Random Thoughts: On why you should NOT be depressed reading or watching the news. Potential war in Israel and Gaza Strip; Malaysia Airliner crash; children from Central America being tossed across the border----at first glance the news this weekend seemed above average in dreadfulness. But then, I started to think about things a bit differently and did some online research and listening. Here is what I found: 1. As long as anyone is suffering we are all suffering. In order to live a good life, we need to pay attention to the world and to care. For many, this can be done within a church, synagogue, neighborhood, organization, or private acts of kindness. Just this week I got a phone call from a woman I knew casually in Nicaragua asking me for 75 dollars to make a repair on her house so that the roof would not leak and cave in. At first, I was annoyed and frustrated. After all, we were not close friends, and I had not seen her in many years. But can you imagine the likely embarrassment and humiliation she must have felt having to call someone abroad to ask for such. 2. The present doesn’t look so bad if you look at it in the context of history. Technologically, we now have the ability for everyone on the planet to lead a decent life. Maybe not wealthy. But decent. The problem is figuring out how to distribute it. 3. Violence is decreasing radically in the world. There are approaching 7 billion people on the planet. How often does the news start out with the headline 6.9 Billion People Living in Peace. Answer: Never. Thomas Friedman, columnist for the NY Times, has pointed out that there never has been a war between two countries that have a McDonalds. Think about that! And I am no fan of McDonalds and have not eaten there in probably 20 years. But, it is an interesting observation. 4. The end of war----Most wars are being fought regionally but not worldly in recent history. Indigenous tribes died with a hatchet in their head. Cannibalism and even state sanctioned slavery do not exist. Germany and France were at war for hundreds of years, and that would now never happen. 5. Development is the answer to everything. Not only do we have scientific and technological development, but we have internal development or rather more consciousness of others. That is, more people who can see and understand the perspectives of others. In a sense, the world leaders in the major countries are at least aware that their individual decisions could have global repercussions. This is a good thing. 6. We have a duty to care. To live a good life is to pay attention to the world and care. The world looks bad when you compare it to your fantasies rather than actual history. In other words, if you compare the world to Disney World things look pretty bleak, but if you compare it to say the Black Plague or World War I or II, things look pretty good right now. 7. It’s irresponsible not to be grateful for life. Whether you believe in God, Buddha, Allah, the Tasmanian Devil, or just your MasterCard, it is reckless and selfish not to be aware of the blessings of life. 8. How did we allow some people to have so much and others to have so little? Again, the problem is figuring out ways to share the wealth. Capitalism is the current modality that reigns supreme. But even that can and probably must evolve. Governments and charity alone can not solve the problems themselves either. We have to figure out ways to modify and adapt based on changing conditions. 9. To think a higher level thought is actually a contribution to the cosmos. I personally am not a fan of exclusively positive thinking, however, positive thoughts are certainly preferable to negative thoughts. I know that the book The Secret and its Laws of Attractions were or have been in vogue recently, but I find it all a bit too simplistic for me. The challenge is how not to let strictly positive thoughts delude one from the realities or actual current conditions and real possibilities versus whimsical fantasies. The above are not all my original thoughts but a paraphrase and adaption of others along with some of my own. Take it for what it is worth. Have a great week.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 03:01:06 +0000
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