Want to blow your mind without pharmaceuticals or firearms? Here’s how: Watch the movie: “The Social Network;” Lesley Stahl’s interview of Mark Zuckerberg on 60 Minutes (12/05/10); and the PBS documentary: “Ulysses S. Grant – Warrior/President” all in the same week.
That’s what I did. Hold on to your hat because your head will spin! The cognitive dissonance will clog your synapses so badly you’ll be shaking your head to rid your brain of the discordant noise caused by the mind-screwing juxtaposition of America’s past and America’s present as represented by two opposing entities: a man with high principles and a man with low principles. (Are you still with me?)
Here’s the cause of the cranium turmoil: It’s a story of one man who mended the social fabric of our country and healed a nation VS the story of another who strives to control the social interaction of our nation for the betterment of himself. One man was a U.S. President and lives on with honor. The other is a company president that lives in infamy.
Both men are five-foot eight in height, but one stands head and shoulders above the other. In terms of being a man who manned-up in his life, one can’t hold a candle to the other.
But here’s the head exploding part: America’s past revered the principled man. He was the most popular and respected man of his time. Likewise, America’s present idolizes the non-principled guy. It doesn’t care if he doesn’t engender respect. He is worth so damn much money!
What’s up with that? I suppose some people would call it changing times/a different era—or out with the old and in with the new—or maybe even “progress.” I call it a bastardization of the American values system.
I know I have a lot of explaining to do. This is a complicated subject with many players. But stick with me for the next couple of blogs and I think I can show why who you are as a human being far outweighs a hefty bank account.
In Part 2 I’ll explain the players in this cautionary tale:
a. The movie “The Social Network”
b. The person who the movie is about—Mark Zuckerberg
c. FaceBook—the “social product” with a shady beginning
d. The Winklevoss Twins – who are only bit players in this drama. But I threw them in just because I like to say the word “Winklevoss” and its plural “Winklevii” (as mentioned in the movie).
In Part 3 and 4 I’ll explain how Lesley Stahl screwed up her TV interview with Mark Zuckerberg—and the probable reason why.
In Part 5 I’ll explain the difference between Ulysses Grant and Mark Zuckerberg as men—in particular, how they treat others—friend and foe alike. The comparison is staggering.
By the end, maybe you’ll agree with me that worshiping at the altar of FaceBook is indeed detrimental to the “progress” of America.
Stay tuned…
