Life In Digital

Throughout the ages, people have tried many different ways to express their view of life. Some used politics and governments to try and communicate their view of life, and in some cases to try and mold the world. Some people have tried using art as a way to visually show how they see life. Writers have used poetry and literature in an attempt to appeal to logic or emotion to express how they see things. Musicians have tried to appeal to the auditory senses to show everyone else how they see things.

People have tried since the beginning of time to get their personal view of life across to other people. Yet now at the front-side of the 21st century, we’re using something no one has yet tried.

Our world and our views of life are becoming digitized. Numbers are now the key to everything.

People spend hours and hours working for money that usually is nothing more than a number on a computer screen or a receipt. Very seldom is there really something tangible for them to hold and say, “I earned this.”

When it comes to government, we’re all just numbers. A Social Security number, a driver’s license number, a polling statistic. We’re either a percentage of the employed, or a percentage of the unemployed. We’re a percentage of the red states, or a percentage of the blue states. We’re another addition to the number on some city’s population sign.

In order to have a decent “quality of life,” we think we need digital computers, televisions, CD and DVD players, 5.1 Dolby surround sound, cell phones, digital cameras, and a good credit score. Our possessions and the things we own now own us because we’re paying 12.9% interest on them and going further into debt in order to try and get out of debt.

Superficial “relationships” are now as common as streetlights at night. Many people have no idea what real love and real devotion and real loyalty are because as soon as a relationship isn’t “fun” or doesn’t “feel good” anymore, it’s time to break it off and move on. People sign prenuptial agreements before even getting married just in case they lie when they vow, “till death do us part.”

There is very little left in American life or culture that has much depth. In an ocean of possibilities, most of us are afraid to get wet past our ankles. Cause hey, there are some cool things that wash up onto the shore. Yet I have to wonder, “What are we missing out in the deep?”

So here we are. Content to feel like gods in a consumer-driven economy that is dependent on us. Content to constantly have the noise of American life constantly blasting into our ears and minds. Content to become prisoners to the very lifestyle that we think gives us freedom and happiness.

And I’m as guilty as anyone else.

Then again, I’ve found a bit of hidden treasure. Concealed in a small part of Illinois, which is so small it’s not even a “town” but is a “village,” I found something that makes American life look like a society of paper dolls.

There’s three of them actually. The coolest three people I’ve ever met. People who can drive away depression like Jesus drove hypocrites from the Jewish temple. People who can silence the chaos in my mind. People who can teach me how to feel again, and to not be afraid.

It’s true, I’ve dug myself into a bit of a hole while trying things “the American way.” I’ve got quite a few negative numbers behind my name at the moment, but I’ll do what I have to in order to get those clear. Someday I’ll be free, and then we can be together like we were meant to be.

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“Cause now I’m free from what you want
Now I’m free from what you need
Now I’m free from what you are
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And when you wanted blood
I cut my veins
And when you wanted love
I bled myself again
Now that I’ve had my fill of you
I’ll give you up forever
And here I go far away
I know you’ll find another slave.”
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Audioslave