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November 07, 2007

Life as We Know It Simply Can't Go On

I read a lot of outrage – and have expressed a lot of outrage – over the misdeeds of those who are governing our country. The lies, manipulation, squandering of our resources, inattention to the environment, destruction of the economy, undermining of our freedoms, torture, war, nuclear threats, etc. are maddening to those of us who wish to create a peaceful society - or even just survive in the society we've got. It is easy to convince ourselves that if we just got rid of the people who are doing this, the world would be a better place for everyone. Maybe then we could find peace. Maybe we could save the planet. But after thinking about this for some time, I don’t believe it would be a better place. I’m not convinced it can be a better place.

In short, I’ve become discouraged at our prospects for building a better future, let alone our prospects for life of any kind in the future.

If you took away all the crooked politicians and all the wars and all the famines and all the earthquakes and all the tornados and all the hurricanes and all the diseases, we would still be a miserable bunch. Because on an individual basis, it seems even the little people can’t stop themselves from inflicting misery. From those who produce made-to-order videos of child sexual abuse to sell internationally, to those who sexually abuse their own children, from those who torture children, to those who ignore and neglect their children, from those who abuse animals, to those who merely confine them to lonely garages or pens, from those who injure others accidentally and don’t care to those who walk on by and pretend not to notice, the world is simply chock full of people who don’t love others, who don’t feel connected to others, who don’t care.

Even those of us who don’t commit heinous crimes too often don’t really feel connected to others, whether we know them or not.

If we have extra money to give, such that it doesn’t hurt, we might give it to charity, but we would never go to such lengths as to give up our six pack on Friday night or our daily latte so we could give that money to those who would use it to feed and shelter a hungry family we’ll never see. We won’t give up a Sunday afternoon of football to mow the elderly neighbors’ lawn, even though it’s someone we do see. We won’t even turn off the television so we have time to play with our own children or help them with their homework. We’d rather allow them to become poorly-educated, mind-numbed video game addicts who can’t reason their way out of a box. And so that is precisely what they will become.

And as for saving the environment? Forget about it. We wouldn’t give up our cars and our consumerism and our cell phones for anything, even if it meant saving the bees and, therefore, life on this planet. We’d rather die. And so we probably will.

The only hope for peace and life on this planet really rests on each one of us, individually. Regardless of national or international circumstances, if we are not connected to each other and all living things, if we don’t see the value in sharing what we have and sacrificing our own comfort for others, then we are doomed. Regardless of the circumstances of our lives today or in the future, our commitment every morning should be to do all in our power to bring comfort, relief, love, and joy to all living things within our sphere of influence.

I believe that is the only thing that can possibly counteract and eventually overwhelm the evil being done in our names on a national and international level. The problem is, it isn't easy. We're all tired. We deserve that treat. It's boring to play Monopoly with the kids for the 100th time. Everyone else is consuming and if we don't it won't make a difference anyway. We'll be seen as weird if we love the unlovely or don't know who won the game or haven't seen the latest episode of the latest hit show. On and on it goes. We justify not caring more easily than we justify telling a lie. We've become a nation of sponges, each simply wanting to soak up as much stimulation and comfort and pleasure as we possibly can without having to dish any of it back out to others.

That's why I'm discouraged about our future.

Posted by Becky at November 7, 2007 01:47 PM