​Being a Survivalist

By BD Bondy
 
Carol and I were driving through Espanola the other day and I saw a giant pickup truck with big wheels, very high clearance, and a snorkel. I was a bit enamored. Then I saw a sticker on the back window, Survivalist.

This conjured up some depressing thoughts for me, Walking Dead, climate change, end of days, nuclear bombs, and civil war.

Then I thought, well, I’m also a survivalist. Only, I want EVERYONE to survive. I got solar panels, drive a plug-in hybrid car with almost no emissions, preach peace, and hate guns. I’m rooting for all mankind to get along and help one another.

As far as I can tell, it’s not having much effect on the world, but it’s still a cause worth ‘fighting’ for, or at least discussing.

My mom asked me a couple years ago if I thought there would be a civil war in this country. I said I didn’t think so. That seemed more of a media, especially social media, false story, meant to promote the idea.

These days it can be difficult to know the facts, so I tend to stick with big name news outlets that actually pay journalists to do investigative reporting. There are plenty of sources out there that call themselves news agencies and have no actual journalists.

Sometimes it can be difficult to discern the difference, especially when the article agrees with your thinking or supports what you already believe. My mom may have had the best solution, and that was to not read or watch ANY news. When everyone is screaming at you, it gets hard to hear anything.

Ultimately, it’s best for me to try and think for myself, and double or triple check an article that seems suspect. And I’m suspicious of most articles.