The Wake

The latest album from Neil Young, titled “Living with War,” is full of politically charged content coming from someone who is known for making bold statements on political and social issues. I can’t say I’ve listened to it much, but the name is certainly thought provoking. What does it mean to be living with war? Obviously the experience of war for those in the bloody streets of Baghdad is totally different from that of the American masses, whose far-detached understanding of the occupation and violence is constrained by the sneaky filters of the news media. We are encouraged to think about the war in heroic terms where we are the good guys, but for those of us who see beyond the many faces of wartime propaganda, these are frustrating and disappointing times.

Perhaps the bitterest aspect of living in modern wartime has to do with the implications of living in the culture of fear needed for waging war. For anyone who sees beyond the simplistic rhetoric designed to maintain a constant state of fear, the frustrations transform into a thorn in the side. We are constantly being reminded of the vaguely defined and always-threatening “enemy,” who has been dangerously looming since 9/11. The name of the new enemy is constantly reinforced in indirect and direct ways, but not all of us live in the black and white reality that the Republican Party is dedicated to. It is a shame that in too many American minds, Islam has become synonymous with terrorism. Observing the effectiveness of this mass of problematic assumptions, the frustrations at times explode into silent fury fueled by impatience, but they ultimately fade into cold disappointment and cynicism.

The cynicism may be more potent than the frustration. Cynicism ultimately stems from the notion that the root of the problem goes far beyond personal political grievances, or the idea of the mass media is the only culprit in a deterministic and diabolical plan. The dismal heart of the problem is much deeper and complex than that. The “war fever” that infected us after 9/11 and continued to ail us into 2003 with the invasion of Iraq is a symptom of a much more serious cultural condition, one that aches with apathy and reeks of ignorance. Our consumer culture is sick at the core, the sickness already deep in the bones of the creature that seems doomed to a tragic state of underlying deterioration, like a terrible and sickening rust. Of course, this sad condition facilitates easy manipulation by political elites and will perpetuate the unquestioned assumptions that underpin the current power relations dictating the absurd course we are now on.

Is this vision of society an exaggeration? While I think such a dark vision is painfully apparent at times, I realize that my view may be harsh and dismal compared to others. After blowing it in 2004 presidential elections, Americans elected a number of Democrats, many running on anti-war jargon, in the midterm elections,. While this is a good sign of shifting public opinion, we should remain skeptical that these are mere superficial political maneuvers and do not guarantee any major changes. It is important to keep in mind the traditional lack of debate with regards to foreign policy in American politics; the handful of inevitable global dilemmas, including a global energy crisis; and the vulnerable position of the American “empire.” And with all that considered, I think we can assume that major shifts in the global order are soon to come, so look forward to more turbulent times no matter which party has political power.

The anxiety of this apocalyptic vision can leave one in a perpetual freefall of worry and doubt. Maybe my biggest concern is the lack of social and political consciousness on campus, where you find a cold complacency as easily as anywhere else. The future is obviously uncertain, and I am filled with frightening doubt over our generation’s will to face today’s problems. Considering the imminence of such global challenges, it is especially terrifying to see the minds of our generation being limited in such pathetic ways. A ruthless responsibility should drown over us, as we are facing some enormous challenges, but it seems that the main concerns of the student body are getting fucked up on weekends, media-driven spectacles and all other worthless aspects of a hopelessly distracted youth culture.

But what should we expect? Surely, there is potential for progressive action at the U. Not many people support the war, while at the same time students are reluctant to participate in any oppositional political activity. This suggests that cynicism is widespread beyond cultural critics like myself. There is an overwhelming sense of powerlessness surrounding political issues; many are against the war, but they are also against the romantic idea of struggling to try and stop it. This feeling of powerlessness renders dead the potential for action and encourages a retreat into the Playstation, the shopping mall or the bottle. It seems that apathy is a consequence of exclusion in contemporary politics.

There are no easy solutions. Maybe Neil Young has some, because I don’t. All I know is that doubt, anxiety, frustration and cynicism are constant companions for those who see beyond the shallow wartime propaganda necessary in our violent moment. With the war turning bloodier each day and our globalized world appearing closer and closer to the edge of total catastrophe, living in a privileged culture of distraction is depressing, frightening and exhausting. We must ask what our role is as individuals in such a filthy configuration.