Contrast in Values

[Sofia]

This morning I was watching The Today Show......catching up on the news and so on. Anyway....they had a wonderful story about a man in Kenya, Africa who by luck-of-the-draw, was the chosen member of his family to be allowed to go to high school. It was a rare thing for people in his village to get an education. Most are destined to be cattle herders. Off he went to High School and then through a grant program, came to the United States to receive his degree and continued on to Harvard for his Masters. This man is now a teacher at a special elementary school somewhere in the Eastern United States.

 

The story was about him taking his students from here back to Kenya for a visit to learn of the culture and to interact with the children in Kenya. It was really wonderful to listen to the American children talk about their experience there and the value of what they learned about another culture. It showed them receiving tremendous joy out of learning a dance from the Kenya children and sitting and playing on the ground together.....laughing and talking.

 

 

At this point...the story ended and The Today Show went directly into another story with no commercial break. The next picture you see is the shoppers crunched together in a Walmart, grabbing at things and pushing and shoving each other out of the way to be first. The story told of how extra police had to be called in and how there were injuries in the crowd.

 

I know we have another thread going about the shopping craziness today but I was expecially struck by these two stories being ran back to back.

 

I suppose I'm just venting my thoughts.

 

 

Sofi

[HadouKen24]

This is why I don't let myself get caught up in the selfish madness of post-Thanksgiving commercialism. So far, I have been quite successful. I spent the day reading Ovid, posting on forums, and generally helping out with the family.

 

There were some great sales today, but none of them were good enough for me to go out to the stores and spend money on things no one needs. And I really don't have the money, at the moment, to buy stuff for all the people I care about. I'll probably just stick with gifts for the family, and figure out something inexpensive to do for everyone else.

[Fweethawt]

I suppose I'm just venting my thoughts.

Sofi

 

Two systems.

 

One fueled by need...

 

While the other is fueled by greed.

 

 

 

[Sofia]

I suppose I'm just venting my thoughts.

Sofi

 

Two systems.

 

One fueled by need...

 

While the other is fueled by greed.

 

 

 

 

Those are great words, Fwee. That's exactly it.

[Caretaker]

sigh......

 

 

And this is supposed to be the greatest country in the world...

 

[godlessgrrl]

My spider sense is telling me that the juxtaposition of stories probably wasn't an accident.

 

I can't back that up, it's just a feeling. People in graphics, film, and so on seldom make decisions like that without some intention. Ya gotta wonder...

[Merlinfmct87]

I suppose I'm just venting my thoughts.

Sofi

 

Two systems.

 

One fueled by need...

 

While the other is fueled by greed.

 

 

 

 

Brilliantly said, Fwee.

 

Merlin

[Sofia]

My spider sense is telling me that the juxtaposition of stories probably wasn't an accident.

 

I can't back that up, it's just a feeling. People in graphics, film, and so on seldom make decisions like that without some intention. Ya gotta wonder...

 

 

Gwen, that's a great point. The problem is that Americans are so wrapped up in themselves that I'm not even sure they would have caught that.

[Merlinfmct87]

My spider sense is telling me that the juxtaposition of stories probably wasn't an accident.

 

I can't back that up, it's just a feeling. People in graphics, film, and so on seldom make decisions like that without some intention. Ya gotta wonder...

 

 

Gwen, that's a great point. The problem is that Americans are so wrapped up in themselves that I'm not even sure they would have caught that.

 

It does give some hope, though.

 

Some do get it.

 

Merlin

[Dianka]

Well, I just came back from Target to buy a few things. I will tell you what, I saw a Sony alarm clock that was 50% off, and I would be damned if I sat at home and let some rag with 5 screaming babies get it! It's MMMIIINNNEEEGODDAMMIT!!!!!

 

I call it.....gorilla bargain hunting......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I am totally kidding

 

But I did go out to get an alarm clock (my other one stopped working)

[Vigile]

sigh......

 

 

And this is supposed to be the greatest country in the world...

 

 

That's an American myth as I'm not sure the rest of the world has yet been informed or would agree.

 

I think American's use dollars or currency in general as a yardstick to measure perceived satisfaction. It's true that extreme poverty along with famine and wars and disease that often goes with it surely leads to a lack of dissatisfaction with life. Contrary to popular opinion though most of the world has not yet been reduced to a boiling caldron of violence and disease. Even in African I'm confident you will find majorities living above subsistence even if they live below what American's consider the poverty line. Hell, I'm sure most would be surprised to find that the majority of Iraqis were living contently even under Sadam and probably their biggest discomforts during his regime were brought on by US embargos.

 

On the other hand people in many countries don't need all the same things that American's think they need so are perfectly satisfied with their conditions.

 

Take my in laws for example. My FiN was the manager of his regional collective farm prior to 1989 before the collapse of the CCCP. After the collapse he was forced into retirement and given a pension of $20/month. For roughly the next 15 years they survived and lived happy, healthy lives even on this ridiculous salary. The money was enough to pay for a bit of meat. They grew their own vegetables, hunted for mushrooms, spent spring canning, and even made moonshine for something to drink. When I visited them for the first time in 2000 I was treated to a feast in proportion to an average American Thankgiving prepared from these labors.

 

Now my FiN has a new job where he makes roughly $500/month, which is a lot of money for his village (not much here in St Pete though). You know what he does with the money? Saves it. They still live the same life they always have and they are very happy people.

 

Of one thing I am pretty sure, the earth couldn't take it long if the rest of the world suddenly began consuming as much as the average American.

[Sofia]

 

Of one thing I am pretty sure, the earth couldn't take it long if the rest of the world suddenly began consuming as much as the average American.

 

No kidding. Wow.

 

I've been convicted here just a bit. In the vegan thread I commented on how much I dislike cooking and enjoy purchasing my ready-made vegan food from Trader Joe's. I should be growing my own food and canning and freezing it. I've got plenty of garden room and fertil soil. What's wrong with me?

 

We should start a thread on making just one change in our lives to simplify and see what we all come up with. I bet I'd get some great ideas from all of you.

 

Sofi

[spamandham]

My spider sense is telling me that the juxtaposition of stories probably wasn't an accident.

 

Yah, I've noticed even the Sunday comics tend to gravitate toward a common theme. I just figured this was editors having a little fun, but maybe not.

[Fweethawt]

No kidding. Wow.

I've been convicted here just a bit.

If Cheffy were here, he'd tell you to read, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn.

[Sofia]

I've read it. In fact...I passed it to someone else to read.

 

Great book!!

[Fweethawt]

I've read it. In fact...I passed it to someone else to read.

 

Great book!!

 

There ya go, talkin' in your sleep again.

[Caretaker]

 

Of one thing I am pretty sure, the earth couldn't take it long if the rest of the world suddenly began consuming as much as the average American.

 

No kidding. Wow.

 

I've been convicted here just a bit. In the vegan thread I commented on how much I dislike cooking and enjoy purchasing my ready-made vegan food from Trader Joe's. I should be growing my own food and canning and freezing it. I've got plenty of garden room and fertil soil. What's wrong with me?

 

We should start a thread on making just one change in our lives to simplify and see what we all come up with. I bet I'd get some great ideas from all of you.

 

Sofi

Nothing is wrong with you... There is something wrong with our culture. We are used to role specialization. We are used to having a certain group of people teach our kids. We are used to a certain group of people making our food. We are used to people designing our computer software and hardware. We are busy ourselves with our own line of work, and consequently don't have the time at home to grow and harvest such a crop.

 

Now... What would happen if everyone starts growing their own food? What happens if people start designing their own software?

[Vigile]

Now... What would happen if everyone starts growing their own food? What happens if people start designing their own software?

 

Well, for one you would lose a great deal of comparative advantage. The earth would probably like you better though.

[Prolix]

Liek OMG Amerika is teh SUXXORS!

 

OR...

 

Maybe it's just that there are stupid people in every country in the world, smart people in every country in the world, poor people in ever country in the world and rich people in every country in the world.

 

I'm not getting this meme of Americans looking around at themselves and each other, and saying 'Wow, we all suck (except for me). We have too much money. I heard that an intelligent man came from Kenya once. Let's create a larger government to see that our currency can be transfered to them as quickly as possible.'

 

Of course, once Kenya gets the money, everybody realizes that there are just as many stupid people there as in the United State.

 

You were born into a country where most people are a lot richer than the rest of the world. And you should feel bad about that why? Most would love to be in your place.

 

'Woe is me, I live in a country where most people are rich, and so am I!' Go become a roadie for an Emo band. The US isn't a worse place because it has more money. Yes, it has idiots, but so does every other country. EVERY other country has idiots, and the exact same percentage of idiots.

 

The world used to have a thing called 'fuedalism'; you might have heard of it. Most people were serfs, and everybody else wasn't. Now, hundreds of years later, nobody is a serf.

 

Now that there are no stone walls seperating the peasants from the nobles, and we are all packed into much higher concentrations of humanity, the morons become a lot more noticable.

 

When you see an idiot, look at them through the lense of six hundred years ago, and realize that they probably would have been a peasant if they had lived in another time.

 

I don't know, but the world would be a lot less of an annoying place if everybody would take the time to not complain about perceived problems and actually fix them. If the problem can't be fixed, then shutup about it because it's a waste of breath.

 

There are already enough americans who agree that every other american is an idiot, and everybody in every other nation in the world should be given all of their money. You don't need to convince anybody else, you have enough followers already. So go out, donate all of your money to those obviously more intelligent foriegners and feel better about yourself.

 

Wait, no- I'm wrong here. It's everybody BUT you who isn't deserving of their luck and money, right? Then form a Party and take the money from those Prole bastards! Oceanians don't deserve their razorblades, damnit! To Eurasia and East Asia it goes!

 

That was very nasty and not actually directed at anybody in particular, just the Hypocrisy Incarnate I see every day. Please continue about your forumating.

Nothing is wrong with you... There is something wrong with our culture. We are used to role specialization. We are used to having a certain group of people teach our kids. We are used to a certain group of people making our food. We are used to people designing our computer software and hardware. We are busy ourselves with our own line of work, and consequently don't have the time at home to grow and harvest such a crop.

Specialization is for insects.

 

It might help if we could live past 80 years old, though.

 

On the other hand, what do you mean by 'something wrong with OUR culture'? When has there ever been a culture without role specialization? (and it has to be above sustinence farmers to count)

[Alice]

My Mother lives a very 'simple' lifestyle.

 

She lives in what is basically a log cabin in the middle of the woods. Everything in the house has been 'reclaimed' in some way - she and her husband rarely buy things that are new. They use solar power, they have water that comes direct from a spring, although the soil and climate is not conducive to growing to all of their food, they grow what they can and barter for other things. Their day to day lives are very embedded in nature and the changing seasons,

 

My Mother doesn't chat about about celebrities and soaps - but she talks about families of badgers and whether the young ospreys have hatched yet. They have constructed a pole lathe and they carve beautiful wooden gifts for their friends and family at christmas. They do have a generator and are currently engaged in building in little hydro electric scheme that will mean they save on fuel.

 

They are not 'against' modern technology and at times take part in modern life and all the benefits modern living can bring - they just access it differently. They take an overseas holiday every year - they just choose holidays that involve some kind of voluntary work - (building houses in sri lanka this year - refurbishing an orphanage in brazil last year)

 

But they got to this life on the back of the money that came from pursuing a career and amassing enough money to buy a piece of land on which they can live. If their tiny supply of money runs out they could take a job, because they both have good educations and years of expertise, training and experience in their respective fields.

 

They think that 'society' has its priorities ALL wrong - somedays when I am frazzled and tired of the rat race, I look at their life and think they are right ... but it was our 'society' that gave them the opportunity to 'choose' their life in the first place.

 

Anyway ...

 

Sofia - what is it about living a 'simpler' life that appeals to you? Is this because it sounds 'happier' to you?

 

I'm assuming it does - and it put me in mind of a TV programme I am following at the moment called 'Making Slough happy'.

 

(Slough is a very non descript and unattractive town in the UK. It is best known for being the home of the UK comedy show 'The Office')

 

This is an experiement to see if happiness levels could be raised. The organisers have come up with a 'happiness manifesto' - ten things that are apparently 'scientifically' proven to raise 'happiness'

 

Off the top of my head ... these are the things ...

 

1. get physical (excercise at least three times a week)

2. Count your blessings (at the end of each day reflect on five things you are grateful for)

3. Talk time. (have an hour long uninterupted conversation with your partner or closest friend every week)

4. Plant something (even if its in a window box and ... keep it alive)

5. Cut your TV viewing by half (but make sure the half you save includes the rest of the series obviously!)

6. Smile at and or say hello to a stranger at least once a day

7. Phone a friend. Make contact with one friend of relation you have not been in contact with for a while and arrange to meet up.

8. Have a good laugh at least once a day

9. Give yourself a daily treat and take time to really enjoy it.

10. Daily kindness. do an extra good turn for someone each day.

 

 

As well as following the programme - volunteers have also been getting involved in things like singing and getting into nature.

 

It strikes me that a lot of these things ARE about a 'simpler lifestyle', and maybe a lot of these things are more routinuely part of life in less financially driven cultures.

 

In the programme, volunteers assessed their own happiness levels prior to the start of the two month challenge and will re evalute at the end.

[♦ nivek ♦]

WTF is it now that the only thing one gets remembered for is yer "High Score" on some fucking video game?

 

We've forgotten how to play with shit that is dangerous and causes development by not taking off chunks and sections of hide and limbs. Helmets and knee pads, protective gear for everything that can be done. make sure no little thing is allowed to be *owie'd*..

 

Might the fuck well swath ourselves in soft pillows and bumpers in fear of something causing a bruise..

 

Become the *Insurance Society* where if hurt in any way, we sue the offender into bankruptcy or attempt to do so.

 

See a kid on street with a hellova *shiner*, instantly figure his/her parents beat shit out of him, call Children's Services..

 

We Occidentals have become what Jeff Snyder calls a Nation of Cowards..

 

No wonder why the people grab the electronic shit and go ito crowd-o-spasms, its *normal* for the slock to do anymore here in the New AmeriKa, land of the nutless..

 

k, fully intact non-target, L

[Sofia]

Sofia - what is it about living a 'simpler' life that appeals to you? Is this because it sounds 'happier' to you?

 

I suppose it takes the focus off of myself and helps me to be more in tune to others and their needs. I've a long way to go in that area.

 

 

Off the top of my head ... these are the things ...

 

1. get physical (excercise at least three times a week)

2. Count your blessings (at the end of each day reflect on five things you are grateful for)

3. Talk time. (have an hour long uninterupted conversation with your partner or closest friend every week)

4. Plant something (even if its in a window box and ... keep it alive)

5. Cut your TV viewing by half (but make sure the half you save includes the rest of the series obviously!)

6. Smile at and or say hello to a stranger at least once a day

7. Phone a friend. Make contact with one friend of relation you have not been in contact with for a while and arrange to meet up.

8. Have a good laugh at least once a day

9. Give yourself a daily treat and take time to really enjoy it.

10. Daily kindness. do an extra good turn for someone each day.

 

 

I love all of these. Thank you for this, Hesistent.

 

 

Its a keeper!

 

 

Sofi

 

 

 

 

 

Great post, Nivek. Lots to think on there.

[DanInPA]

About the "helmet and knee pads" thing:

 

I race slalom skateboards (think ski slalom but with little cones instead of poles-see my avatar).

 

Was very fast as a kid in the 70's. Took it up again in 2001 when the sport made a sort-of comeback.

 

Never wore a helmet unless it was required by the race promoter. Most falls in this type of skating, you land on your hands and knees, so I almost always wore wrist guards and knee pads. Elbow pads too, 'cause I broke an elbow, requiring two pins, when I was 13. Yes, on a skateboard!

 

Then I heard the "testimonies" of two guys who were *just messing around* on their boards and whacked their heads. One of them spent 6 days in the hospital with a concussion, the other spent 18 months in rehab learning how to walk.

 

In the last two years I also heard of two guys who DIED from head injury while skating in pools, and neither was wearing a helmet.

 

Nowadays, I almost always put on at least my helmet.

 

Broken bones slow you down for a while, but brain injury can really screw up your life.

 

Just my $.02

Dan