Spare time
When there are people... getting their heads and arms and legs blown off, why am I on the couch watching "Deal or No Deal?" There's a stop sign that should be erected at that intersection by the tracks I drive through everyday. There are homeless shelters, detention centers, "youth-at-risk," kids who aren't reading at grade level, and garbage littering my community. Surely I can spend my time more meaningfully.
I was watching a PBS program Memorial Day night (around 10pm) entitled "American Experience," a series which on that airing documented the reactions of vets and their families to the Vietnam War. As I listened to the wisdom of hindsight, I had a brainfart wondering why something like this wasn't aired during prime time. Duh.
While there is plenty going on in the world to create a jaded population - the challenge is to keep one's self from throwing one's hands up in the air and exclaiming, "What's the use?!" I must remind myself that the life worth living is the life that makes a difference and is not simply content to amass items of personal comfort.
Trying to separate ourselves from the condition of the "have nots" doesn't save us. Security cameras, barriers, guards and other such symbols are in fact an indictment against the society wherein they exist. Like the medicines marketed to "protect" us from old age, they are the peddlings of a quack government to a population foolish enough to invest belief in them.
Building a fence behind which lies the concentration camp of the starving, disenfranchised, used, abused, misfortunate, and mentally ill - so that we can enjoy a quiet four course meal at home without having to hear the growling stomachs, whinings and complaints of the wanting; and so we don't have to see or smell the poor and suffering - is not a solution but a denial.
How long will we deny having made the promise to make this a better world. How long will we deny that we have slowly but surely painted our hearts gold to please ourselves and come to worship the dollar at the expense of our humanity.
The "less fortunate" aren't to be avoided at all cost, but rather embraced at all cost.
I was watching a PBS program Memorial Day night (around 10pm) entitled "American Experience," a series which on that airing documented the reactions of vets and their families to the Vietnam War. As I listened to the wisdom of hindsight, I had a brainfart wondering why something like this wasn't aired during prime time. Duh.
While there is plenty going on in the world to create a jaded population - the challenge is to keep one's self from throwing one's hands up in the air and exclaiming, "What's the use?!" I must remind myself that the life worth living is the life that makes a difference and is not simply content to amass items of personal comfort.
Trying to separate ourselves from the condition of the "have nots" doesn't save us. Security cameras, barriers, guards and other such symbols are in fact an indictment against the society wherein they exist. Like the medicines marketed to "protect" us from old age, they are the peddlings of a quack government to a population foolish enough to invest belief in them.
Building a fence behind which lies the concentration camp of the starving, disenfranchised, used, abused, misfortunate, and mentally ill - so that we can enjoy a quiet four course meal at home without having to hear the growling stomachs, whinings and complaints of the wanting; and so we don't have to see or smell the poor and suffering - is not a solution but a denial.
How long will we deny having made the promise to make this a better world. How long will we deny that we have slowly but surely painted our hearts gold to please ourselves and come to worship the dollar at the expense of our humanity.
The "less fortunate" aren't to be avoided at all cost, but rather embraced at all cost.
posted by Eric at 5:16 PM
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