Hil, Bam better look out for this ex-N.Y.C. cabbie

I am a 25 year old male that graduated from Northeastern University (5 year school) in the fall of 2005.  I came in to the school planning on graduating as an engineer and then working for the rest of my life with computers in some field or another.  I did accomplish attaining a computer engineering degree and I hold a job right now as a software quality assurance engineer.  However, as far as "working for the rest of my life with computers in some field or another" goes, I don't think so.

I had the unfortunate experience of having my ignorant American bubble burst, HARD, right in the middle of me trying to figure out where my life was heading during my 3rd year at Northeastern.  I wouldn't describe the experience as unfortunate now, looking back at the situation, but it was definitely unfortunate when I all of a sudden realized how dumb, blind, scared, and IGNORANT I was.  I had the great blessing of meeting some bright minds in Boston that clued me in on what the deal was with Bush going in and invading Iraq.  Oh you bet I voted for Bush in 2000.  All because I was just doing what good 'ol mom told me to do, "Just vote for Bush sweetie."  "Okay, mom no problem, I don't have to think for myself...I know you know what's best."  Lol, I can laugh now because I know how utterly blind I was and how much I have changed since then.  It's sad at the same time though, because I know in my heart that there are millions of Americans that are in the exact same position I was in when I was 18.

Thank God for my friends that I met in Boston!  They spent numerous weeks, days, and hours sometimes just trying to get through my thick head exactly WHY it was wrong to go into Iraq.  Before we even invaded my friends pointed out the fact that if we did invade Iraq the 3 sectarian factions would erupt in civil war.  It was all there.  All the information and facts you could ever want, is already out there.  You just have to go to the book store, look under the 'current affairs' section and you'll be blasted with information and facts that will get your temperature to rise fast.

Before I knew it, I was reading...for real, for the first time in my life!  And I was 20 years old!  That's not something to boast about....but when I stop and really think about it, it is.  Because I realized that I did not know anything.  I had no real basis to base ANY of my thoughts and beliefs on besides what my mom told me or something like that.  I never actually knew anything new.  By the time some books (for example, A People's History of the United States) and my friends were done with me...I'd come home and my mom couldn't say anymore that I was the same person.  I started getting upset any time she would say some BS, especially when she would support Bush and his ridiculous actions.  By the time 2004 came around, I was able to puncture some-what my mom's bubble and she realized the evil inherent in Bush, so she got on the Kerry bandwagon.

By now though, I have gone through much questioning and information hunting and by the looks of it we are all pretty screwed.  I've been through all the issues; global warming, geo-politics, peak oil, social security, Medicare, the federal (illegal) income tax, corporate media control, you name it!  In this age, our glorious Information age...all the facts are readily available for consumption.  I don't believe anymore that I will have the security I once believed I would have in the future.  When I was 18 and just listened to my mom, who so carefully made sure I was unaware of the awfulness in the world, I felt secure.  I thought that America is the best country in the world and that computers are the future and everything is going to be AWSOME!  I love life!  Who didn't?  Oh, that's right almost forgot about Columbine and that terrible nightmare.  Ignorance is bliss, and it's not just a cliché, it's a reality.  For every Columbine, and now...Virginia Tech that happens, we can be reminded that everything is not going to be as awesome as we originally thought.  Now that I'm 25, I feel TOTALLY insecure and TOTALLY scared shitless of what the future holds for my generation and our soon-to-be-born kids.

What are you going to tell your kids when no snow falls on the ground in winter time in New England?  Are you going to feel proud telling your kids how much you enjoyed skiing on the weekends in the beautiful mountains, while they get to tube down the wet grass?  Are you going to feel proud reminiscing over the fond memories watching American Idol while the world went to hell?  What are you going to tell your kids when they asked you what you did to make sure their future was secure?  What are you going to say, huh?

I'll tell you right now what I'd say, "I voted for Mike Gravel and did everything in my power to get that guy elected.  After watching the 1st debate with the Democratic candidates - I knew in my heart and soul who, as a nation, a people, a community, as humans,  we needed to lead the United States of America towards a secure future for my and everyone else's children."  I'll tell my kids, "Not only did I vote for Mike Gravel for president, I also put everything else in my life down, temporarily, so that I could really do everything in my power to make that guy president.  I knew after I listened to that man speak with such honesty, clarity, and divine intentions that getting him in the president's office was the most patriotic thing an American can do.  Not join the military and continue to be taken advantage of by corrupt people, who were called leaders by the public.  I listened to my soul kids, and worked harder than ever knowing that the only war that needed to be fought was for your security...not America's vital interests.  Whenever the so-called leaders talked about vital interests, I knew that meant something good for the rich people and something bad for everyone else.  I knew getting Mike Gravel the Democratic nomination alone was going to be THE hardest thing to do in the world.  But I would not let myself be unpatriotic.  18 year olds joined the marines with no fear what so ever and succeed with nobility at the end of their boot camp.  They become marines...but only, ONLY by doing the hardest thing in the world everyday, day-in day-out.  I told myself that if 18 year olds are able to muster up the strength, courage, and will to die in Iraq for a lie...then I better be able to do the same if not more to save the future of this country for REAL!  How could I have lived with myself?  I knew all the information, yeah it might not have been all scientifically proven...but I knew in my gut what was wrong with our society.  I was 25 and heard enough BS.  I was ready to go campaign for Mike Gravel like a kid fresh out of high school, ready for boot camp!  I asked myself, "How many pushups Mike?  Sir, I'll do twice as much for you, sir!"  And that's the attitude I had kids...it's the only thing that was actually worth putting time and effort into.  I couldn't just sit there knowing everything I knew in my heart without going all the 110% way.  So, if getting Gravel nominated was going to be the hardest thing in the world, "Bring it on," is what I said.  And kids, I also knew that if I did not possess that very attitude towards Mike Gravel's campaign and brought that level of seriousness towards getting him nominated...there would be no way to beat the corporate controlled mass-media.  America would be held hostage for another 4 years.  So kids, that's when I decided to stop watching the world go bye, and started living life for ALL that it's worth.  I kept working...but put everything else down during the run-up to the election in '08 and made sure that I did everything in my power to make Mike Gravel President of the United States of America."

I hope there are others in America that would like to share a similar story with their kids when they are old.  It would be a shame to let this moment pass.  We, the people, have an amazing opportunity at this very moment.  The Internet abounds and free-speech is being practiced and can now be heard more easily than ever before in history!  Please realize this!  It's real!  For those of you who might not know, the Internet came into the mainstream in 1995!  That's only about 10 years...let's make those 10 years extra worth it by acknowledging the communication power and using it to better the future of this country.  Who else is ready to be patriotic and fight for their freedom and fight for their country's freedom?  Corporate interests have this country hijacked and will drive this country and the planet all the way to hell and further if we don't do something about it.

These are all the reasons why I will not be "working for the rest of my life with computers in some field or another."  Lol, the thought of it just disgusts me.  I almost would rather kill myself than have to deal with the fact of Mike Gravel not becoming President.  What then?  Work for some company that is most likely funded by Homeland Security and work on a project that is going to protect us from the terrorists?  Maybe (if I had a Masters or PhD) I could work on some new military weaponry that would sure teach those terrorists who they’re messing with.  I could sell my soul to the devil any day of the week...but I'd rather make friends and not live in fear.

Today I mailed Mike $500 to his campaign.  I'm only 25 years old and am currently paying off my lovely $100,000 student loan curtsey of Sallie Mae.  Without that loan, I would have never gone to Boston to experience the city culture and Northeastern's horrible ability to prepare students for the 21st century.  I pay about $900 a month to cover that loan, plus I have all the usual expenses like everyone else....rent, car, utilities, phone, etc.  All the money in my pocket won't do me or anyone else any good if Mike Gravel is not elected president in 2008.  I can not afford to be so careless with MY OWN money.  Vote with your dollars folks, because it's the only thing that makes things happen in this world.  I will give Mike all the money I can afford to...all the way up to the election!  This is by far the most important time in human history as far as I'm concerned...and I'll be damned if I didn't do all I could about it.

Peace,

 . Adam Rosszay .