Jackson Free Press

Topics often jump out at me over the course of a week. This week, everything was jumping, and not a one of them was staying down. I went over my last columns in my head wondering what to pontificate about this week. Gay? Did it. Woman? Been there. Sex? Several times.

I even wrote about this guy that lived in the woods, and Idid an entire story on my fat cat's butt. I mean, surely someone thought I had completely lost my mind on that one? If not, at least my Random Topic Generator 2000.

I've been angry most of the week. This is the kind of anger that comes out in biting words at the end of sentences and hangs in the air in the room. It isn't really the most fun way to write—mainly because most anything coming out of my mouth would sound suspiciously like "You. Are. Stupid. Go. Away." And I'm not really that narcissistic by nature. No, seriously.

Unfortunately this mood isn't conducive to my writing a column about, say, my shoes. But the mood is conducive to writing about my frustrations with government right now. From Frank Melton's grandstanding at the Jackson Apartments to Jack Abramoff's indictments to George Bush's illegal wiretaps. From spying to sewage, I'm pissed. And I'm pissed at a lot of people. In fact, I think not enough people are pissed with me. Wait, that didn't come out right.

Let me start over. People are not angry enough. People are not engaged enough. People are not understanding enough. And, I'm not saying that because I think I'm doing that great a job.

Every day I have to wake up and remind myself to be engaged in my job, when I'm really thinking about my personal life. Everyday I have to wake up and remind myself to be engaged in this city, when I'm really thinking about my outfits. Everyday I have to wake up and remind myself that I am one lucky woman.

And just because other people didn't have my parents or my means doesn't mean they deserve any less of a life than I do. It doesn't mean they deserve any less of anything than I do. I don't mean BCBG shoes and nice leather goods. Because, dammit, I've worked for those.

It means that all people deserve dignity. All people deserve respect. All people have the right of self-determination. If I have to shove that down my throat everyday to keep me from being an ass, I'm going to do it. And, by damn, if people get elected to a position that requires caring for "people," is it too much to ask that they have this simple understanding as well?

Let's talk about what else I'm sick of. I'm sick of liars. I'm a therapist by the grace of a federal school loan, and I know due to this schooling that people aren't truly "liars." This is because one should never define another's character through a single action. Thus, people "lie"; they are not "liars."

This is crap. Several key people in the current presidential administration are liars. Knowing we are staring down the barrel of a protracted investigation and court process, I lose my cool with this great legal system and wish they would just go away.

Or at least go to jail.

What the hell is going on in this administration? As long as we have our Starbucks and Shell stations, are we no longer willing to stand up and demand at least a tiny modicum of respect for paying their salaries and Abramoff millions? I mean, is Bush still president? Yes? Why?

How much more must happen before people start seeing what is going on here? People are getting rich. People are lying to the American public. People are working for themselves in these public-funded offices.

Until we look at them, tap the glass, and place the snake in the aquarium, they will continue to run this big grinding wheel and piss in our wood chips. This is no longer about "us" and "them." It's about our country and its future. If political leaders can lull a democratic country into a sugar-induced complacency, they can create a corporate-run dictatorship.

We are so happy, so giddy, so joyous to pay for overpriced gas and lobbyists that we no longer wake up, go anywhere or see anything. Hell, I wake up every day just to find out who else is going to jail, or getting sued. I mean, I've managed not to go to jail, or get sued, or really break the law (OK, that was a lie), and I'm just a social worker in Mississippi, for Chrissakes. I'm obviously not aiming my aspirations as high as a seat in state or national politics.

Can someone get elected to office and stay "unindicted"? Is it too much to ask?

I say all that when all I really want to say is "You. Are. Stupid. Go. Away."

Ali Greggs' column appears regularly in the JFP.

Previous Comments

ID

71248

Comment

Ali writes: Gay? Did it. Woman? Been there. Sex? Several times. I don't know why, but I read this out of context and was very glad I didn't have a mouthful of coffee or something at the time. Great column, as per usual. I'm not sure you could write a bad one if you tried. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-01-12T02:06:07-06:00

ID

71249

Comment

OH, I'm sure that I could. I've done it several times and then set them on fire so as not to ruin my "rep". That "Gay? Did it." thing was meant to be read that way. ;) It was purposely set up for those of us with naughty minds.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-01-12T11:18:54-06:00

ID

71250

Comment

I liked the "Sex? Several times" part, personally. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-01-12T11:44:01-06:00

ID

71251

Comment

I'm posting this so you guys can see where I get it from. This is an email from my mother...subject line "This Week's Column" Read your column. Glad I haven't seen much of you this week! (Yes mother, I love you too) Sorry I couldn't talk when you came by today. I have to do the "Remarriage" seminar next wkend and we were reviewing. Can you imagine the irony of that??? And don't mention that in an article. I really don't want them to know my relationship hx. SERIOUSLY!!! You mean that whole thing about you being married and divorced four times and you doing a "Remarriage" seminar. Nah, mom. I would never mention that in an article!!! ;) One question, who named me "The Angry Young Woman"?? Huh??? ;)

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-01-12T16:26:50-06:00

ID

71252

Comment

Ali, just when I think you couldn't get any loonier, you always go beyond my expectations. Of course, I know your response already: "Glad to be of service!" :-P

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-01-12T23:12:46-06:00

ID

71253

Comment

One question, who named me "The Angry Young Woman"?? Huh??? ;) Guess. Cheers, Your Editor

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2006-01-12T23:15:41-06:00

ID

71254

Comment

Apropos of nothing, but the thread just got quiet and I'm always game for more hits on an Ali Greggs column:

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Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-01-15T19:18:50-06:00

ID

71255

Comment

Oh, bother. That was supposed to work. :P

Author

Tom Head

Date

2006-01-15T19:19:23-06:00