LisB on Ignorance and Greed (i.e., What's Wrong With This World)
Ignorance: the state or fact of being ignorant : lack of knowledge, education, or awareness
Greed: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed
The two things I see wrong with humans in general, whether they be in America, or the former USSR or Guam or Timbuktu, are these two things:
Ignorance, and Greed.
I used to think that a proverbial village, left untouched, might still exist, where there was no television and no newsprint and nothing more than a gentle bartering system existing of leaves of grass, or beads. Where people simply lived in communal style and worked towards their village's greater good together.
I'll give you my personal take on this, because that's all I really have to give you.
My great grandparents came to America and made themselves.
I took great pride in that, once.
I was once told my sisters and I were DAR's.
I took great pride in that, once.
I dropped out of high school, and take no pride in it whatsoever.
That's part of the reason I can only give you my personal take on things.
My parents divorced when I was three years old and back in the late 60's to early 70's, that was still kinda weird. The Brady Bunch had parents. The Partridge Family matriarch, good old Shirley Jones, was a widow. Carly Simon sang, "That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be" and I'm not sure many people understood the lyrics, and if they did, they were either too busy holding her nipples against her, or too busy ogling them.
I grew up feeling the odd girl out. Heh. I mean that I felt LIKE the odd girl out, you...
Most of my friends had both parents, at first. Including most of my black and Trinidadian and Italian and Hispanic and British and Japanese and even Australian friends in school. In 2nd Grade. They wondered what it was like for me to see my dad only every other weekend. They wondered what my mother was like. They wondered about how I sat down to dinner every night, and whether we prayed. I didn't know what it was like to have a mother and father at the dinner table every night, so I didn't know how to answer them. I just felt different.
Added to that, I had to get glasses in 4th Grade, and I turned out to really suck at Phys Ed in 3rd. Last one picked for any team, whether it was T-ball or kickball or hide and go seek. Heh, the only time I was picked first was in Medicine Ball.
My family moved from a diverse neighborhood in NY to a very close little (rich) town in Connecticut when I was in 4th grade. By the time I entered 5th Grade, I needed braces on my teeth and I was introverted enough that my very progressive school in Connecticut advised my mother to put me in the care of a child psychologist. And so she did. It only added to my grief, but I didn't know how to tell my mother that. She was struggling enough already with my two sisters and me.
By the time I entered 8th Grade, many of my friends started going through their own parents' divorces and other issues and had befriended each other and students of color and my background started to not really matter as much. All of us just started to sort of coalesce together. The odd balls out.
I haven't really changed much, since then.
In fact, maybe I'm still stuck there.
So it's easy for me to pretend to see what's wrong in the world today. It's easy for me to narrow things down, looking back at there and now, because I don't have the college education to tell me what's wrong in the world. I just have my own insight.
To me, it comes down to Ignorance, and Greed.
Not seeing beyond yourself, and not caring enough to even try.
That's being both ignorant, and greedy.
Greed: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed
The two things I see wrong with humans in general, whether they be in America, or the former USSR or Guam or Timbuktu, are these two things:
Ignorance, and Greed.
I used to think that a proverbial village, left untouched, might still exist, where there was no television and no newsprint and nothing more than a gentle bartering system existing of leaves of grass, or beads. Where people simply lived in communal style and worked towards their village's greater good together.
I'll give you my personal take on this, because that's all I really have to give you.
My great grandparents came to America and made themselves.
I took great pride in that, once.
I was once told my sisters and I were DAR's.
I took great pride in that, once.
I dropped out of high school, and take no pride in it whatsoever.
That's part of the reason I can only give you my personal take on things.
My parents divorced when I was three years old and back in the late 60's to early 70's, that was still kinda weird. The Brady Bunch had parents. The Partridge Family matriarch, good old Shirley Jones, was a widow. Carly Simon sang, "That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be" and I'm not sure many people understood the lyrics, and if they did, they were either too busy holding her nipples against her, or too busy ogling them.
I grew up feeling the odd girl out. Heh. I mean that I felt LIKE the odd girl out, you...
Most of my friends had both parents, at first. Including most of my black and Trinidadian and Italian and Hispanic and British and Japanese and even Australian friends in school. In 2nd Grade. They wondered what it was like for me to see my dad only every other weekend. They wondered what my mother was like. They wondered about how I sat down to dinner every night, and whether we prayed. I didn't know what it was like to have a mother and father at the dinner table every night, so I didn't know how to answer them. I just felt different.
Added to that, I had to get glasses in 4th Grade, and I turned out to really suck at Phys Ed in 3rd. Last one picked for any team, whether it was T-ball or kickball or hide and go seek. Heh, the only time I was picked first was in Medicine Ball.
My family moved from a diverse neighborhood in NY to a very close little (rich) town in Connecticut when I was in 4th grade. By the time I entered 5th Grade, I needed braces on my teeth and I was introverted enough that my very progressive school in Connecticut advised my mother to put me in the care of a child psychologist. And so she did. It only added to my grief, but I didn't know how to tell my mother that. She was struggling enough already with my two sisters and me.
By the time I entered 8th Grade, many of my friends started going through their own parents' divorces and other issues and had befriended each other and students of color and my background started to not really matter as much. All of us just started to sort of coalesce together. The odd balls out.
I haven't really changed much, since then.
In fact, maybe I'm still stuck there.
So it's easy for me to pretend to see what's wrong in the world today. It's easy for me to narrow things down, looking back at there and now, because I don't have the college education to tell me what's wrong in the world. I just have my own insight.
To me, it comes down to Ignorance, and Greed.
Not seeing beyond yourself, and not caring enough to even try.
That's being both ignorant, and greedy.
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That's being both ignorant, and greedy.
Neither of which describes you in the least. But I can think of many that do have a college education and both ignorant and greedy would top the lists of their character defects.
We are very lucky to have you and your insights. :-)
September 20, 2009 2:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I can has cheezeburger? And not deal with pyramids about empathy?
Thank you.
September 20, 2009 2:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Forgive me if I utilize quotes...I have few "original" thoughts:
“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.”
Eric Hoffer
September 20, 2009 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Gotta think if there's more, like power-madness. But maybe that's ignorance.
I like the way you meandered around to your point and then socked it to us!
September 20, 2009 3:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFEhmF-cSi8
Me???
September 20, 2009 3:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Never!
I'm just not that clever...
September 20, 2009 3:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Power-madness" is greed.
Buddhism views the fundamental problem as being:
Greed.
And the persistence of that the result of:
Ignorance.
September 20, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
My comments, so far, notwithstanding, I truly mean this.
I've seen a lot of discourse about how we got this way, in America, today, and I've seen a lot of comments that are above and beyond me.
It's nice to quote things that mean a lot, and it's great to know who to quote...
But it's also nice to just know that something is wrong, without having to rely upon a study or a theory that might back you up.
I have no such studies. I just know we're fucked up.
Ignorance, in my case, may be forgiven. Greed...well, I have none.
I have no tower to hold onto, no power to cling to, and no fancy studies to prop me up when the going gets rough.
I just know it's ignorant to hate others that you don't or won't understand. And I know that it's wrong to cling to what's yours while being ignorant and not willing to help someone whose shoes you wouldn't touch, let alone walk in.
That's what I meant.
September 20, 2009 4:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
And you are very, very right...
September 20, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
How terribly sad, it must have been, when you were young, to go through a family breakup.
I remember as a child, the neighbor kids came over as usual to play. One day they came over crying, because they’re mom had abandoned them. Why? How do you comfort such pain in children?
The reason God hates a divorcing, many lives are affected. LIVES something dear to the Creator of life
(Job 16:5) . . .I would strengthen YOU with the words of my mouth, …….
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8) . . .Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
You don’t have to be brilliant, I am not; but what I do have, is what everyone seeks, JOY.
The ignorant and the greedy will perish; those who learn and apply the principles of Love thy God and Love thy Neighbor remains.
Didn’t take any money or college to find real joy.
I find comfort in the scriptures, because I don’t have to be the strongest, the fastest, or the smartest.
Simplifying my life, all I have to do is listen and do. Although I am weak, I have a strong tower that reaches to the heavens themselves. What can man do to me?
(Hebrews 13:1-6) . . .Let YOUR brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget hospitality, for through it some, unknown to themselves, entertained angels. 3 Keep in mind those in prison bonds as though YOU have been bound with them, and those being ill-treated, since YOU yourselves also are still in a body. 4 Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. 5 Let [YOUR] manner of life be free of the love of money, while YOU are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.” 6 So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
I hope you can appreciate; I do not present this as a preaching, but only as an expression of love and concern. I feel good and filled with overflowing joy. I hope it's contagious?
September 20, 2009 5:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I, for one, am hoping it's not.
Contagious, that is.
If, however, it should be, please turn towards your nearest doctor or free clinic, and beg for the antidote.
Because, otherwise, you might become as insane as Resistance, or at the very least, as insane as me.
Take your poison.
September 20, 2009 6:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Resistance, Although I don't believe as you do, I think your words were meant as a true effort to comfort and to try to show your understanding. I appreciate your kindness, and only wish you could learn to use your own words instead of just quotations.
September 20, 2009 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
No believe me, my words would be to long and incoherent.
It's as I wrote, it is easier for me to give the quotes. Simplification is my objective.
Pointing others to the source of GOOD counsel makes it easy for others like me, to simply rely on the author, anyone could go to the same Book and find the answers; I did. A Simple way to live, life
(Proverbs 6:21-23) 21 Tie them upon your heart constantly; bind them upon your throat. 22 When you walk about, it will lead you; when you lie down, it will stand guard over you; and when you have waked up, it itself will make you its concern. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and a light the law is, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
OR
(Psalm 119:104-105) . . .Owing to your orders I behave with understanding. That is why I have hated every false path. 105 Your word is a lamp to my foot, And a light to my roadway. . .
(Proverbs 3:1-6) . . .My son, my law do not forget, and my commandments may your heart observe, 2 because length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you. 3 May loving-kindness and trueness themselves not leave you. Tie them about your throat. Write them upon the tablet of your heart, 4 and so find favor and good insight in the eyes of God and of earthling man. ,,,,,,,,do not lean upon your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.
The history of my life's course would not be exemplary. So I have given up doing my own thing.
Found out I was doing it wrong anyway, creating problems for myself
So I simply recite, what learned men before me have capsulated. I give the honor of such insight and all the credit belongs to him, who sent me.
I am being perfected.
The thoughts and principles behind the quotes, I have said AMEN
lisB reminded me of my earlier ignorance, I hated being lost and ignorant. So I did something about it. It all came down to choice.
September 20, 2009 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do as you wish, but I didn't even read your quotations. I don't like the bible, and I don't want to read it. I would much rather read your thoughts; religion has done to you what it does to many -- it has convinced you that you are nothing, and that is not what you are. If you want to make a point, believe me -- the way to do it is not through quotations -- I would be surprised if anyone reads all of them, and most people probably read none of it.
I'm sure when you accomplish a hard task, rather than joyfully saying, "Yes, I worked really hard at that, and did a good job," you instead say, "I am blessed," taking away all of your own accomplishment and becoming a passive vessel. This has done you no good.
September 20, 2009 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you had to choose a quality that most affected your well-being, would you not choose JOY?
What is Joy? If I said “A joyful heart has a good effect on the countenance,” and “a heart that is joyful does good as a curer [or, “does good to the body”
I will not give the verse, yet is not this statement true?
Joy helps us overcome many of today’s pressures.
Far from being diminished in my self worth, if I recognize the joy I receive, from a purpose driven life. I am able to endure, and not tire out, because I have found a source of JOY.
Joy based on materialism is a false joy, as seen by the recent events of a Worldwide calamity.
“. . .but the anxieties of this system of things and the deceptive power of riches and the desires for the rest of the things make inroads and choke the word, . . .”
The word, the GOOD NEWS, that is what brings me JOY (I didn’t list the scripture)
Some individuals find joy over the calamity of others, but even this Joy ends badly.
Some youths are joyful over sexual desires, yet even this turns out badly for some.
But the Joy I receive excels all others, because of HOPE.
I recognize that when I share my Joy and the reasons for it, it can affect others. Then as a people, a Nation, we begin to feel the effects of Love, and greater JOY abounds.
Is this not what people want and strive for, True JOY?
Imagine the Earth abounding with joyful people living in harmony.
This Hope brings me JOY.
I want to share this joy with others.
It is not as you wrote “ it has convinced you that you are nothing”.
I am not subservient, I would take the lead, to make sure the conditions I hope for, come to fruition. I purposefully and not as a slave, desire to transform an entire population, to show others this is the way to Peace, this is the way to Joy. The excelling power of Love.
September 20, 2009 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Resistance, you have written a lovely piece, from your heart. I agree with all you said, and you said it yourself! Bravo!
September 20, 2009 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Cville,
But I feel like I've plagiarized, because I didn’t give the credit to the source material.
September 20, 2009 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Time you learned to take some credit for yourself. You seem afraid to do it.
September 20, 2009 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
NO, there was a time when I thought of myself first.
So the first human trait I worked on, Humility.
I am always trying to work on being humble, although some people, can really make me stumble, and then I could lose the prize I seek.
I find a lot of joy, because I applied a bible principle. I am but person, nothing special.
In that way, others glorify my father instead. Others could look upon my life's history and say Someone like HIM, made a transformation of such a magnitude as this. How can this be?"
And of course I'd say “Well let me show you this scripture” LOL
It is far better to draw people to you as friends, because they enjoy my company, because I guard against “I trouble” You know these types of people “I did this, I can do this, I, I, I. Do you find these people boorish?
If I strife to keep this Christian quality of “lowliness of mind”, I can draw honest hearted people to me and not repel them.
I want people to trust me. People need comfort and they don’t always open up to strangers. To gain this trust I do “nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with lowliness of mind considering that the others are superior to YOU, 4 keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just YOUR own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others. . .”
Many people I run into everyday, open up with conversation. I enjoy this. I strike up conversations with complete strangers, and it is pleasant. I owe it all to “Lowliness of Mind”. I lose nothing for this.
I find it better to give than receive. Giving others respect or admiration. Expressing to a complete stranger, awe at they’re abilities, and you’ve got a friend, because you listened and didn’t steal the limelight from them. Now that’s a great feeling.
Besides, I feel uncomfortable with praise. I only seek a well done from my father.
September 20, 2009 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you probably are where you need to be. I think that most of us need to be somewhere else, but good luck to you. I am sorry that you feel that the only way you can get any positive feedback is passively. But it seems to be what you need for some reason.
You are what you make yourself; it is your choice.
September 21, 2009 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Cville, I've enjoyed.
Joy and peace to you.
September 21, 2009 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
LisB....
You seek your "Proverbial Village." It does exist. It is you. Do not worry about the world and the condition it is in. You are all that matters. Absolutely nothing else matters. Find everything you will ever need, EVER, within yourself.
September 20, 2009 6:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm trying. I truly am.
It's those little steps that keep me stumbling. But big blocks like yours, from out of the blue, most certainly do help me on my way.
Thank you.
September 20, 2009 6:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I, most obviously, did not go to bed tonight.
I knew this once I saw the pretty colors shining through the trees that surround my attic apartment.
The orange on my south-facing kitchen wall. The purple where my new neighbors now sit.
And, oddest of all, the scurrying hurrying little footsteps over my roof, running up and down and sideways....squirrels, I imagine. My cats went absolutely bat shit. So did I.
It was close to that feeling you get when a goose runs over your grave. Only cats are there to witness it, and point their tails up towards the sky.
September 20, 2009 7:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmm, Dickens had a slightly different, but in the end somewhat same take as you.
I do believe he was talking to the Scrooges of his time, and now we have to deal with the Scrooges of ours.
I just hope that somewhere, somehow we get a Dickens for our time, that can communicate as effectively.
Sweet Dreams, lovely lady.
September 20, 2009 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Lis. I liked these ruminations. I just read the following piece on curiosity - and its natural opposite ignorance. Thought you might like it, though its lurned and all...
http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/does-curiosity-kill-more-than-the-cat/?emc=eta1
;0)
P.S. good luck with the interview!
September 20, 2009 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I used to be a good American. Ignorant and greedy.
I mean being greedy is of the utmost importance is American Society. Our very existence is based upon greed.
Striving to get more things must be our main preoccupation in life or the economy will not work.
I kind of gave up on all of this. I mean, I quit striving for things. Except for coffee and cigs and some whiskey at the beginning of the month, just for sanity you understand.
But I gave up on greed. Just did not work for me anymore.
But I still maintain that I can be a fine American, because, for the most part, I do intend to keep on striving in my ignorance.
THE END
September 20, 2009 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
LisB always remember this...as brilliant as everyone in the world thinks Einstein was, he was a horrible mathematician. He actually had to rely upon others to help him! Everyone has faults so no one is perfect. Just cherish what you do know and are good at and ignore those who look for faults.
September 20, 2009 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting. I know this is you speaking, LisB, but it could also be a character speaking in the first chapter of a novel. I think you should keep going with this voice. At some point it might depart from you and go off in a separate direction, down a road you didn't take.
September 20, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting. I know this is you speaking, LisB, but it could also be a character speaking in the first chapter of a novel. I think you should keep going with this voice. At some point it might depart from you and go off in a separate direction, down a road you didn't take.
September 20, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry for the double post! Ignorant Movable Type!
September 20, 2009 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lis, wish had had been there for your conversation on Ramona's blog; that was when this blog was conceived, I would guess. You have left out an important ingredient,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaVkr5_Xd00
September 20, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow! What a post - baring your soul and feelings. At first I felt very sad reading about your early years and what that divorce did to you. Parents can get wrapped up in their own trials and troubles. The "Poor Me" syndrome. Parents can forget that a divorce affects the whole family, not just the divorced couple. I forgot to look into your mind and heart and hear your pain. But then I look at your now and see a woman who, despite past hurts and pain, has emerged as a loving, talented, interesting and beautiful person and I am so very proud. Sorry for the past but so pleased about my daughter today.
September 20, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should be proud Maggie, for Lis alone, you have made the world a better place.
September 20, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ignorance and greed - George W. Bush's only strong points :)
September 20, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!!
September 20, 2009 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
great post. and great writing; there is so much there. we drag our lives to the table. it can narrow us or expand us. like all great writing, thanks for all us expand.
September 21, 2009 12:03 AM | Reply | Permalink