Gigi Giovedi

Because I am in despair over the state of the world.  Because I am disheartened that people with views like mine are called Not Real Virginians, Unamerican, and Unpatriotic.  Because things that I think should be obvious (Torture is bad.  Killing is bad.  Helping poor people is good.) seem to be merely debatable talking points instead of something we can all agree about.

Because our popular culture is escapist, empty, and without grace or class or nuance.  Because discussion has devoled into screaming at one another.

Because it has somehow become more important to be in charge than to do good.  That the concept of "making the world a better place" makes people smirk.  Because there just doesn't seem to be anything good left anywhere beyond the borders of my own back yard, and because I know that isolating myself and withdrawing into my own brand of escapism are the same as giving up hope that things will ever get better.

Just because.

I know it's all bread and circus.  I know it's only a shallow pursuit whose purpose is to distract me and encourage me to buy things.  I know it's only a matter of soccer jerseys instead of football jerseys, wine instead of fast food, yarn and fancy knitting equipment instead of stuff acquired for some other hobby.  I know I'm no better than anyone else when it comes to consumption and exploiting the labor and lax standards of industry in other countries.  I know that even to express misgivings about our American lifestyle or to confess my progressive liberalism is to invite ridicule, opprobium, and contempt.  I know no one is listening.

This is why I devote so much mental energy to soccer.