So even just writing this entry sounds selfish; I am being the typical white suburban, middle-upper class female....even to be privileged to consider more perfection when I am vastly fortunate enough to have, in my possession, an apartment, TWO cars, a job, health insurance, and enough clothes, food, and accessories to last a lifetime.
I want to know since when did we start equating STUFF to wealth? Just because you have mountains of crap from Wal-Mart, does not mean you are wealthy. And just because you are wealthy, does not make you rich. Look at Brittney Spears, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin - to name a few....wealth drives you crazy. Maybe there is some link there between the United States level of luxury, or availability of wealth; however fabricated and unsustainable it may be, thanks to *credit* -- to the level and nature of crimes, and occurrence of depression, drug use, and other psychological issues?
How long has God and the sages been saying that money is the world's Curse? Look around you. Where else do you see the elderly treated like an old version of DOS, outdated and burdensome? Where else do you see the sick as an opportunity for profit? Where else do you see class systems, discrimination, and other injustices, muddled up so so neatly and discretely into our social code, that we can no longer distinguish it from our own values of right and wrong? Where else do you see children bringing drugs, violence, and murder into schools to be "heard?" Where else do you see people turning to strangers with diplomas for advice and counsel, instead of their own friends? Where else do you see neighbors who avoid each other, except for a cold and wary "Hi," if they are unfortunate enough to catch your eye?
The more we have let money in, the more it has corrupted us. The United States has many redeeming qualities, such as freedom of expression and relatively unobtrusive levels of involvement of the government, in society and business. However, we are rated one of the lowest for levels of happiness - by immigrants and natives. We don't even know how unhappy and unfulfilled we are until we travel outside the borders. Those who never travel, can't understand why a part of them feels empty. Too much space, and nothing to fill it with. A big country full of opportunities; but void of God, love, and brotherhood.
These are the things that should, and do, count. We can't keep fooling ourselves into oblivion. Money has never, and will never, buy happiness.
I want to know since when did we start equating STUFF to wealth? Just because you have mountains of crap from Wal-Mart, does not mean you are wealthy. And just because you are wealthy, does not make you rich. Look at Brittney Spears, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin - to name a few....wealth drives you crazy. Maybe there is some link there between the United States level of luxury, or availability of wealth; however fabricated and unsustainable it may be, thanks to *credit* -- to the level and nature of crimes, and occurrence of depression, drug use, and other psychological issues?
How long has God and the sages been saying that money is the world's Curse? Look around you. Where else do you see the elderly treated like an old version of DOS, outdated and burdensome? Where else do you see the sick as an opportunity for profit? Where else do you see class systems, discrimination, and other injustices, muddled up so so neatly and discretely into our social code, that we can no longer distinguish it from our own values of right and wrong? Where else do you see children bringing drugs, violence, and murder into schools to be "heard?" Where else do you see people turning to strangers with diplomas for advice and counsel, instead of their own friends? Where else do you see neighbors who avoid each other, except for a cold and wary "Hi," if they are unfortunate enough to catch your eye?
The more we have let money in, the more it has corrupted us. The United States has many redeeming qualities, such as freedom of expression and relatively unobtrusive levels of involvement of the government, in society and business. However, we are rated one of the lowest for levels of happiness - by immigrants and natives. We don't even know how unhappy and unfulfilled we are until we travel outside the borders. Those who never travel, can't understand why a part of them feels empty. Too much space, and nothing to fill it with. A big country full of opportunities; but void of God, love, and brotherhood.
These are the things that should, and do, count. We can't keep fooling ourselves into oblivion. Money has never, and will never, buy happiness.
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