I’ve had this post open all day waiting to be written. And its not that I haven’t had the time - I most definitely have. Its that I’ve sat and stared at a blank area time and time again not being able to find the words that I want to write.

I’m angry. At the world. At America. At people who have fucked up priorities.

A story unfolding at press time gives a taste of that global energy-security issue everyone’s worried about: according to news reports, gunmen attacked an oil field in eastern Ethiopia run by a Chinese company, killing 65 local workers and nine Chinese workers, and taking seven Chinese hostages. Xu Shuang, acting manager of the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, reported that the gunmen took control of the oil field after a 50-minute shootout with 100 soldiers guarding the area. The conflict is apparently tied to Ethiopia’s military presence in neighboring Somalia, where the Ethiopian government has backed the effort to quell Islamic insurgents. But it is resource-related too: China’s growing presence in Africa on a hunt for oil and other resources is highly controversial. Last year, an Ethiopian rebel group said foreign investment in the area attacked today “would not be tolerated.” Eleven Chinese oil workers were also kidnapped in Nigeria in recent months; two remain in captivity.

But you know. Fuck. Lets start making Facebook groups to commemorate those gunned down in Virginia - but completely ignore this. Keep driving around in our cars with no connection or worry to the consequences of these actions.

I understand that I get irrationally angry at things - and this may be one of those things. But that doesn’t stop me from being pissed off. The world is just so messed up. Im starting to think that maybe I’m just stressed out at the fact that in like 36 hours I need to hop on a plane and go home - but I’m sitting amongst a mess with an empty wallet… So perhaps I’m just taking things harder than usual. But nothing excuses the ignorance and segregation that we create to calm our nerves.

Sources: China Post, BBC News, USA Today, China View