Our Great Depression is Our Lives

The film, Fight Club, has some of the most challenging quotes of any movie I have ever seen. They mangle all pretenses and slap you in the face with frightening reality. The most frightening part? It's true. For those that are not content to merely accept these claims as clever drama, we find ourselves in a difficult situation. Let me first preface my post with this statement: there are a lot of things about the movie I don't agree with, including the violence (some might argue that's the whole point of the movie). But I still think there is a lot to take away from it.

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School this week was devastating. We have fallen so far when school massacres have become the norm, while politicians capitalize on the tragedy. Our sickness has become endemic, and we blame gun control, mental health, and violent video games. There could be books written on the subject of why these mass shootings happen, but as the news networks saturated the airwaves with 24-7 coverage, I couldn't help but think of this quote from the movie:

The last few lines: "We've been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very, pissed off."

I can't think of a better line to describe our generation. At a time where we have access to the most amazing technology, limitless knowledge, and massive potential, we are caught up in the pre-packaged fantasy of our consumer culture. We rack up huge debts, live unhealthy lifestyles, refuse to take responsibility, refuse to believe that the way the system works, there is no getting ahead. Show me a mega rich celebrity or business magnate and I will show you someone in Gracias, Honduras that is happier. I will show you someone who isn't addicted to coke, who doesn't abuse women, who is not trying to buy his/her happiness. But this is what we are striving towards? (Yes there are exceptions)

And when we don't get it, then what? What happens when life does not turn out the way we have been promised? Do we shoot up a school? Do we end our life with suicide? Substance abuse?

I can't help but draw a line right to our consumerism when things like this happen. Suicide rates and substance abuse show a huge difference between developed and developing countries. When will this be a headline?

http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/