Why cynicism is for losers

Why not marry an asshole, if they're pretty or rich enough?

Because who wants to be around an asshole all the time?

Other assholes, that's who.

Enjoy assholes.

It's all yours.

What kind of nation are we gonna be?

A nation of thugs? Or a nation of decent people?

Reading the coverage of the President Obama's commitment to Afghanistan, I am struck by what dicks populate this great country of ours.

At a moment when Afghanis and American soldiers need us to stand behind the brave efforts of folks risking their lives to challenge an Afghan future dominated by Islamist thugs, all Americans can do is snipe.

Why? Because the effort is unworthy? Because President Obama is a socialist determined to make America weak? Because conservatives are warmongers who want more Afghanis dead to appease their lust for American imperial power?

Obviously not. To everyone except the most self-centered and self-righteous.

The reason why we are sniping, the reason why so much of our politics is poisoned and dysfunctional right now is pretty straightforward.

It's because we're a nation of assholes.

Or maybe we're a nation pretending to be assholes. It's hard to keep track, these days. And instead of being honest about that, we've decided to pretend that not giving a shit and indulging our pettiest, ugliest, most self-centered impules really is the future of America and the world.

Simple question.

Since we started down this road - this road of who can be the biggest asshole to make all our problems go way - what's gotten better?

Where? Can you name one place where things have gotten better being a bigger asshole?

I can't. We've become a bunch of sniping, petty, small-minded dicks, is what we've done.

All while pretending that being sniping, petty, small-minded dicks really is the best that humanity has to offer.

It's fuckin' sad is what it is. A bunch of tough characters whining about how the world doesn't share my particular brand of sanctimony. It's goddamn embarrassing, is what it is.

Weak, I believe is the term for it.

Because being an asshole is weak. It's cowardly. It's one long excuse for why someone can't face up to why they're being a dick. And that being a dick in the name of a cause is still being a dick. Largely because it's one long excuse for why I don't have to listen or engage people who disagree with me because I'm right all the time. Caring about others and what they think just weakens my resolve to make them do my bidding whether they fuckin' like it or not. Not because I'm a dick, mind you. Just because I know better than you and everyone else.

In other words, because I'm a dick. Because I'm too weak to admit that none of the above is, ever has been, or ever will be true of anyone. Ever. Not ever. Never has been and never will be. No matter my protestations meant to make it look like I'm that guy or gal to the contrary.

So far, America and the world has been pretending that being a nation or a world of assholes really was what the brighter future held.

It's kind of stupid, really, when you step away and stop defending it. But that's the road we took. To defend our own brand of assholes, obviously. To take down the other guys' assholes. Who defend their assholes, of course, to take down our assholes. And round and round we go.

It's a fucking' joke, is what it is.

Real courage doesn't operate this way.

Real courage defends against aggression, for real. It doesn't rationalize it for ourselves. Real courage gets more compassionate and loving. Including for our tendencies to become bigger assholes. It doesn't adopt assholedom as a philosophy of life or politics.

The only people who do that are assholes.

So the question in front of us is: Are we going be go on being a nation of assholes? Or are we going to be a nation of decent people? Are we going to keep taking up for the assholes? Or are we going to get more honest about what consequences this attitude has had in the world?

I care about assholes, is the truth. As much as anything, because I've been one enough times in my life. And most people I know have been one at one point in their lives. Without exception, really.

But I'm not going to go around pretending that this is the way things are supposed to be.

And I can't feel anything but damned disappointed and embarrassed by a country that would behave otherwise.

So while we choose whether we are going to help Afghanis defend themselves against Islamist goons or not, and defend ourselves against their buddies, in the process, we also need to make another choice.

We're doing this all in the name of what?

So we can look more like them?

Or less like them?

And more like our best selves?

That is the fundamental choice America faces right now.

And I have some confidence, that we have the courage to choose the path of greater understanding, compassion, and decency. And respect for the consciences of those around us. Where real strength lies. And what distinguishes us from the murderous thugs we're fighting.

Because everything else looks fuckin' weak to me.