The Age of Stupid

If you haven't seen the Age of Stupid, go see it. Not because it's a cinematographic achievement or because you're likely to learn something new. But because you'll be taking action in voting with your feet and giving credibility to the important message this movie conveys.

I was in Las Vegas attending a conference and found a theater that carried the live premiere. There might have been 20-25 people in the theater. A group of UNLV students kindly asked me to join them so I wouldn't have to watch by myself. I wondered how 20-year olds look at this, the pathetic inaction of most of our leaders, the corrupt and criminal stalling and misinformation tactics of many corporations, and still have any faith that regular political processes will yield anything positive and meaningul.

In short: Are we, as a species, stupid enough not to take the necessary action to ensure our own survival, and in the process cause billion of fellow human beings to suffer climate-inflicted hardships and catastrophes.

There are several important subtext messages in this movie, including:
- This movement is still too much on the fringe, not yet mainstream enough. More people need to realize the urgency of the problem and exert pressure on themselves and their government to do something about it.
- Too many people agree with the IDEA of doing something to save the planet, as long as it doesn't inconvenience their day to day, obstruct their view, impact their property values, etc... The world has no time to wrestle with NIMBY mentalities or 'someone will come up with a solution that doesn't require any sacrifice'.
- Trying to do the right thing and get others to wake up still is considered radical, or criminal. Just ask the Yes Men (you guys rock!!! Brilliant New York stunt!), or Greenpeace activists, or anyone trying to go beyond words to make a statement.

To the so-called Greatest Generation, the one that stepped up in a big way to win WWII: Can we make you proud and do you one better? London parents sent their kids off to the countryside to live with strangers during the Battle of Britain. The entire US industrial machine turned on a dime and supported the war effort. Women entered the work force by record numbers - while keeping all the work they were already doing at home. And so on...

This type of mass scale mobilization is what we need now. None of this 'let's maybe think of reducing our impact somewhat by 2020 and see what happens' crap. Let's be bold. Let's do it with purpose and pride. Let's be the generation history books in 500 years look back to and teach kids about the way we stepped up and ensured the well being of all future generations.

Talk about making an impact. Talk about redefining what it means to be human, no longer a destructive force in this world but a healing and building one. Wow, I want in...