3 things more important than human life
Monday, 11 May 2009
Estimated reading time: 1 minute, 31 seconds
- Our egos
- Our money
- Ourselves
Don’t think so?
- Why Won’t Cons Admit Bush Didn’t Keep Us Safe on 9/11? (CNN on Youtube)
- Ponzi scheme, Bernard Madoff (Wikipedia)
- Palestinian Boy Used as Human Shield
Yikes.
What is more important than human life? If you can give me even one thing more important than human life, and have 10 people agree with you in the comments section, I will buy you any shirt from Threadless. Seriously.
Do you believe in human rights? (You can read human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948). I do.
Final question: So if a) human life is the most important thing, and b) human rights are the second-most important thing, why isn’t our first priority helping those that are being deprived of their human rights?
Here’s why I’m NOT helping those that are being deprived of their human rights:
I’m overwhelmed. There are a million, billion charities to give to. There are billions of people being deprived of their human rights. There are so many social events, causes, rallies, organizations, committees, etc. that I just don’t even know where to start anymore. I feel like I’m just a statistic, like I’m just another penny in the well. And is that my fault? No. Because no one is saying “Here, look, we’ll show you instantly how you’re making a change,” and then lining that up with their & my short- and long-term goals.
This one is important people. If you feel like me, overwhelmed, just say so in the comments section.
NOTE: Yes, I do donate money to charity. And I sponsor a child in Colombia. But do I feel like I’m really making much of a difference on anything else in the world? No.
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Where's marketing/PR? That pretty much sums up my life goals at the moment ;).
I knew I was forgetting one! Damn… well, maybe my next rant list ;)
I enjoyed this post. Yes, it IS all overwhelming. I decided to just focus on a few causes that mean the most to me and try to make my own contribution in those areas.
I've got some stories from my time in the military that will make you cringe about how they (try) to brainwash us into thinking human life does not matter. Example: I drove a truck. Kid runs into street. Protocol: run them over. Seriously.
Sad.
http://www.evolutionofchase.com
I read, I see, I think I understand.
It is difficult to articulate exactly what I mean, but as much as the 'big issues' break my heart, the only part of this within my power of influence is you ~ which is the kind of perspective I think may relieve you of the emotional yuck these kinds of realizations often bring.
Here's an event in the next two weeks you could be a part of if you're interested in getting some hands on difference-making done: http://tinyurl.com/yjyhnat. I'd be happy to go with you if you wanted someone there you know. I've played at a few benefit concerts for the organization and was on staff at the church for a while. Plus your grandpa was the Mayor of Excelsior, so you TOTALLY belong. :)
Best!
I think you're right that that perspective may relieve me of the emotional yuck, as you so eloquently put it ;) But just because there is emotional yuck, we must not look away from the darkness that is our innateness. We need to solve these issues. And there ARE solutions.
To be stubborn, and I'm very aware of my obstinacy on this one, I don't want to shy away. To me, that's copping out. Hopefully it's not to you, because without both of our bright minds and unique thoughts, the entire puzzle would never get solved.
I want to spend my time thinking about the big, stressing issues. I want to feel that sadness sink in, because it keeps me aware of the fact that I'm thinking about big issues. I don't want so stay sad – and I don't ;) – nor do I want to ignore narrower issues. But I am a big thinker, and I'm not going to fight it. It may upset me 24/7, but I'd much rather be stuck in my never-ending agitation than stirring among fruitless wanderings in which the majority of humanity seems so apt to hide.
I've been so tied up with recording lately that I haven't been keeping up with issues myself. But I still am “Very” Informed ;).
Anyway I had to do some research to remember what a “czar” was myself, and after coming to an understanding of how the term is used under the context of this video; and, that some of the current czars were appointed under the previous administration,
All i can say is “LLLLOOOOLLLL” at these people's protests on Czars and many other “issues”.
So what's the solution TYLER? Is there one?
J.John
http://jjohnmusic.com
I've been so tied up with recording lately that I haven't been keeping up with issues myself. But I still am “Very” Informed ;).
Anyway I had to do some research to remember what a “czar” was myself, and after coming to an understanding of how the term is used under the context of this video; and, that some of the current czars were appointed under the previous administration,
All i can say is “LLLLOOOOLLLL” at these people's protests on Czars and many other “issues”.
So what's the solution TYLER? Is there one?
J.John
http://jjohnmusic.com