Jim Vick: Listen

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As corporations with no formal allegiance to any nation choose those who lead us and make our laws, fund their campaigns, and assure that they remain in power . . . as those same corporations continue to grow in power, profits, and influence through their study, influence and growing control of our consumption-focused lives, I, for one, can't help asking "Just what IS normal anymore?" I tried to approach the issue with a sense of humor here, but I do think that with every passing year it becomes ever more essential that we all keep talking back to our televisions - or perhaps better yet, disengage sometimes from the conversation altogether. - JV

The Norm

When you find your life
in chaos and dysfunction
using psychobabble to describe
the status of your family . . .
When you can't help comparing
their daily interactions
with the crazy neighbors down the street
or the simple way life used to be . . .

Don't blame yourself.
It's a social condition.
It's not your fault.
At least, not all you see,
because the norm, it just aint normal anymore.

When you question the motives
of anyone who wants to be your friend,
well it could be paranoia
or just the voice of experience.
When looking in the mirror
keeps bringing down your self esteem,
turn off your t.v.
and put down your magazine.

Don't blame yourself.
You can't help what you see.
It could be clinical depression
or just a corporate conspiracy,
because the norm, it just aint normal anymore.

When observing your own actions,
you start to see a pattern
of continuous distraction
from the things that really matter.
When all your interaction
is happening in cyberspace,
you may miss your lost connection
with other members of the human race.

Don't blame yourself.
It's something larger than you or me.
It's got a life of its own,
and it's only just begun.
We share this dark night with all humanity.
And it could be a long, long time
before we see the sun,
because the norm,
it just aint normal
anymore.

Copyright 2001 Jim Vick