Senseless Self

There's clearly a trend these days away from "all for one and one for all" mentality to an attitude of "all for me, me, me" and none for anyone else. This way of thinking is becoming apparent in every aspect of society, and the aftermath is sometimes annoying, often inconvenient and, I think, in the end will be devastating, if considered on a global scale, in aspects such as our "carbon footprint", global warming and the general disregard for the planet and all who share it.

But let me stick to what I know. After all, trying to be a "person of the world" is impossible when having only ever travelled and lived in one other country, though this is more than I can say for 90% of the world's population.

I notice the attitude of "me, me, me" in our glorious country, here on the southern tip of Africa. Every day we are assaulted by news of politicians involved in corruption, crime or some other insavoury matters, and I do not even use the word "assault" loosely here, because it really does feel like each and every one of us is a victim when we are advised that our taxes, rates, electricity and so on will escalate due to mismanagement of funds. We are being robbed by the very people who are supposed to look after us and ensure that our country runs smoothly.

While we are still very much a "third world country" the mindset of those who govern is not one of a third world at all. Instead, I have a sneaky feeling that the politicians have settled on the idea that, if they drive a luxury car, get to travel the world first class, and if they live in a mansion, that we (as a country) can indeed then be considered first world, and nevermind the citizens living in poverty. Enough politics though, for this is not the forum for that.

It is often said that we need to work together to make a difference to our surroundings and to matters which we may often feel are beyond our control, such as, for example, global warming, deforestation and other moral issues which plague us as a society, but it is high time that each of us needs to realise that we can actually make a difference as individuals, and that if each and every one of us does a little something it will have a huge impact in the end, be it protesting, choosing "right" when buying products, recycling and much much more. Let's consider the attitude, you recycle, your neighbour recycles, their neighbour then recycles, and soon the whole neighbourhood recycles, the knock-on effect would incredible.

I think what irks me more than anything is when people with whom I am directly, if I could say, "involved", by their selfishness have an effect on my life. From the people who do not cope very well with their own lives and issues and cry large crocodile tears, feeling they are so hard done by, to those who feel it is their right, for instance, to own the road. In going about their daily business they demand sympathy from others or are insensitive to the inconvenience they cause others. They take whatever they can get without consideration to circumstances, in a selfish bid to better themselves or make their own lives easier, leaving others a little bewildered and hugely upset.

What is even more alarming is the fact that they honestly perceive that everything is about them and for them, without an inkling of thought for the fact that it is not, and that outside of them and their lives, life as we know it goes on.

I am quite done with hypocrits too. People who cry and say they cannot abide cruelty to animals but will buy products which advocate cruelty, people who weep (once again their crocodile tears) and say they "cannot bear to see any living creature suffering, when those people who are the same people who pump themselves and their children full of medicines on a sometimes daily basis, thereby contributing to the misery and suffering of countless sentient beings on whom those very tablets and pills are tested in the first place. It's no secret after all that pharmaceutical companies are the biggest testers on animals in the world. Wonder how they would feel each day, if their medication showed a maimed and multilated monkey on the box - like the images of the damages lungs we find on the cigarette cartons.

Perhaps someone can explain it to me? Or do we really, as humans, not have any responsibility towards anyone else except ourselves? Philosophy discusses just this topic - do we as humans, have any duty whatsoever to our fellow human beings or do we only have a duty to ourselves? I would argue that the mere fact that we share the earth with more than 6 billion other humans is answer to this question itself. If we all choose to opt out of having regard and consideration for others then I believe there really is no hope for humankind, because without the slightless regard for others, compassion, consideration and kindness will soon be extinct and we will be destined to the life depicted in the movies where everyone fights for food, and water and shelter.

But it is a trend, and it is a lifestyle, and to avoid being upset by this would mean removing oneself from society, because frankly I see no end to this way of thinking which has entrenched itself in society today. I'd be happy to hear of any remote, uninhabited islands, which I can go and live on!