Fight the war, conserve energy

I was watching MTV2 a few weeks ago and was struck by the hypocrisy I witnessed on "Music With a Message." After a weak and up-beat critical video about the war in Iraq came another video by a pathetic rap-rock band called Chronic Future. Before the video, the band explained why America should not be overseas fighting for oil. It's members were careful to point out their support of our troops, but are "against the policy that puts them over there." Like much of America's youth, these bands are just plain missing the point. American troops are fighting for oil so we can be wealthy in America.\nBecause petroleum runs our society, our troops are fighting for our right to drive gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles. They're fighting for our freedom to impulsively rack up purchases on our credit cards - which, by the way are made of plastic, a petroleum product. American troops are fighting for our freedom to shop and be grotesquely wealthy. This is, after all, the land where prisoners watch cable TV, and much of the poor have plenty of fat reserves.\nThis is also the land where edible bread and half-eaten pasta is thrown away like banana peels. People spend more money for a gallon of bottled water than a gallon of gasoline no matter how "desperate" things get. Yet we all like to toot our horns when gasoline prices are anything higher than $1.50 per gallon. What is more American than baseball, hotdogs, and complaining how much that gasoline costs on the way to the ballgame?\nMost of the young complainers among our MTV generation- whether they be established musicians or just crybaby fans - are just plain hedonistic brats. Most of the youth in this country just want to have fun, and forget about the consequences. Heaven forbid that we get a ticket for DWI (while using gasoline) and thinking that police should be enforcing "real crime." Not to say the older and more conservative generation would not also be loath to start living more simply without the luxuries to which they feel entitled after decades of hard work and saving. Despite a long and strong Christian tradition, most Americans seek worldly pleasure in life and most find it in money despite the virtuous myth that "money can't buy happiness."\nAs a Christian myself, I know it was neither the Jews, nor the Romans, nor Judas who were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus, but rather the sins of mankind. Likewise, it is neither President Bush nor the American military nor conservatives in general who are causing this war in Iraq but rather our entire nation demanding the large amounts of petroleum in Iraq. We need more petroleum so we can drive around Friday nights with our friends or make plastic Coke bottles. We need more petroleum for more comfort, more fun and more economic well being. So, let's just take all of the petroleum in the world!\nNo one is innocent, including me. The sad thing is that I am conscientious to conserve energy, but still use a lot of it. For instance, I hate air conditioning and never use it at my own apartment. The only way to be innocent is to crawl into the woods and become some kind of hermit, and I am not willing to do that. Besides, there is no way of convincing my fellow citizens to conserve energy as a hermit.