Do what They say

          The one place that we truly thought we were safe from the media, was one of the places that has been so thoroughly brought down by it.  I had the privileged of attending a church much closer to the spirit of Christ than I have seen in a long long time, and that is because we have strayed so far past community, and straight over the cliff of isolation.  By isolation I don't mean that we are alone... oh no.   We are constantly surrounded by people, constantly overwhelmed by pressure, trash, and commercials.  The isolation comes from the lack of intimate relationships... and lack of intimacy with God.
          How did we become this way?  We look at Europe and their tolerance of religion.  How did we come from them if they so strongly want to OK everything that passes them by.  I thought for a while that we were being more hard headed as a human society, but the opposite seems to be coming true.  We no longer have passions, but instead "meh"(00:20:50) our way through life...
Tolerance guides us.
          My room mate told me a story about a mother she met in Amsterdam, who informed her that she believed that when we die, our spirits will become energy, to help those still living.  Then she began explaining that if her son wanted to be Islam, she would allow it.  "Just because the idea of energy works for her, doesn't mean it will work for him."  ...Just because jumping off a mountain works to kill me, doesn't mean it'll work to kill you, but I'm OK with whatever you try...
          I do feel like I am being somewhat a hypocrite, for it sounds as if I have no 'tolerance' of such things like religion... but that is far beyond what I am saying.  The goal here is to make the point that we no longer make our own decisions ... but instead we are becoming reliant on what, the omniscient, 'they' tell us is right and wrong.  We are not passionate, but instead we half-heartedly care about everything and nothing, all at the same time.  
I always read this following quote with the most approval:  
You have enemies?  Good.  That means you've actually stood up for something you believe in.

As one of my favorite movies puts it...
And who says we have to listen to 'them'? *They* do! 

It's funny, but over and over again we are being influenced by "they."  And over and over again we listen and follow and obey their every command.
Where did all of this come from?
Funny you ask, I've been exploring this exact topic...

          I typed in "that's what they say " into google search and found countless amounts of songs from countless amounts of artists conveying the same confusion that we feel...
Buddy Holly, Jeff Healey Band, Betty Davis,  Chris Rea, Common, 15, Claudia Acuna, Bryan Adams, Mayday Parade, Knaan, The Maine, Graham Parker, Between The buried and Me, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kanye West, Thousand Foot Krutch, Poison, Drake, Good Charlotte... etc.
          Ironically enough, almost all of these artists have played for the single most "They" that exists.  The same thing, that has been influencing us since 1981, still has control over what we believe, how we dress, and how we speak.  By acknowledging our recognition of They, we feel that we are making a difference... that we are "Sticking it to the man" sort of speak, but these artists possibly doing the opposite, and giving them the power.

They say... MTV.