The American Paradox

The twenty-first century and American culture have spurred some interesting contradictions. This causes confusion and doubt, which our country is replete with. Perhaps paradox is not the correct term, but I like them.

Here are some familiar rules we hear from the media/schools/parents, etc.:

1. We are suppossed to get rid of germs with anti-bacterial agents. However, these agents are producing stronger bacteria and children with little to build and challenge their immune system.

2. The air is bad and full of pollution. So we should avoid the outside. But the inside air is just as bad, perhaps even worse. So don't go inside either.

3. Don't go outside. The UV rays may give you skin cancer. (Especially pale people like me) But, you are encouraged to go outside and exercise. Keep your heart rate up!

4. Eat a lot of carbohydrates. They are the base of the food pyramid taught by our schools for the past ten years. Oh, by the way, that is wrong. Carbs are not the way to go -- protein is.

5. Try to save money. Use coupons, they will keep costs down. But, be good little consumers and spend, spend, spend! That is what keeps our economy going! Good little consumers buying crap they don't need.

6. Video games are bad for your children. They sit there and don't move and become unhealthy. But, get those guys on those video games! They are great at teaching hand-eye coordination. Pilots are getting better and better because of their early training on the good ol' NES system.

7. Around Christmas time, we hear often "Be grateful for what you have", "love everybody", "the most important thing is family". So why does the economists keep careful tabs on what, where and how much people buy at Christmas time? Spend little consumers! We say "Be grateful" but we really mean you don't have the best like your neighbor does! So, you need to get it and be better than they are!

8. Go to church, or synagogue or temple! Be good people. But as soon as they get out of the parking lot, they are ready to run you over to be first. Forget "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" -- especially in St. Louis. Being first is all that matters. People will speed up to 60 mph in a few seconds just so they can get to the red light a few seconds before you do.

9. Learn and master everything until 12th grade. You need a high school diploma! I'd love to know when knowing what a function is, how to take the derivative of a polynomial, solve matrices, know the phases of mitosis and meiosis, calculate force, and basically everything after 7th grade will ever come into my life. (Excluding the fact I teach English and must master some of this stuff.)

10. We're going to tell you not to have extra-marital sex. But, we're going to tell you about every single kind of contraceptive there is and how to use it. Not only that, you will be tested on condoms, female condoms, IUDs, pills, how to put on condoms, shots, diaphragms, spermicide etc. etc. etc. So, the best thing to do is not have sex, but here are one hundred ways to get laid so no one will know about it.

The defintion of paradox is: a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true. Since these statements may or may not be true. I guess I have to ask a professor.

Actually, I started reading "A Brief History of the Paradox" by Roy Sorenson. It is quite interesting. Zeno's paradox is one of the most famous. He asserts motion is impossible. You can read it at this link: http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/zeno_tort/index.asp

Tis pretty cool. Thanks for reading. Have a great and blessed day.