What you NEED
07/11/07 18:03 Filed in: Out of left
field
"Take all that you need. NOT all that you can."
This is an interesting turn of phrase and it seems to be the reciprocal of society in general, at least in the western world. Yes, once again I generalize heavily but I can only report on what I observe for myself. Yes, I know there are good folk out there doing their bit to help. So I say to those good folk, duck out of the way, this isn't aimed at you.
need |nēd|
verb [ trans. ]
1 require (something) because it is essential or very important.
essential
adjective
1 crucial, necessary, key, vital, indispensable, important, all-important, of the essence, critical, imperative, mandatory, compulsory, obligatory; urgent, pressing, paramount, preeminent, high-priority, nonnegotiable;
important
adjective
1 significant, consequential, momentous, of great import, major; critical, crucial, vital, pivotal, decisive, urgent, historic; serious, grave, weighty, material; formal of great moment.
So you see, a need is NOT:
The latest car
More than one house
The latest fashion
The latest gadget regardless of what it is
A degree to seem intelligent or educated
Internet access
More money
...I'm sure you can think of others
If you disagree with me, then YOU are part of the consumerism problem that caused the phrase at the top of this blog entry to be formed. YOU are part of the problem. YOU!
When did taking all the lollies from the bowl instead of one or two, become par for the course?
Spare a thought for the people of the world who have nothing. Society, and in particular western society is primarily to blame for the current human condition. You DO NOT have the right to everything you want. You DO have the right to all that you need.
Don't think you're fooling people by saying, "Oh, I contribute back to society by blah blah and blah". It's belittling to those who need to put out their hand and ask. The hit to their self-worth is incalculable. Contribute by not taking it in the first place.
It's not difficult to fix. Just stop taking all the lollies.
If we as humans can't fix human society, who will? Monkeys?
Perhaps Donkeys? ...no that can't work, the planet doesn't NEED any more asses!
...just my 2c worth.
"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."
~ Cree Indian saying
Post update:
About an hour after uploading this blog entry I caught Today Tonight on Channel 7. The story was about Australian doctors volunteering in Bangladesh helping rebuild facial deformities in the children of that country. The lady doctor at the centre of the story said "We have the ability to help, so we have to help... we just have to help". There are not enough people in the world like her. Just imagine...
This is an interesting turn of phrase and it seems to be the reciprocal of society in general, at least in the western world. Yes, once again I generalize heavily but I can only report on what I observe for myself. Yes, I know there are good folk out there doing their bit to help. So I say to those good folk, duck out of the way, this isn't aimed at you.
need |nēd|
verb [ trans. ]
1 require (something) because it is essential or very important.
essential
adjective
1 crucial, necessary, key, vital, indispensable, important, all-important, of the essence, critical, imperative, mandatory, compulsory, obligatory; urgent, pressing, paramount, preeminent, high-priority, nonnegotiable;
important
adjective
1 significant, consequential, momentous, of great import, major; critical, crucial, vital, pivotal, decisive, urgent, historic; serious, grave, weighty, material; formal of great moment.
So you see, a need is NOT:
The latest car
More than one house
The latest fashion
The latest gadget regardless of what it is
A degree to seem intelligent or educated
Internet access
More money
...I'm sure you can think of others
If you disagree with me, then YOU are part of the consumerism problem that caused the phrase at the top of this blog entry to be formed. YOU are part of the problem. YOU!
When did taking all the lollies from the bowl instead of one or two, become par for the course?
Spare a thought for the people of the world who have nothing. Society, and in particular western society is primarily to blame for the current human condition. You DO NOT have the right to everything you want. You DO have the right to all that you need.
Don't think you're fooling people by saying, "Oh, I contribute back to society by blah blah and blah". It's belittling to those who need to put out their hand and ask. The hit to their self-worth is incalculable. Contribute by not taking it in the first place.
It's not difficult to fix. Just stop taking all the lollies.
If we as humans can't fix human society, who will? Monkeys?
Perhaps Donkeys? ...no that can't work, the planet doesn't NEED any more asses!
...just my 2c worth.
"Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."
~ Cree Indian saying
Post update:
About an hour after uploading this blog entry I caught Today Tonight on Channel 7. The story was about Australian doctors volunteering in Bangladesh helping rebuild facial deformities in the children of that country. The lady doctor at the centre of the story said "We have the ability to help, so we have to help... we just have to help". There are not enough people in the world like her. Just imagine...