Colonization of time

[RICHARD ROMEO]

Yes, we are routinely coerced by regulation (with a gallows somewhere at
the end of a long legal chain), and at least as much by artfully 
generated
consumerist "needs." But we do have the power if not often the patience 
to
change the regulations; we do have the freedom if not often the will to
turn off the TV and define our real needs for ourselves. I'm sanguine
enough -- barely -- to believe that *is* a signal improvement over daily,
routine coercion by force and fear. 
-----------------------------------------
Monte--didn't mean to be mean with my last riposte.  Yes, we can change 
regulations and turn that darn TV off, but I fear we can't avoid the 
hideous mass consumerism (I live in NYC so I guess I'm a bit biased).  
Much of alternative lifestyles are typified by Utne Reader swill and only 
the rich can afford or have the option of tuning out.   Most of us have 
to slug along, powerless.  We all compromise, commerce is a necessity, 
how do we drop out of that?  Individual battles can be won but overall 
nothing changes.  The systems in place, the ones we hate, are like that 
Alien attached to John Hurt's face.  Remove it and you'll kill the 
patient.  we can like DeNiro in Brazil tinker locally, but explosions are 
inevitable, killing the innocent.

Richard Romeo
Coordinator of Cooperating Collections
The Foundation Center-NYC
212-807-2417
rromeo at fdncenter.org