Cattleguard's R Us

[SonOfSalmon667]

I was just sitting here, looking out my window watching the leaves turn and fall to the ground. Drinking some good coffee and scratching my head, which I often do.
My brother and I had gotten into a discussion about cattleguards. Cattleguards are the steel grates you find out on those backroads, in the middle of nowwhere, their purpose is to keep the cattle from crossing the road, going where they're not supposed to. Thing is, these cows are extremely dumb animals, which explains why they end up on so many of our plates, and why they can't figure out, that all they must do to get past the cattleguard is jump. A simple solution, but for a cow, unfathomable.
Well my brother and I began thinking in an abstract manner and the question or idea popped up over our heads, much like a cartoon lightbulb, "what in this society constitutes as a cattle guard for us humans?" We covered many subjects, like alcohol, which keeps us happy numb and coming back for more, along the same lines narcotics, reefer, prescriptions. I'm sure many of you out there could come up with more.
One of hte main cattleguards that we could agree upon was, the television is a huge cattleguard of American society. It often replaces quality education and human campanionship, among other things. This is not a new concept, just a different label for an ongoing problem, but I thought it would be an interesting Forum, for all readers. Maybe not. Are we all just "cattle"? What are other "cattleguards" in our society? Do we even give a damn? Why do birds sing?............Anyways back to scratching my head....maybe time for a bowel movement.

[Shady_B_206]

The "us vs. them" mentality is the biggest cattle guard in our society. Just look at this last weekends Millions More March, where so called "black leaders" were talking about how the black community should segregate itself from the rest of America. Blue State Red State Bullshit is also part of this. I say fuck labels, we are all Americans, but then I see myself doing it too. Shitty.

[Shackletodd]

The "us vs. them" mentality is the biggest cattle guard in our society. Just look at this last weekends Millions More March, where so called "black leaders" were talking about how the black community should segregate itself from the rest of America. Blue State Red State Bullshit is also part of this. I say fuck labels, we are all Americans, but then I see myself doing it too. Shitty.
It's totally shitty and we all do it consciously or not. The best way for those in power to stay in power is to keep the masses divided. Race, party affiliation religion, beliefs. Mix with fear and stir in a helping of complacency in the mixing bowl we call t.v. (and over eating/drinking) and presto! Plutocracy! This message has been brought to you by America.com Inc.

[Holmgang]

Us vs. Them.... I agree, a very popular tool to keep people divided. Black vs. White, Homeless vs. Jobbed, Red vs. Blue, Rich vs. Middle Class, Christian vs. Secular, Rural vs. Urban, Eastside vs. Westside, blah blah.

Also, "Individualism"... perhaps the biggest cattleguard of them all. Most americans can barely conceive collective action at this point in history. "What? Give up my [insert personal pleasure here] for the common good? What is the 'Common Good' anyway...[argue, argue] ?!?" Gak.

Anyone here see "Until the End of the World"? Remember the dream device that Claire gets addicted to? (paraphrasing: ) ....by day she viewed the recordings of her dreams, by night she dreamed them again, and again, only to view them the next day... She was so addicted to her personal dreamscape that her steady boyfriend had to force her to go cold turkey.

America today remind's me of Claire's plight. But who is the boyfriend?
.
H

[Gomezticator]

The only Cattleguard society ever needs is money. $$$$$

[SonOfSalmon667]

I agree about the whole Us Vs. Them mentality. Seems like it all starts with judement. I am guilty of judging from 1st impression. I see some dude walking down the street wearing baggy clothes with dookie ropes and crosses around his neck, I assume he is an uneducated gangtsa or a thug with little or no education, or I see some dude wearing all black with funky hair torn clothes and some jack em up boots, I assume they are a racist or junky, always some sort of assumption/ judgement. That is wrong, but it is how I was conditioned.Both those dudes could be some well educated, cool as hell people, but I', blinded by my stereotypes. How the Fu%k do we get past this crap. Like Marley said " Judge not, lest you be judged" or is that from some where else?

[Gatsby]

but i couldn't help snorting when i saw u reference 'dookie ropes'...what are you in '87? Well wait, shit, all of cap hill is.
but sure conditioning, racism, kicking puppies and hate crimes are bad. true true.
sure, i get pissed when some white chick crosses the street when i pop up walking the street at night, not thinking about her undernourished ass. i'm a black man 6', about 250lbs, and realize its my appearance (ie baggy clothes, dookie ropes and lynch whitey tats haha)that makes her do so...but while im a black man living in a racist society, at the same time i'm not a woman living in our rapist society...so i can understand. not so much for the old lady purse-clutchers and the can't-meet-your-eyes types but fuck them and their grandkids. if i get the chance to talk to these people and they hear my undeniable charm and eloquence, they'll breathe that sigh of relief...phew! he ain't one of them.
i'ma make a sweatshirt that says "Don't Panic- I'ma Stranger Writer".

[SonOfSalmon667]

I'm a big assed Native imagine the fear single white women have when they see my sasquatch shadow strutting down the avenue !? "oh my is he going to scalp me" or " My goodness I sure hope he isn't restless I hear Natives can be mean when restless" Alot of the fear has to do with fuked up stereotypes, and I know most of Seattlites claim to be PC, but that's BS, I get similar reactions as you GATSBY. I feel that constructive dialogue and educating these fools is a way to try and defuse this WHITE frame of mind, but yeah it pisses me off. All hail The Dookie ropes!

[Gomezticator]

Did I say $$$$$? Actually I stand corrected: the biggest cattleguard is the Comfort Zone, and the lengths to which most of us go personally to maintain it.