Coming of (Old) Age

Let's say you've been reading American history most of your adult life, over half a century now, and in that time you've reached some conclusions not taught in high school the usual suspects about genocide against American Indians lynchings of black citizens concentration camps for Japanese citizens and the most extraordinary atrocity of all, November 22, 1963, a coup d'etat orchestrated by rogue elements in the government and you accept all these things as true and you widen the focus to the world, where good deeds get lost in an historic avalanche of war and genocide and butchery mass graves, killing fields (inspiration for future video games) hard to keep track of it all and all this, too, is true It's hard to avoid the conclusion that the United States is no better than a Banana Republic, though more livable than most, with perks like shopping and mythology and escape valves for discontent like talk shows and voting and it's hard to avoid the conclusion that civilization is an asylum run by sadists a lifetime studying history two sad conclusions so the question naturally arises how possibly to live here? 1. lay low 2. reduce your universe 3. remember Nature wins 4. join the winning team 5. lay lower