March 21, 2010 10:06pm
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the west is a bit too wildRelated ArticlesIt has become aware to many that the Western World has fallen into overconsumption. The market for just about anything is in such high demand we are forgetting the difference between necessity and luxury. This rise in waste leaves us often wondering if our luxury is worth the price we will pay later on. What I would like to point out is that others already pay this price for us! It seems as though a result of this knowledge, we isolate ourselves, and pretend we don’t know about it.
In the past it used to be remarkable for a seemingly average person to travel the world on a regular salary. Secondly, they came back with stories of these journeys only to amaze people on the simple fact that other people have cars and televisions and etcetera. Before the Internet, many people would have never chatted with someone from Manila or Mumbai in their lifetime. For the West to finally learn that there are many who live like them, as a majority they have forgotten that there are still others who do not. The bare truth is that there are many living without any extra trimming while we have a bit too much.
The glitz and glamour many of us surround ourselves in isn’t necessarily negative, but perhaps a bit too excessive. To consider the fact that it is wartime for many countries, they are not concerned with what their movie stars are doing, so much as SURVIVAL and a solution to the problem. However the West simply accepts the wartime facts, but continues to find out about what the Olsen twins are or aren’t eating and why bohemian fashion is so crucial to your back to school popularity. The fact that poverty is striking everywhere seems to be irrelevant in many people’s lives. Some believe the only solution would be to completely turn the tables around, and see if the once poor would be willing to share with the once rich. Others think that eventually all the different tiny global action teams will get a big donation from some guy and everything will get better.
However the amount of money used on war only seems to be creating a deeper hole that leads to more reasons for war. Poverty is the biggest oppressor of them all, and it only leads to frustration and terrible answers such as guerrilla warfare and terrorism. If the money used on war was used on peace, then the glitz and glamour could stay along with extra trimming for everyone. For community involvement in peace would probably bring more industry from us consumers, from people trying ice out their peace necklaces and buy the latest U2 benefit album. Think about it, “Pimp my hybrid”. Look at Live8, how likely is it that you could get that many people in Philadelphia together to celebrate the war on Iraq with 50 cent and Alicia Keys? And try getting Stevie Wonder to agree to a free concert for missiles in space! My theory is after you count your blessings, try spreading them out a bit. Encourage yourself and your friends that going out and having fun can be involved in helping out too. Try giving back to your community or perhaps one not so near by. The rest of the world needs us westerners now more than ever. Peace is trendy, check it out!
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