citizen of the world

oh my.

I just watched a film about listening to the voices of the world and specifically what they think about America. I wonder why i am an artist if I care so much about the others in the world. How can my voice be heard?

http://www.thelisteningprojectfilm.com

I live a contradiction: I collect luxuries and demand high quality in my experiences in life, yet I want to give all that I have that is good to those who need it.

I am frustrated that my parents raised me to expect privilege and eventually pressured me into casting my first presidential vote to George Bush. That is not what I believe is morally correct. That dosent respect humanity and compassion to every individual.

who am I to do something for another country ? I don't think I am powerful enough to bring a new perspective to the majority of privileged americans.

Globalization brings an overpowering seduction of cash and power which results in a change and assimilation of the native culture. What do we know about everyone else in the world? Nothing as compared to what everyone else in this world knows about America. How can I link what I am doing to reflect those people and their perspectives?

Education may be the only way to change this. Introducing global consciousness.

Every time I pump gas into my car, I keep the dependent relationship alive with the US as the globally dominant country. America only makes up 4% of the world's population yet we consume 40% of the world's resources. The top 1% of the wealth in the U.S. is ___________ class matters statistic.

The film voiced opinions of how foriegners thought americans were akin to the Romans, the empire that took over everyone's land around them. The Romans had no care to know about those thay had taken over, and eventually collapsed.

THIS IS DISPLACEMENT

Displacement in America started in the 1950's when the inner city rerouted the wealth into suburbanization... we are dislocating identity, history, culture.

The listening Project.

i am reminded that i have a calling to leave america and to care for the people outside of our bubble. i was reminded of how much my mind changed when i lived in Turkiye, how I was sick when i returned to America: the food, the mindset, the hypocrisy. all of it was shallow and forced. Not as authentic as the richness i found in the Mediterranean.

On a lighter note, some artwork from this morning:

Here is the beginning of the web of contorted faces in my newest cigarbox book: