The other day someone asked me if I was happy. Happy?
I do not find glad acceptance in certain aspects of life. I do not suffer fools gladly or accept what I read in the newspaper often.
In short, I struggle with injustice on a social and personal level a lot of the time, and thus long to be part of the Justice League.
It seems that making peace with man's proclivity for greed and cruelty could be liberating, and might result in glad acceptance if not happiness.
Yet how does one accept life's many injustices and still find the fervor to advocate change?
8 comments:
I was telling my fiancee just recently ... I begin to understand why George Carlin says "I have no sympathy for this species [human beings], and I root for its destruction." In a time when so many people seem determined to march backwards into ignorance, fear, and a sort of willing serfdom, you almost have to look on it as some kind of pitiless entertainment in order to keep from going completely mad. I don't want to look at it that way, but I begin to see the temptation ...
(And I'm a Marvel guy ... sign me up for the Avengers.)
"... how does one accept life's many injustices and still find the fervor to advocate change?"
I think it's all about scale.
I, for example, have accepted that, since time immemorial, the 'haves' mostly benefit at the expense of the 'have-nots'. And, as much as I complain about my station in life, I am most certainly a 'have' in relation to even a well respected professional in a country like, say, the Democratic Republic of Congo (http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=5323888 - I posted a copy of the article on http://home.comcast.net/~rhernandez-7/Economist_Article.html, but it doesn't have the pictures). Mulling through my actions throughout the course of my life, I can't exactly identify any time when I benefited at the expense of any of the world's poor and underpriviledged; nevertheless, it's an injustice that I find myself tied to and cannot disregard for the sake of some ill-gotten sense of ignorant bliss.
I can, however, create positive change within my own life and surroundings. Even if it's through seemingly insignificant actions such as giving someone directions or being there for a friend, it all makes an unfair life just that much more tolerable. I suppose I'm saying that you have to start small before you try to tackle the big stuff. I sometimes think that it's a bit of a cop-out, but you can't try to save the world if your pants are down.
I think it is best summed up as Think Global, Act Local.
Despite the huge amounts of corruption and injustice we seem to face each day, it is refreshing to be able to affect something close to home. To teach one thing to one person. To make one person smile.
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments--for reminding me I'm not alone in this struggle.
You are not alone at all. In fact, I like to harken back to a simpler, happier time. Which is why I tune in to 'Nick@Nite' at about 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
What we perceive through the media can be truly overwhelming and has indeed the power to bring our hopes down, but it's in small gestures that we can make a difference, it's through kindness and true friendship that we can change the life of those around us, even if only for moments. If i can make someone feel better about their lifes, or just that particular time of the day, that means a lot to me, not only because it's an attitude i pursue but also because i believe good karma has the power of multiplying itself along the way.
Very insightful thoughts. Sometimes it is very empowering to question one's happiness.
I got my ass kicked in a wicked Vespa vs Car accident last year and went cold turkey on watching the news, listening to Air America (though I miss hearing Janeane's wacky and butt kicking commentary) because I had to concentrate on getting better. The interesting thing that happened was that I still kept up on current events by having friends basically debrief me and yet I was free to not get riled up. I pretty much embrace the buddhist notion that if you work on yourself it will greatly benefit the world. Recovering from this accident just reinforced all of those notions. Finding compassion for the man that hit me was so much easier because I found a way to put myself in his shoes. I mean I could carry around a lot of anger about what happened but then where would I be? There is way too much crap and mean people in the world, true, but I have also found so much goodness too. When I got home from the hospital, the only grouchy neighbor I have, who doesn't like me because I'm a dyke, came over and asked about my health!! It was such a brief moment but soooo powerful. I love that. By the way I love The Gossip. I think Beth would make an awesome super hero!
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