How bad is it?
Nov 11, 2008 Society
As the years go by, I realize more and more that I give my fellow man waaaay too much credit. Apparently I live in a protective bubble away from all the self-obsessed and un-compassionate people.
The most recent wake up call came as I watched the movie “Lord of War.” Now I know that this movie is an exaggeration, but it is based on a real story. I marveled as the main character showed a total lack of ability to extend his actions beyond himself. He completely failed to see how his own actions contributed to a more violent and brutal world.
Now you may say “come on John” not everyone is selling AK-47s to African counties to fuel civil wars.” I’d have to agree with you. But we live in a nation where people can’t connect their actions to the state of the nation and the world.
People fail to connect their gigantic, gas-guzzling SUVs with climate change and dependence on foreign oil. They fail to see how their over consumption and their buying patterns are affecting our economy, our environment and our future.
Tell me I’m wrong. Please.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:11 am
You’re wrong.
It’s worse.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I wish I could tell you that you’re wrong.
I agree, I think often it is that our actions don’t appear to have direct consequences on our own life. We don’t see the aggregate. Or, we choose to not see it.
My kids loved trains, and I learned this interesting thing about them. In the beautiful Sierras (pause a moment to smile) there are these really long train tunnels. The original train engines that ran through them caused problems, because the smoke and exhaust would funnel back and cause breathing problems for the crew in the cab. So, the design of “cab forward” engines was used. The crew cab was placed ahead of the fumes, and “problem solved”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cab_forward
When I found this out, I joked that maybe we should take a twist on this and put the exhaust pipes on our cars in the front, so we actually experience the effect of what our cars spew out, and maybe get a feel for what we are doing to our air.
November 12th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Honestly, I think that high gas prices may end up being a great thing. It is fueling a new industry of high efficiency cars and making people think about consumption.