Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Making a choice

Upon reflecting about the nature of politics, war, greed, and the unbounded possibilities of sheer human ignorance I have decided, once again, that human civilization is nothing but a cruel joke perpetrated on a less than semi-intelligent naked ape by a universe that may at any moment lose interest and sterilize the planet. The main problem I believe is that we have gone and taken ourselves far too seriously. Arrogant men and women strut around in thousand dollar suits showing off hundred dollar haircuts expounding on a whole manner of societal woes trying to convince everyone that some bogeyman is hiding under all our beds.

The God's honest truth is that 99% of the crap we worry about will be forgotten in hundred years. When all is said in done the best that we can hope to accomplish is that when we pass on we will have made enough of an impact on people and the planet that we will be remembered in a positive light. In that mysterious and scary future no will give a damn about how big your house was, how many cars you owned, and sure as Hell few if any will think twice of the money you left behind.

Those that people will want to remember will be the ones that clothed the needy, saw that children were fed, took care of the sick, and otherwise sought to alleviate the fear and suffering that plagues this world. In the end its just a question of which side we will take. Do we grovel in fears and prejudices scared that every knock at the door is someone out to take our precious material items or do we reach out to others and make an effort to build a place for every man, women, and child on the planet. It isn't an easy quest and primal, self destructive animal fears are rooted deep in our DNA but every once and a while good guys do win. Lets just hope we have time.

17 comments:

Randal Graves said...

Those that will be remembered will be the ones that clothed the needy, saw that children were fed, took care of the sick, and otherwise sought to alleviate the fear and suffering that plagues this world.

You know, like Hitler and Stalin and Napoleon and Caesar and the Medicis. ;-)

Other than that nitpick, I agree with the premise of your first paragraph. So we might as well drink ourselves silly.

zeppo said...

I am beginning to feel like one of those aliens on Outer Limits or Star Trek. You know, the ones who say, "Humans are self-destructive and, unless eliminated, will destroy the universe." And then Capt. Kirk or the hero of the week then makes an impassioned defense of the human species, about how there really is good in us and that we are actually BETTER than the alien species that wants to destroy the Earth, etc. etc.

Except, I am to the point, if I was Capt. Kirk, I would go something like, "Um... You know, you're right. Go right ahead Please destroy the Earth. And make sure you give Arkansas a double shot, while you are at it."

Commander Zaius said...

Randal: Bummer dude! After my two presiding depressing rants I needed a little pick me up and you go and bring up Moe, Larry, Curly, and Shemp. ;P

But seriously you are right, should have thought of that but it was late and I wanted to post something.

Zeppo: Yeah, wouldn't surprise me at all if some advanced species watching over us decided to wipe the planet clean. Then again maybe why it hasn't already happened is beacause we will do it ourselves.

Vigilante said...

There is no middle ground. Either the good guys win or the zombies win. it's and everlasting struggle, every day, every year, every generation. I'm going to open up the ice chest early today.

Middle Ditch said...

I read somewhere, some time, and I believe it to be true, that if our species were to be wiped off the face of the earth (and no doubt this will happen as all dominant species have been wiped off the earth in the past) that within 100 years there is going to be no trace of anything we ever built. The dust, trees, greenery and dirt will cover everything and sometime, in the far away future, when some other species will take over, we might just hope that they study archeology and some of our inheritance will be dug up.

Beach Bum said...

Dude - apologies for the preaching in response to your post but here's your chance to be one of the good guys - sign up here and help campaign to try and save the world's coral reefs from imminent destruction. For background info, take a look at the mess we've gotten our ocean environment at here.

Me said...

"Those that people will want to remember will be the ones that clothed the needy, saw that children were fed, took care of the sick, and otherwise sought to alleviate the fear and suffering that plagues this world."

Spot on!

:)

Marja said...

love your post BB The art is to make the force of love stronger on earth and we will survive. Or to fight the dark bring in the light Just what you are doing.

Laura said...

Grrr! I've come in here.. I don't know how many times.. tried to get through this and for some reason (kids!) can't.
I will comment on this. I will dammit!!!!
Like the song. :) Holy crap that Jimmy Buffet's getting old!
((Hugs))
Laura

Malicious Intent said...

Amen Brother Beach Bum!
I know which side I am on.
I think that is a big problem with most....they don't know which side they are on and need to figure that out.

Distributorcap said...

beach

i couldnt have said it any better - it seems that everything is some sort of form of entertainment theses days

it really doesnt seem this bad outside the borders of this 'nation' (i question whether we even are a nation anymore - we seem like a bunch of feifdoms all led by the court jesters)

it is hard to pay attention to this crap all the time - it is both frustrating and depressing - and realize how little those we have chosen to lead really care.

i think i should just post about bad movies with old ladies

Cirze said...

I try to live by those words every day no matter how cynical the whole situation makes me.

Thanks BB.

You've altered my state today.

S

The God's honest truth is that 99% of the crap we worry about will be forgotten in hundred years. When all is said in done the best that we can hope to accomplish is that when we pass on we will have made enough of an impact on people and the planet that we will be remembered in a positive light.

P.S. What magic is it that interrupts my reading every time (this week anyway) I try to read your fine musings?

The dark side will not win!
______________________

goatman said...

I pick up hitchhikers.

Does that count?

lime said...

the ones you say will be remembered are the ones worthy of remembering.

Commander Zaius said...

Vigil: After a long weekend with really little accomplished beyond scrubbing the inside of the house while Dragonwife stood over us I am just now enjoying a fairly late night Corona. I'll be damned but I'm going to the beach next weekend.

Middle Ditch: Still hoping we as a species are able to pull our collective asses out of the fire but right now its less than even money.

The True Beach Bum: No problem, if fact if I can get someone to watch my daughter down there I'm suppose to take part in a beach cleanup down in my hometown next weekend.

Hill and Marja: You know I actually don't like this post very much. The sentiments have been twirling in my head for awhile but the words I put down were clumsy but I wanted to post something last Tuesday.

Sunshine: Tell me about it, Jimmy is showing his age and to be honest most of his music has lost its special, out of the mainstream edge. And I didn't even like his last book!

Malicious Intent: That's another problem, far too many people won't take a side.

DCap: BINGO! (i question whether we even are a nation anymore - we seem like a bunch of feifdoms all led by the court jesters)

Read a sci-fi book once that had some galactic civilization become so jaded after thousands of millenniums of peace that they fell upon each other after internal forces began to question whether the "others" were actually true members of the same interstellar commonwealth. Plus, they became convinced nothing worthy stood outside their domain and if it did they took it.

These species became extinct and little was left of them once humans came on the scene.

Suzan: I don't think the dark side will win, in the end. Its just that by that time Americans might be like the ancient Romans.

goatman: Hell yeah, especially the good looking ladies.

Lime: Yeah, but Randal was right. The bad guys have a way of assuring their place as well.

Rhiannon said...

Very well put Beachbum. I read your post after this one also and enjoyed it. Nice Blog. I know what side I'm on..however too too sad that there even has to be "sides"...so divided we are.

Often I've felt like I'm living on some other planet than so many around me. They just don't seem to "get it" ...maybe they just don't want to think about it. I'm careful who I say things to..because I've learned in the past some people can become very hostile and "vocal" and angry...even violent and out of control..never the less we must continue on and face our fears so that maybe we here on earth can change it and make a difference. If we all just keep living in fear and let the "bozos" continue to rule the world then they sure as heck will. I'm never giving up!

Blessings and Peace..

Rhiannon

Rhiannon said...
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