Lord of the Flies Isn't Too Far from the Reality

So I recently attended the Boys State program in Virginia, and it has really been a journey.

First, of all, i want to say how fun it was with the kids who had to suffer the program with me. It was obvious that 90 percent of the students there were only there for having "Boys State" on their college applications. The people who were chosen to come were great people, I couldn't have had a better time for the week if it wasn't for them.

Now, for the actual program.

The week was full of disgusting politics and social maneuverings for issues and topics that too far from reality to even think about. Yet the people who were so into it were nothing short of violent in getting their bills passed and especially getting their candidate elected. There were the good, the bad, and the ugly throughout the conservative brainwash camp, and they were divided distinctively between the dorm and the actual activities. While the fun and the "good" were confined in the dorms right before lights out and the talent show, the bad and the ugly were rampant in the conventions, mid-day activities, and the speeches.

I've never had so much republican conservative slander thrown at me before they brought out the public speakers, expecially, Dave Willis, Jerry Faldwell, the leutenant governor, and the attorney general. Of course, they were talking about issues such as gay marriage, sex offenders, etc. which really held no appeal to me. In fact, i found myself disturbed by what they were trying to get across to us, which was, total compliance to the rule and patriotism to leave no room for individuality and freedoms.

The most disturbing and disgusting topic of the week was that of the flag. It seemed as though the main focus was respecting the American flag. Dave Willis made it clear that he wanted the burning of the American flag to be illegal and another authority wanted total respect to the flag during the flag raising and lowering ceremonies or whoever messed around would be victim to his personal confrontation. Now, I do respect their patriotic adherance to their country, however, I cannot shake off the feeling that their missing the point.

America is a country. A country is an idea. Really, what is the United States of America. The USA consists of different states which consist of people who consider themselves to share an identity. This identity is a citizenship that embodies everyone who wishes to be part of this nation. America is whatever the people make it. Our country cannot be represented simply by a flag or papers. America is simply what we make and what we want it to be. WE are the people. The people make up the country. We can burn the flag if we want to and we can express any of our opinions if we want to as long as we don't oppress the rights and freedoms of others. However, out of feverish patriotism and blind pride, the conservative and militant right want to suppress the freedoms that we have in the name of hate and revenge. What good is protection if we don't have anything to protect. What does a government protect? Our lives? What good are our lives if they don't mean anything. America is collection of individuals. Why are we the best (we're not)? Because we have that freedom. Now, fear, terrorism, and propaganda are restricting those freedoms and our opinions to evnetually bring us down.

Another thing I noticed is that Boys State seemed to be a lot like the government set up by the kids in the Lord of the Flies. The most unimportant were set as top priorities during ceremonies (the flag) and proper dressing was always enforced. Religion was so important in the program and everything revolved around time consuming propriety that had no effect on how we lived our lives whatsoever. So you know waht i have to say to that? Fuck yoU!

anyways... that's my story for Boys State...