The image above is the Statue of Liberty Nebula, in the constellation Carina and only viewable from the southern hemisphere. I like how it is only viewable from the southern hemsiphere, it's like a reference to us as a country, unaware of our own influence. Most Americans truly don't understand what we are as a nation, and it's not really fully a propaganda thing. It's ignorance, it's one of defining traits as a people and as a nation. Our mantra is "Ignorance is Bliss", might even be more relevant than land of the free. It's either that or the contradictions that define us. The juxtapositions of our lives. I especially think of it more with the Trump Administration in power, as past Americans did with their previous admins. And this isn't coming from a liberal standpoint, i'm not going to start spouting about he's a Russian asset. He's a full grown American Fascist, our Hitler. And don't make that comparison lightly. For Hitler, it was the "Stabbed in the back" theory that radicalized him into the man he became to be, and there was a movement behind that. For Trump, it's the continuing fact that other countries are pulling ahead of us that define him, and there is a movement behind that as well. America has prided itself on the economic power it became in the 20th century, powerful monopolies controlling the movement, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs of our nation. It was and still is inescapable. Previous nations myths were defined by kings who conquered, but we are one of the first without. America is one of the first formed nations without medieval feudalism. The private citizen theoretically has the right to do as they please, go where they want, and (most importantly to Liberals) build a business. That defined us for a long time, but this thinking is based on a philosophical system guided by bankers, merchants, and privateers. But Americans just refuse to see it, denial in almost all forms. They know the pacenotes, denying other ideologies, but the malaise of modern life has blinded them to even forming a coherent thought. This isn't exclusive to Americans, but we don't have that traditional feudal backbone to guide us. Our creation myth is hating taxes. Liberalism has poisoned the well for coherent thought, though it did help make steps to rational thought. Trump is that conclusion. The German people's pride in nation was their imperial, feudal might. The formation of a united Germany under a Hohenzollern king. That myth was shattered by the contradictions that arise with capitalism. The decrease in profits increasing fighting between nations to gain control over colonies. Hitler took this fighting to his political advantage and created a powerful movement of Fascism through this, empowering proletarians with myths of a grander past to recreate. Trump is doing this now with Americans, and it has fooled many of the proletariat. Machinists abandoning unions in favor for right to work laws, claiming Trump will bring this mythical economy back. Proletarians blaming each other for the magical stock ticker going down, while bankers rejoice at the ruse. All we stand for as a nation is our economy, it's Americans number 1 issue. But even to that, you'd think they'd understand how their economy works. But they don't, they want a trade war with our closest economic partners! They are confused, spiraling down into conspiracy to explain why they live in a refinanced house, why they have thousands in debt with a 2025 Ford F-150 outside. All we want is our little toys to distract us. It doesn't make us unique to seek distraction, it's our inevitability as humans to seek pleasure and avoid thinking of oblivion. We just need our little sweet treats as the world crumbles around us, almost to an inevitability. I have developed a pretty pessimistic view of our nation as I have grown older. Not even just in the political sense, just everything. Our culture is focused on consuming economically, either working hard for a lower wage to prove we deserve the money, or when we are off that job, consuming something economically from TV shows to dinners. Our existence as humans in this nation is an ever-gorging feast, blind and deaf to the cries of our Earth. A Paris climate accord won't fix it, a WHO won't fix it. They help for basic regulation and function but the disease has spread past containment. Sick isn't even the right word to describe it. Sickness implies that there is another alternative existence to this, that there will be a medication to it with the right steps taken. But I don't think there is. It feels almost like fate gripping at our throats. The world sees us as overconsumers, and it's true beyond rational belief. Our fondest moments of life are turned into moments of consumption. I swear by the time I get married my wedding will be sponsored by Bud Light or something to help pay the cost of it. It is true our quality of life is better than a fair amount of the world, just due to pure economic power. But it makes me wonder if it's even that worth it. Do I feel better as an American because I have healthcare at their exploitation. That is one thing the Trump tariffs have really shown, is the reliance on the rest of the world for our consumption. The American economy is so diverse in how many things are just not built here, shipped from half way across the world at a somehow cheaper price. How did we come to a place where it's cheaper to buy a shelf from Brazil when we have trees and people right here? Our influence in this form is truly unreal when you think about it. Not just American foriegn policy, but our economic policy that dictates our foriegn policy. My imaging setup for my telescope is from China, but I can't even think of where my wardrobe is from. Who made the clothes that I wear? 200 years ago the question would be pretty stupid for most people. And honestly it is a stupid question for a fair amount of people in the world. They don't care how this economic activity happens and its consequences, just the end result. Who cares how many children are thrown in the grinder, Big Macs are up 50 cents? I don't see it getting better, but inevitably I'm kind of stuck here. I can't imagine leaving this. What does life have for me outside of this country? Of course visiting other countries is a pleasure, but permananent residence? I've lived with consumption at my finger tips my whole life, it's conditioned me to levels I can't even fathom. Every American is conditioned in this consumption. It's a black hole we can't escape from. It's not ok but I don't know what else is there. I've been blinded by this my whole life, and I can try to imagine but it feels impossible. The weight of our history is crushing. Our reliance on everyone else to make our sweet treats is crushing. I don't know what else is there in the world other than this. I create but I still consume, my natural form is consumption. This is just a basic rant, testing to see how I like this. Not really edited. If you have read this far you're either a great friend or something stuck with you. I hope it did a little.
The above image was edited by me and taken by Telescope Live with consent