Having chanced upon this reflective piece [author unknown], written just after 9/11, it seemed appropriate to post it on this blog today.
You can choose whether to share this insight, or just hit delete. The reactions, as cited on the discussion forum where it was found were mixed with some stating that this is an “..example of overgeneralization leading to an unwarranted negative view on life.”The Paradox of Life Today
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn
less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than
ever, but we communicate less and less.These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
Make up your own mind!
2 comments:
Contrary to popular opinion, I for one do not see the connection of the insights this blog offers to it being generalisable or not? I think they are too different issues. If I consider the blog you posted to look for quality of insight, I would be inclined to agree that it does offer many insights for the reader. Whether such insights are applicable to every context, is another matter :) Thank you for sharing this with us, and I must say that it led me to think about the state of the world today... I hope that not too many hide their heads in the sand and ignore such thought provoking post, just because they want to believe that it is not applicable overall - Nancy from Oz
Nancy, you have put so eloquently what I also feel about this piece. Since finding it I have discovered that it was written by a man who had just lost his wife in 9/11, put into that context, it makes all of us take notice of the World around us, and of course what is right under our nose in the shape of our family and friends.
To me, it matters not whether it is accurate or seen as an over generalisation. What is more important is that it makes us STOP, if even only for a moment - and in our busy lives today, many of us don't do that very often.
Thanks Nancy, hope to see you here on the blog again.
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