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As much as I always try to be the optimist, I have to say that I am rapidly losing hope for society. There are a few reasons for this now. Some hit closer to home than others. The first reason is on a much broader scale; I watched "Supersize Me", a documentary about the food industry, it's evils and corruption. The second that I wish to talk about is a rash of break-ins in my tiny city. I'll discuss this is a moment.

So here we stand on what we feel is a wonderful society. The greatest there ever was, many would claim. It is a society of freedom...kind of. The society we live in has checks and balances that are easily corrupted when human greed is thrown into the mix. "Supersize Me" really brings this point to light. The corruption of corporate America and crooked politics has crept into the very food we eat. Do you realize that the McDonalds Corporation has been brainwashing us since we could comprehend the world around us. Everything there is either designed fill you with deep set "happy" memories of childhood, or to addict you to their fatty and dangerous foods.

The psychological addiction occurs when we see the clown, or we play with the toys or enjoy the play place. We associate the organization as "fun and loving" and that stays with you over the years so that as you get older and life becomes more troubling and complex you feel like you can always rely on McDonalds to be a place of comfort and happiness. Yes we all make our own decisions... but who we are is defined by our experiences, and places like McDonalds do NOTHING to tell you the dangers of their product, only that the food is tasty and when you are there you are happy and loved.

The physical addiction occurs as you eat the food. Specially processed cheese, caffinated beverages and sugared up meat and fries, cause the brain to release endorphins and other chemicals that the brain can get accustom to. It works the same as smoking in this way... I mean have you ever stared at McDonalds food and thought, "I really shouldn't at this... but I'm going to anyway!". That's the same thing a smoker does. You know it makes you feel good, even though common sense says it's bad for you.

School food is unbalanced as other companies move in for a similar kill. A healthy diet is proven to make students healthier, less agitated, less violent and happier people. Then WHY do cafeterias continually sell junk food, fries and pop? Because this action is cheaper and easier than providing healthy foods and banning junk. And why is it cheaper? Because these companies know that they can addict you in the same way McDonalds does for a lifetime, so they provide their food cheaper to schools.

You're thinking ole Drow has finally lost it, haven't you. Well it may surprise you to know that many food companies have reports that say these very things. We all have choices... and our choices are based on our past experiences (i.e. I once burned myself on the stove so now I know not to touch it). If all our past tells us is "Food makes us happy" what chance do we have to make the right choice?

Watch the movie. It may not be as funny as a Micahel Moore documentary, but it's very eye opening.

Okay. The second thing I felt I had to vent about was this rash of break-ins in my town. The assailant breaks into basements, "assaults" the young women then steals their possessions. This is happening to single moms who live in basement apartments and young girls who are sleeping on couches. I just... I can't imagine these things. I view this sort of thing on par with murder, I'm serious. You are traumatizing a young girl against something special she has to share with the one she loves, later in life. What drives a person to do this! And its not like its in New York, its in my little city! I mean no one is safe. This just boggles my mind. I can't even wrap my head around it, and I think that just makes it harder for me to accept.

So what am I trying to say? Society has lost its way. The people who are supposed to protect us don't, and the people who should be standing up to demand the protection, just prey on each other. Now I know these are just a few examples, and I know many people aren’t like this, but so many are it feels like idealism is failing. What freedoms do we have? This society does not reward the deserving, just the crooked. The man who pinches pennies so he can make a donation to charity is forced to eat foods that will kill him and riddle his body with disease and complications. Those who CAN help, only help themselves.

If you are reading this, think about my words. Make your stand today. Say this is the line and do not cross it. Go out and do good in the world. When you shop for food, make a healthy choice, and if you can, buy two; one for you and one for a food bank. If you have 2 dollars left after a stop at the store, drop it in a charity bucket. Buy a meal and give it to a stranger or give a smile to someone crying. Let us make a stand. From this point on, be useful or be gone.

Prepare... Gabrial is coming