from the 60's anti-communist lines he delivers in the heat of battle. It's somewhat comforting to hear a forty foot tall nuclear robot say "Better dead, than red!" when things are blowing up around you. In case you're curious, his soundboard is here.

The robot was built in this alternate timeline world to combat communist China, but nuclear Armageddon cut those plans short, stranding Liberty Prime inside a bunker under the Pentagon. His appearance as your ally is a liberating comfort that ushers you into a satisfying ending to the game.

But more importantly, Liberty Prime is the game's personification of American anti-communist fears. Even today, communism carries a negative connotation, perpetrated by the victorious and democratic United States after the Cold War. Marx and Engels' legacy has been driven to a slow and painful death, the last embers flickering out in this modern world.

That said, we can still remember the resounding echoes of the Red Scares, or the rampant fears created by McCarthy in the past century by those that were there.

This all leads up to the story of my grandmother. She's no Liberty Prime, but she knows how to blow your head off with a rifle. Born during World War Two, she's survived the Japanese invasion of China, the Chinese Civil War, and the Cultural Revolution of Mao. Hardly a soft-spoken woman in old age, she continues to have the loudest voice in the entire room. People often regret making her angry.

She's worked as a farmer, an assembly worker in a radio factory, and no doubt many other occupations she's never mentioned. These days she lives in the United States, residing in a comfortable apartment in Oakland, California.

Like any other sagacious grandparent, she likes to impose on us her stories of experience, hardship, and secret. She hardly ever mentions anything about Communism, and I've always found it odd that her struggles for money in China never came up as a true complaint. Besides, back then you could be shot for celebrating Mao's death.

As I listen to her complain about the United States and its injustices, I can't help but think that she envies her old life back in China. Of course, she came over here for a reason, but old age and finances might prevent her from going back. I'm sure there's much more to her hypocritical complaints, but it probably justifies her being terrified during the recent Oscar Grant riots, which reached to a block from her building.

She doesn't have alot of time left, maybe a decade or two, and I can't help but think that another memory of communism will die with her, whether its a good memory or a bad one. This extends to my family on both sides, many of whom still reside in China.

I can't tell you whether or not communism is good or bad, but everyday we lose another impression of it with the death of the old. Books can only tell you so much about what it was like. We can't truly relive their memories, so I guess it really won't matter in the long run.

However, Communism is an idea, and some ideas can never die.

Who knows? Maybe when I die, democracy will die with me.

46) Independence Galore

I've been working on my summer assignments for AP Government, so might as well post my opinions on here:

A failing economy, an oil spill crises, and a seemingly never-ending war are just a few things the American people have to deal with on a daily basis. The anger and disappointment in the U.S. government’s quick resolution to these issues is growing more apparent by the day. There are so many discontent citizens willing to turn to new and radical ways to satisfy their understandable desires for change. This is why President Obama was elected. Everyone believed he could solve our problems on a tight schedule, and we reeled in disgust when his administration disproved the apparent myth that they could make us happy and content.

This is why it’s no surprise that the seemingly ageless rule of Democrats and Republicans of the past century is coming to a possible end. With the current situation worse than anybody could have ever predicted, people are tired of the endless debate and bipartisan horseplay present in the Senate. They demand results now, because for some Americans, lives are literally on the line. The tide is turning for Independent candidates to work in Washington, unrestrained by political assumptions and party stereotypes.

The new generation requires a change ready to match the magnitude of their problems. Hope rests behind people like Charlie Crist, Eliot Cutler, Tim Cahill, or Lincoln Chafee. Whether they’re running for Governor or the Senate seems irrelevant; as long as they gain a voice in the higher authority of the United States, that’s all that matters. Could whole states turn away from their political benefactors for the sake of change? Only time will tell.

Soon we shall see whether this trend can gain enough momentum to sustain itself past infancy. If the people demand it, then the current government shall truly be afraid of its constituents. My hopes lie in the possible prospect of an Independent president. This dream may be centuries away from reality in American history, but we must not forget that even our nation’s first president had certain dislike of bitter partisanship. This may all be the start of a new era in American politics.

42) Home of the Brave

Writing your congressman/senator or appearing at town hall meetings is a political exercise many young students go through to understand the American democratic process. It is the point of inspiration for many aspiring students that wish to succeed in government someday.

However, the public and the media often forget that these figureheads of government are still human. We hold these idols to a high expectation of leadership and heroism, destined to make change for the better.

We understand the high profile world that these representatives are embroiled in. We see stories of their sexual escapades, their sudden lapses of intelligence, or their public outbursts of politically incorrect statements.

The media that paints this image always exposes the drama that runs through their lives. Most recently, CBS scored a hit with their series The Good Wife, which explores a lawyer's tumultuous life after her husband's political career goes awry with infidelity.

Everywhere you go, there's always someone who loves to expose the government and its puppets for what they really are: manipulative control freaks who are irreparably corrupted and ethically ignorant in the name of representation and control.

So when some students catch a congressman at a bad time and film him, there are bound to be interesting results:

(Alternate link if the above doesn't work for you)

It's a hot debate as to who's right or wrong here, even though it's obvious that the students can play the harassment card.

I call it a debate for several reasons:

1) The senator will issue a public apology and get away with it. There is a 0.0001% that he will resign as a result of this video.

2) The students will lose a harassment lawsuit against the congressman, should they choose to file one.

3) Public exposure to the video will be minimal at best.

My thoughts?

I've always been a fan of the theory that the American government is always decades behind the societal changes that occur in the United States and in the world. This is why it took so long to elect an African American president, or why the ethnic minorities in Congress are grossly unrepresentative of the public at large.

It allows this hypothesis to be drawn: The ruled and the rulers are separate entities that shall never coexist peacefully.

While Washington D.C. is steeped in centuries old tradition of cutthroat politics, the public is utilizing technology to share ideas on how they want things to be done.

It's the friction between the two halves of this America that make the system a miraculous display of continuous function for fear of anarchy.

As we delve into tougher times, more personal sacrifices are required to keep the American machine running. This requires the superhuman strength that we expect from the politicians that hit students on the streets. It's time for the media myths of leadership to take fruition.

All the while, the public can continue to lose themselves in watching another season of reality shows and Youtube memes, oblivious to the problems that they don't have to deal with. Leave it to the politicians, they say.

Who knows? Maybe America has earned its dishonorable death.

40) Politcal Clustersuck

I guess it comes as no surprise that most of the high level government positions in the United States are held by the rich, white, and old. This contrasts against the increasingly diverse America, proven by the current illegal immigration debate, and the unprecedented African American president.

Seeing that America is starting to come to terms with its own unique diversity, it's become more and more clear that an identity crisis has taken hold over the nation. An American societal reformation, so to speak. This manifests in different ways, from the race clashes in local city governments, to the bipartisan bickering of the Senate.

So every year, when elections roll around, I don't find it surprising that my own immigrant parents hate to look at the ballots.

Perhaps they've never been the political kind, or that they just don't care to read through the thick wad of papers explaining all the propositions and candidates' positions. And yet, I hear them complain daily at the dinner table about how the American government is ineffective, filled with liars and hypocrites.

So when I think about their contradictions, it's not just another case of where your parents go against their word. I can't quite pinpoint it.

Maybe they just don't want to vote because none of the candidates represent their ethnicity. Maybe their origin country has instilled a subconscious die hard hate of American democracy. It's probably a reason I'll never understand in my lifetime.

So when the annoying white ballots arrive in the mail, it's just another reminder of much my parents are passive about American politics. They heap it on their desk, letting it waste away in time. Of course, it soon becomes a chore of marking the lines, voting for some random candidate that's vaguely familiar due to them being the current incumbents, or because their names have popped up in some sponsored commercial that comes on during primetime.

I've seen them too, having an inkling of what these candidates represent, what political party they are a part off, and what they plan to do in office. No matter who or how someone gets elected, I try not to leap at a sense of false hope. I've become used to being disappointed by big shot political types that rarely gets anything lasting done. I follow politics pretty closely, and if I haven't heard of their achievements, they don't exist.

And maybe that's the reason my parents have so little faith in themselves and in the democratic system when they stare at the ballots on their desk, black pen in hand. They do it because they know they'll be disappointed by whoever comes on. They know nothing will change, and that their vote matters little.

And when I try to get them intrested in the issues, I can see the weariness in their eyes. I see the same old look that appears on the face of the booth people who sell tickets at a theater. I even feel a bit of pity for them.

Have I overemphasized how much my parents don't want to fill in ballots? Want to guess how these ballots are magically filled?

It comes as an unbelievable statement to people when I tell them that I vote in the elections. I'm obviously underage, making it an illegal and laughable endeavor. Then again, I'm not talking about high school elections. I'm taking about the real deal federal ones, the things your parents get in the mail.

So if somebody should ever ask whether I do the voting for my parents, I'll never tell.

Because I find that prospect laughable.

Lit Circle Letter 2: World War Z

The second third of World War Z deals thoroughly with the stabilization that humanity faces in their terrible and desperate war against the undead. We see stories of incredible suffering, death, and destruction as people attempt to fight back against the walking corpses.

This section is also a deep insight on how humanity changes in dire times. It is thorough this change that we see the extreme ends of human nature, ranging from cowardice and fear, to strength and bravery. It also reveals the distinct qualities of the current world superpowers. It is these qualities that make or break a nation in this hypothetical doomsday scenario.

There is a deep and striking interview that gives insight into the class structure of America. It is the division between the day laborers who get their hands dirty and earn little, to the high and mighty CEO's that sit comfortably at their desks. In a zombie apocalypse, the CEO's are pointless when it comes to survival. An interview with the manager of the rebuilding program in the war torn American explains it quite well:

Yes there was racism, but there was also classism. You're a high-powered corporate attorney. You've spent most of your life reviewing contracts, brokering deals, talking on the phone. That's what you're good at, that's what makes you rich and what allowed you to hire a plumber to fix your toilet, which allowed you to keep talking on your phone. The more work you do, the more money you make, the more peons you hire to free you up to make more money. That's the way the world works. But one day it doesn't. No one needs a contract reviewed or a deal brokered. What it does need is toilets fixed. And suddenly that peon is your teacher, maybe even your boss. For some, this was scarier that the living dead. (140)

And isn't this the ultimate symbolism for the American elitist society? With the growing dependence on technology and other forms of life easing methods, less and less people are turning to menial labor to get things done. What isn't being considered is what happens when these things are suddenly taken away, or when they no longer work. What happens then?

In a way, it a sort of secret slavery that goes on. Money is the one big controlling factor here, and people don't mind digging through mountains of garbage if they are paid millions. And some don't even consider that because they find it degrading and insulting. Why do it when you can hire someone else to do it for you?

Not only is it laziness, it's also stroking the inner ego when it comes to living in America. This is not to say every person who hires others to do their dirty work is bad. They might honestly have no experience in that area of work to do it themselves. The factor I'm trying to address here is whether they would be willing to learn the trade given the circumstances. Whether they would be willing to swallow their pride and show some humility if it means surviving.

It goes deep into the psychology of the average American when it is truly put to the test. World War Z explains what people are willing to do or not do in Armageddon circumstances. In the context of the American government, it is the test of morals. The fictional former American vice president can testify:

So many of his proposals looked crazy at first glance, but once you peeled back the first layer, you realized that underneath there existed a core of irrefutable logic. Take the new punishment laws, those really set me off. Putting people in stocks? Whipping them in town squares!?! What was this, Old Salem, the Taliban's Afghanistan? It sounded barbaric, un-American, until you thought about the options. What were you going to do with the thieves and looters, put them in prison? Who would that help? Who could afford to divert able-bodied citizens to feed other able-bodied citizens? More importantly, why remove the punished from society when they could serve as a such a valuable deterrent? (149)

Notice the words "un-American" and "barbaric". The truth is that practicality is valued much more than morality when the end is nigh. This isn't just a societal shift in thinking due to circumstance. The real world away from this fictional zombie apocalypse has countries that look down upon each other because of the clash of ethics and morals. This is why the world can never fully cooperate, even if you take the Armageddon situation out of the equation. It's just human nature.

One of the resulting ironies of this "practical government" thinking manifests itself quite clearly in Word War Z. Because of the zombie invasion in mainland America, many survivors flock to Cuba for its natural defensive capability as an island. This results in the economically weak island nation to become one of the most successful market economies after the war's conclusion. It is perhaps the greatest criticism and insult of American government, while eerily mirroring it:

Of course our new Latin superpower is anything but idyllic. We have hundreds of political parties and more special interest groups than sands on our beaches. We have strikes, we have riots, we have protests, it seems, almost every day. You can see why Che ducked out right after the revolution. It's a lot easier to blow up trains than to make them run on time. What is it that Mister Churchill used to say? "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others." (233)

Superpowers being anything but idyllic: the notion of no perfect society, even if it is powerful. This is America. Hundreds of political parties and special interest groups: America. Daily strikes, riots and protests: America. A lot easier to blow trains than to make them run on time: America in the Middle East. "Democracy is the worst form of government": addressing the preconceived notion that democracy is the best form of government.

Let me remind you that the need for democracy has cost the world several million people in casualties in assorted wars. The current American government is what dragged America into the Middle East.

Alas, praise the political undertones that a simple zombie book can give you.

30) The Spring Break Rant

This week, we discuss the imperialist ipad, troubles with Pope Benedict the 16th, hate on the American School System as described by John Taylor Gatto (again), and see the legitimate fears of people and American politics.

This one's a long one folks, so strap in and listen:

29) Red Vs. White Vs. Blue

I've always tried to shy away from political discussions, for the fear of reprimand and criticism. However, I feel that recent events have forced my hand. This is no longer an issue that can be avoided.

With the media converging on the Obama administration and their intentions, something darker has been revealed to exist in the heart of the American government and its people. As Democrats and Republicans fight it out, many cannot predict the catastrophes that await this country. The fates of many lie in the hands of the distinguished few.

With the recent approval of Obama's health care plan, it seems only logical that the Democrats have successfully solidified their place as majority power-holders in the Senate. This victory comes as a certificate of achievement that reflects upon the supporters of Obama's plan of change for the United States. It is, after all, "Change we can believe in."

It's only natural that the residing president's political party has a strong say in the government. After all, the president is always the center of activity, and is the main focal point for the masses of America.

The victory comes at a price.

I was more disappointed than shocked when I saw this article spring up. House Democrats were threatened due to their actions concerning the approval of the health care plan. As Democratic House of Representatives majority Leader Steny Hoyer puts it:

“Democracy can’t survive unless we can have a civil society in which debate is open and free and unfettered."

This isn't the first incidence of tempers flaring, but it certainly appears to indicate a breaking point. Racial epithets and shoutings of "Baby Killer" have captured the attention of the media.

Clearly, a government cannot be run effectively if arguments are to transpire at every possible turn. Although debates are encouraged to gain perspective on issues, the concept becomes disgraced when actual threats of violence occur.

The root of all this? The reasons are debatable (Ha Ha), but a plausible explanation is the way people are being represented. Many tapings of town hall meetings show disgruntled, furious, and passionate voters, all who have legitimate opinions and suggestions. But when their ideas can do so little in this democratic America, it is easy to understand their desperate actions of hate and frustration.

More and more, especially for the younger generation, protesting and writing your senators doesn't seem to be enough anymore. As the United States stumbles further down the road to ruin, optimists insist that things will change for the better. Pessimists (like me), say that more radical change is required.

What really worries me is the growing division between the public and their representatives. It might be just me, but I feel that the ideas of the general consensus regarding important issues differs greatly than what our leaders are aspiring to do. The American people are feeling more helpless than ever, especially when they have no job, no home, or no money. If they feel they have no say in the government, it'll be the final straw.

As the representatives instigate change to push along their personal agendas, people will either agree or disagree. For those that disagree, I can only hope they do not resort to desperate measures.

The current health care debate is long from being resolved. More pressing and controversial issues will no doubt appear within the next few months. We will soon see the value of everyday opinions regarding general change that a majority will be satisfied with.

As for me, I hope that I won't ever have to reach for my gun rather than my pen and pad to have my opinions heard. That would be a shame.

9) The Wonders of Democracy.

With the United States in economic turmoil, everyone I know likes to question how we got here. They trace their steps back to when George Bush was first elected for president.

We can remember how close the 2000 and 2004 elections were. I personally remember the 2000 presidential election quite well. I was eating dinner with my family when the results were coming on. I saw how FOX news was reporting Bush the winner. When my parents changed the channel and I saw differing election results, my cousin audibly yelled: "What the ****?"

Watching episodes of The Young Turks (http://www.theyoungturks.com) brought me to thinking about how close that election was. How It MIGHT have gone the other way. So comes the controversy that gave me a blast from the past.

It was when I saw the video regarding FOX news's battle with the White House did I realize how big an issue this is. What a lot of people do not realize.

The news is important. You tune in every day or so to check the weather and the new developments around your community. But did you ever stop to wonder how much of it you actually believe? How much of it is true? Whether or not you question the validity of what you are hearing?

Cenk Uygur, Youtube spokesman for The Young Turks, was talking about the 2000 election between Gore and Bush. Because Bush's cousin told FOX news that Bush had won, FOX was the first network to publish results. This started a domino effect with the other networks. Nobody bothered to sit and wait for it to be completely over and official. They just cared about being the first to report it. They rest as they say, is history.

I'm not going to speculate on the what ifs this brings up. I accept the fact that George Bush became president. And as much as I disapproved with his polices and actions, I have no doubt that he and his administration had the best intentions.

What really scares me is the fact that a news network MIGHT have completely influenced the election of a president. How could such a thing happen?

Then again I might be paranoid. I'm pretty sure that I will never know most things about the U.S. government. The administration might be controlling the media, or the media might be controlling the government.

Either way, I honestly think there is something really wrong with the system.

6) When Guevara met McCarthy.

Anyone who has ever used the internet in the past few months will know what I am talking about when I speak of online advertising.

It comes up in many forms, including, but not limited to; popups, web banners, spam e-mail, etc. Most of the time it is just plain annoying. It is so common that you no longer recognize the main ones, especially if you see them over and over again on a website you visit often. Accidentally hover your mouse over one? Yeah I want to start shooting the computer too.

This brings me to my conceptual metaphor of "Capitalist Fascism". The main and chosen few who control all the wealth decide to form a party to oppress the people. They bombard them with propaganda, and other acts to prove their loyalty to the people and to demand the same in return. They control the one thing that can be used to manipulate people: Money.

The propaganda I use in this example is the online advertising. It is the rich CEOs demanding your loyalty and obedience to the their up and high class(or party) of wealthy individuals consumed with utter greed.

Can you blame them? Of course not. As everyone is in pursuit of survival and happiness, wealth just happens to be one of those things to nirvana. Everybody wants it, everybody needs it.

Truth is, in this economy, acts of generosity are extremely rare and valued. And if conditions might allow it, the path we tread may lead to Karl Marx's Communist Revolution. If I had said that forty years ago, I might be dead right about...now.

Then again, what do I know? I'm just another equality loving socialist who believes in an achievable utopia.

I'd like to thank Fate for the First Amendment.