Watch this video:
So typical of the American go-gettum mentality: take a risk, do something amazing, live life to the fullest. Be awesome.
But consider this: why the hell are we being encouraged to break out of a system we worked so hard to pioneer, serve, protect and defend? Why does it take a rebellious streak to make a mark on the world?
I’ll tell you why: the system is meant to be broken by a few who have the cojones to do so. The others, meanwhile, prop up their mediocre lives with the work of the brave, inspirational shit like this—positive quotes, other people’s stories. It’s a symbiosis.
Nike knows damn well their campaign of inspiration is not much more than an orchestrated, commercialized mirage. After all, let’s not forget that guy was handed a bunch of cash to “make a commercial” and now it’s cool that he took the money and traversed the world and still made a commercial. Oooooohh.
But I ought to be fair, not angry. Say something redeeming. So here goes:
I’m lucky to live in a country that’s stable and educated, where non-conformity is encouraged when its fruits produce good, and inspire others—like me—to go after my dreams.
But because America has no moral roadmap, no state religion, it’s up to all of us to create good in our pursuit to create good. You can’t just start working on a noble project and treat people like shit as you try to hit all those three-pointers. It doesn’t work that way.
So tomorrow I’m going to go out and not only be awesome but also be good. More people will strike out and just be awesome without being good, and that’s a shame.
As for the guy in the Nike commercial—I trust him. It’s a feeling I have.