A Question of Morality
This article is nothing more than an observation, and partly a rhetorical question. It is about how you would describe the world we live in. Good or bad. Whilst ignored by the majority, third world countries struggle to survive without food nor water in barren conditions whilst rich businessmen and politicians enjoy the rewards of their crooked and selfish natures. Some of the things you read in the newspapers are enough to make your skin crawl; murder, violence, terrorists and religious hatred. Issues which we so desperately need to solve but cannot. It is in our nature as humans to do things in order to benefit ourselves and only ourselves - to "look after number one".
Close to Home
These problems are much closer to we everyday citizens than you'd think, only on a smaller scale. Men and women wrought with the stresses of society working their 9-5 in order to make ends meet. We see people homeless in the street reduced to begging for small change from passers by; local gang violence, crime and a whole spectrum of people prepared to trample over others in their attempts to climb the tree of corporate power. Is it any wonder three quarters of doctors appointments are related to depression or misery? Any wonder dangerous drugs that help take the edge off life run rampant through society? Suicides are now so common that the news and press don't even bother to highlight them in the name of entertainment.
The Other Angle
At times it is so bloody hard to find something good about the world. But as we live our lives beautiful things also surround us; music, art, love, the push for world peace and charities who work to help the greater good of mankind. As a race humans may be flawed, but can we be all bad when we create some things which are so magnificent and beautiful?
02/04/2007 
8 Comment(s)
On 25/06/2006 Spencer said:
Great article, but such a difficult on to comment on. I think the world we live in is predominently a selfish one. Its a shame as a society of people we are this way and I dont think we wil ever get the answer to it. In the great arena of world history I doubt itll be long till we end up finishing ourselves off with our own devices like nuclear weapons. Sad to think about really
On 25/06/2006 Jen said:
"Issues which we so desperately need to solve but cannot."
I have to disagree on this point. I think we can solve most of these issues but unfortunately, it's not at all profitable for those in power, mostly the corporate presence in most governments these days.
Greed and the power struggle that many partake in is keeping heart and morality out of the matter, though they claim to be moral and/or Godly people. It's a shame really.
Great topic.
On 26/06/2006 kitsimons said:
I don't think "we" can solve these problems. The problem being that the problem lies with individuals.
As much as we can strive for world peace, it only takes one willing to screw everyone else over for their own selfish ends to scupper the ideal.
There will always be an Osama Bin Laden or an Adolf Hitler. There will always be Enron shareholders or a George W Bush (depending on your point of view).
I've seen it said in the arguament surrounding nuclear armament (in the UK);
"just because we abandon our nuclear weapons doesn't mean the rest of the world is going to do the same in some kind of global love-in".
A valid point. For it to work all must be on the same side... I don't think we all ever can be.
But you're right Steve - as a species we have greated great and beautiful things. But I wonder if we could create such things without the pain and the suffering? Without being flawed?
I doubt it.
(sorry about the long-ish post btw).
On 26/06/2006 Steve Tucker said:
@Jen: A well made point! :) But where do we draw the line between what is possible and what isnt? Sure it's possible to overcome world peace if we all work together, but as Kit rightly said that will almost certainly never happen; its just not in our nature. Hmmm... im gonna have to think about this one a little longer I reckon!
Btw Kit dont worry bout the long post - gives me a chance to demo the new comment design ;)
On 27/06/2006 Elessar said:
I've live dmost of my life with my mother (single) struggling to make ends meat for mysefl and my 2 younger siblings. The area in which we've lived never seems to be good for getting a job and so my mother is reduced to some shitty-ass job. She even has an associates degree (mid-90's) that does no good and hasnt since she graduated with honors [from college].
Ok, bg story somewhat complete. Point is, im still thankful when ever i receive something valuable or useful. I see rich litte snobs getting everything under the sun (Paris Hilton...need i say more *stupid cunt*) and they treat it as if its nothing. Im not saying i need millions of dollars. That would be nice, but i could easily make due with a $10-15/hr job with 35-40 hours a week. I woudl be perfectly happy. I could pay my bills and save some on the side.
But when we see people like Paris Hilton or other such people who take for granted EVERY-SINGLE-FUCKING-DAY of what they have, its hard to be happ about life. I'll be honest, most people dont deserve what they have. Surely a homeless person deserves better than living on the streets, or families surrounded by violence and gangs...but nothing will change, and thats the truely sad part. People will continue about their lives, desiring something more, something better, while others will break and decide to exit this existence earlier then they expected, and the world will be none the wiser...
...um yeah, no clue what i just wrote, but enjoy anyway :)
On 27/06/2006 Steve Tucker said:
... and enjoy it I did :P - damn right about Paris Hilton and all the lot. Its an unfair world
On 27/06/2006 Elessar said:
"Its an unfair world" Yeah, thats basically what i was getting at. Probably sounds like i was bitching or something but its hard to remain positive when your struggling to get by and you see some twit such as herself living a carefree life :P
On 27/06/2006 Josh Beam said:
As you said, it is human nature to be unkind and look primarily after one's self. A lot of people are caught up in that sit-com world where everything is perfect and the bad things that happen can be worked out, never happen again, and completely resolved. But that is the absolute opposite of the truth. I'm not saying though that people shouldn't donate to certain associations and help people who need it. People can do what they can, but ONLY WHAT THEY CAN.
On 29/06/2006 Jen said:
I'm your blog whore tonight Steve. :)
Well, I just saw "An Inconvenient Truth" last night, Al Gore's documentary about global warming and I think it makes a very good argument at just how screwed up our priorities have become. Some can argue that the science isn't old enough to prove how we've come to where we are but the undeniable fact is, we're here. It's not just the environment, it's everything.
I'm amazed that my generation, the 30-somethings, are coming into power and having grown up with the idea that our environment is in trouble, you'd think things have changed by now but it seems like it's gotten worse.
I do my part, I work for a non-profit, I am vegan, I try to be energy-conscience, recycle... all that effort and yet things are still in shambles. So even as an individual, it seems I can't do enough.
Sorry, I rambled.
On 29/06/2006 Steve Tucker said:
@Jen - blog whore or two never hurt anyone! :P I saw that film trailer on Pascal's website (http://www.renet-web.net/2006/05/29/we-sleep-in-the-bed-we-make/). I havent seen it but the trailer alone was enough to scare the shit outta me, so I imagine the full film's gotta be even more of an eyeopener.
@EVERYONE ELSE - cheers for the comments guys - nice to know we're all in the same enviromental frame of mind :)