Monday, August 13, 2007

Human History

The catalogues of suffering and misery in the annals of human history are but distant memories to those immersed in the luxurious and contemptible consciousness of the industrialized world. In any sense, despite the obvious hardships inherent in the poorest constituents in the global industrialized world there can be no comparison to those living in abject poverty in the non industrialized world. Some hold that the key is to bring industry to those poorest quarters to free them from the very real economic bondage they are in. Yet what good is industry fueled by the blood, sweat and tears of an uneducated, ill advised and under privileged class to those making our Nike shoes, raising the cattle for our Big Macs or stitching the threading in our Gap clothing. There is little benefit save the usurious wages that our corporations pay them. The true benefit of industrialization in these so called 3rd world nations rests in the hands of the captains of industry that we have crowned with trillions of dollars which serves to benefit a very few specifically privileged pockets. A new trade paradigm is required with a new over sight body which assures that such industrialization does not only serve to fatten the pockets of the often times corrupted 3rd world leaders whose aim is not the economic salvation of their people but rather the building of another great palace or another stable of horses. For more than a hundred years we have pushed full steam ahead with industrialization – We have developed cars, planes, trains, trucks and massive freight boats to service our personal and economic needs – Thus, in effect to service industry; However, in that time we have made only band aid solutions for the gapping wounds known to me as a fundamental disconnect in the distribution of wealth.

The strides taken toward an equitable and fair distribution of wealth have failed; Miserably! Moreover, if no measures are taken to correct the inequity the world as we know it is going to face a very real and hitherto unknown economic war which will serve to further widen the gap between rich and poor, have and have not!

The United Nations collectively agreed upon the basic rights of human beings on the planet earth which was a tremendous step toward a baseline of existence. However, the letter and the spirit of that charter are light years apart. The purpose of our lives is not to produce economic wealth but rather a wealth that aids all humanity in its progress in a positive way. To date, though moderately successful, in certain areas, we have failed to right the many issues facing the perpetuation of our species.


We are starving the poor of this planet through irresponsible choices which have no basis in reality, save the enriching of industrialized lives. We are, depriving those who desperately require food and water so that we can live in our society of abundance. We outright lie through the election of our leaders to the poorest in the world using economic theory as justification. Its too expensive, too difficult, or too whatever –

We put a man on the moon! Shame on us for not finding the clothe and feed those all over the world. Moreover, our standards of education, at a minimum should be promised to any and all who desire it.

Since Adam Smith, the Wealth of Nations, has been an important consideration for the world. However, that wealth is pointless, reckless and indeed shameful if we who have profited unchecked for the last 300 – 500 years can not resolve the issues of our poorest people.

In fact, that wealth is contemptible because we choose, choose to leave those that can not keep up with us behind. We are failing as a species, starving the poor, robbing and choking the planet and history will not look favorably upon us if we don’t right the sins of our father, as well as our own.

Our dream, that we live each day is at the expense of others and as such they live a nightmare that none of us could possibly understand. Lets all wake up and face reality!

SDM

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Dear SDM,
I am surrounded by poverty all around me here in Africa. Bono often refers to this as "stupid poverty". We will have the poor with us ALWAYS. However, as a person raised in the West perhaps our
responsibility to an impoverished world is to teach our fellow pilgrims on this planet how to fish. We see the big bucks come and leave this part of the
world quicker than you can scratch an itch.
Corruption is rampant, lies are the game of the day, and stealing is a lifestyle. Where is God in all this? Is there any hope? How do we reconcile the "professional-style" greed of the West and the greed and envy that is prevelant in Africa? Both are wrong. However, we in the West have a responsibility and the privilege of sharing our blessings with that part of the world that is not as privileged. The spirit of helping must be of the mindset that we are giving a hand up and not a hand out. This is not a license to encourage freebies and a welfare system. For this type of thinking the white man is at fault. When will the African be liberated from the ties that currently bind him?

 
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