2 posts tagged “great depression”

(alternate title : "All the reality that is fit to print.")

There is no doubt that we are living in an extraordinarily fucked up world. We have global warming, corrupt governments, a culture growing out of reality television and Splenda seems like a good idea to a lot of people.

Religion is the opiate of the masses.
Television is the opiate of the masses.
Opium is the opiate of the masses.

The three previous statements can all be proven as true through logical argument, but what is it really that is impacting our world into a false sense of happiness?

I have no idea.

Something I have always wanted was a child. As I meet children, as I get opportunities to teach them something about the world I have a strong urge to make one of my own. I am jealous of members of my family that have children, I am envious of their opportunity to shape a mind... to clone a lasting copy of themselves to live on in this world. Then reality settles in.

Is this the world that an innocent child deserves?

People smoke despite a clear label on the package that the product will kill them.
Priests diddle children.
Amid a clear global change, we don''t change our ways.
Any idiot can have a child when it takes months if not years for someone to adopt someone in need.

I was fortunate enough to have amazing parents. Two people that allowed me to develop into the person I am today, they were and are considered by their peers as a strange anomaly, they are also envied by these same people for the friendship they have with their three sons. When they could have molded us into anything they wanted, champion golfers ( in the way of Earl Woods ) or subjected us to fame on television ( we were gorgeous children ), they instead offered us everything that this world had to offer. Exposed to every religion, every bit of knowledge in the world available ... they let us grow into the men we are today.
I am a colossal fuck up... when compared to my brothers. I'm the explorer, never content. While my younger brothers take on more noble roles in the world I sit around and write hoping to eventually reach a reasonable conclusion that will convince you the reader to not have children.

Why?

In a world beyond repair... do you feel capable of teaching someone enough that they can fix your mistakes?

    I am searching now for a portion of the American subculture that has gone without the appreciation it truly deserves. I am searching for signs of it everywhere I turn. A subculture that is 100 years old and with that age has shown more staying power and anonymity than the "hippie" sub culture or "punk" subculture in the fact that you can not find a t-shirt in any mall promoting their ideals. The subculture I am speaking of is that of the hobo, which is itself more complex than I have ever given it credit for, and is too complex for me to do it justice here.

    Hobo is a term that refers to a group of traveling homeless peoples. The stereotype persona of a hobo is a disheveled, poorly dressed drunken man. This may be accurate enough to hold it true.
    These train riding homeless came into being primarily during the great depression set forth ideals on interaction with people and how it would impact their survival, they developed a shorthand in picture based codes that would signal relevant information to other travelers on the road.
    When I read the hobo code of ethics I was impressed. It is all at the same time proud and careful. Cautious and brilliant. They even have their own union and this how the ethics came to be.

An ethical code was created by Tourist Union #63 during its 1889 National Hobo Convention in St. Louis Missouri. This code was voted upon as a concrete set of laws to govern the Nation-wide Hobo Body, it reads this way;

1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
3. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hoboes.
4. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but insure employment should you return to that town again.
5. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals treatment of other hoboes.
7. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you.
8. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
9. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
11. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.
12. Do not cause problems in a train yard, Another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
13. Do not allow other hoboes to molest children, expose to authorities all molesters, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
14. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
15. Help your fellow hoboes whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.

    I think that this is all very forward thinking for the time, to protect citizens and children while still looking to survive.

    What has interested me the most was the symbols they have used, and now I am looking for them wherever I go. I would ask any readers if you have seen these codes, take a picture and let me know.

    A culture (subculture) so brilliant in it's simplicity should be much more revered. Hard working men, refusing the bind of society. It is impressive to a very high degree. In many instances these men risked death to be happy and free. Traveling on cold winter nights daring frostbite to come near, drinking unclean water goading dysentery and challenging  themselves alone against the world.
    They have their own vernacular, a loose written language and laws that they live within. These Hobo's even developed their own artistic field     Why exactly aren't they more revered? Peaceful, honest and treating well their fellow man, these are the monks of our country... the holiest men that we have.