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November 3, 2006
Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs, insurgent49

The Pie in the Sky

     Once a week, I sit down and stare at a blank page and ask myself, “what am I gonna write about this week?” My mind whirls as images of events and headlines of the past week flow in and out of my brain. In order to write these weekly columns, it is a prerequisite that I get pissed off and irritated by an element that shapes the way the world works. And I always seem to come up with something and, in the end, I come to the same conclusion once the piece is done and I have reread it a time or two:

     I am a Socialist, and I truly want what is best for the greater good.

     I want equality, or at least as much equality as human nature could possibly allow. I want, I wish, I hope and I always ask … will it ever be? Can we ever live in a place where we are more concerned about the greater good? Or will we always revolve around the individualistic ideal? Unfortunately, survival of the fittest demonstrates the latter.

     I know this may sound to some almost like a bad follow-up to John Lennon’s song Imagine. But sometimes it seems that within our left-winged world we are no longer allowed to look at the big picture anymore. Instead, we are consumed by the endless details of the political, social and economic worlds.

     We can’t always keep our eye on the pie in the sky, but the truth is that sometimes I have to sit back, reflect, and remember what the hell I am fighting for anyway. Because the deluge of details are often overwhelming and generally sound something like this…
 
     That’s right folks … big election coming up, and the question remains … should I vote for the anti-choice homophobic Sarah Palin, or the oil company loving. looks like he’s been spending far too much time in the tanner. Tony Knowles?

      At this very moment, I don’t care who becomes governor because it seems neither candidate really gives a damn about the greater good. They may say that their policies are for the good of Alaska, but I still think they both suck.

      And the details remain tiring.

     In my mind, the greater good gets lost in the details and is unable to stretch beyond our borders into places where they don’t speak American and they dress in funny looking clothing.  The notion of the greater good is subjective. For some, the greater good doesn’t go far beyond their own skin. For others, its all about their family and friends, their city, their country, and maybe their species.

     Is it wrong of me to care just as much for the starving child in Bangladesh than I do the child victim of hurricane Katrina? What does that make me? Am I a hater of the U.S. simply because I am a humanist? Am I like George W. who “stays the course,” because I am trapped in the illusion that I am correct?

     As for right now … my column is finished, I am craving a steak, and I think I just might pencil in Eric Croft for governor.  




 
 

 
    
 
         

      




      Nova Stubbs is a freelance writer and activist, and is co-founder of Insurgent49. Nova resides in an undisclosed location in downtown Anchorage and may be contacted at nova@insurgent49.com.
- Columnists -

Editor's Desk
by Aaron Selbig

Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs

Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The
Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford






Copyright 2005 Insurgent Media. All Rights Reserved.
in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.