In defiance of the title's sequence, I'm going to start this post off with the Bad. Because, really, who wants to start off with Good, only to end with Bad and Ugly? Let's put some Good in the ooey-gooey middle of our karma sandwich, shall we? After all, life is not an Ingmar Bergman film (although some of you may protest).
Here's some Instant Karma to get you started. Plus it can double as a soundtrack for those of you who find reading to be far too understimulating (see how compassionate I am?)
The Bad
I'm not about to make any pledges of rehabilitation. That's always been a recipe for failure. I do make an effort here and there. But for the most part I'm slowly but surely contributing to the destruction of planet earth in order that I may enjoy certain luxuries that only 10% of the planet gets to enjoy anyway. Does that mean I'm going to hell? I don't think so. But it does mean I have some work to do.
The Good
Here's some Instant Karma to get you started. Plus it can double as a soundtrack for those of you who find reading to be far too understimulating (see how compassionate I am?)
The Bad
This morning I went to the bathroom sink to brush my teeth and noticed my eco-friendly hand soap, which I had recently refilled with it's not-so-eco-friendly cousin. Why? Money, that's why. That eco-friendly hand soap cost me the equivalent of $5, whereas the cheap soap refill cost me only $2.50 and for twice the volume. As it turns out, I'm no better than the government (damn it!) or the megacorporations of the world, as all (or most) of my decisions seem to boil down to economics.
I've tried to be environmentally conscious. I just can't afford it. But wait, that sounds like a cop-out. Much like when people say "I don't have time for that" when the truth is they just don't make time for it. After all, we're all allotted the same 24 hours each day. The same probably holds true for my excuse that "I can't afford it" because, truth be told, I could afford it. If I wanted to. But being a non-toxic earth inhabitant is not number one on my list of priorities. No, those spots are reserved for more selfish and instantly gratifying pursuits, like my recent trip to Istanbul (which I also "couldn't afford") and buying a Macbook Pro (which I also "couldn't afford"). If I chose to forego these luxuries, then yes, I could afford to be a super-duper environmentally conscious being. But I'm not that selfless. In fact, the evidence is stacked against me. My actions - not my words - prove my complete and utter disregard for the planet, and thus the human race (okay, I'm exaggerating a little here). I'm sure if I had children I would have more of a vested interest in the future. But I don't. I have a cat, and I will likely outlive her. And as for the rest of you guys, well, good luck!
Of course this is about more than just the environment. But I don't want to get into sticky issues such as Chinese labor practices. Let me just sum it up like this: Supply and Demand. Without a demand for affordable products (a.k.a. cheap shit) business in China's factories would not be booming. But it is. Why? Because I don't want to pay $40 for something a competitor will sell me for $20. I tell myself I can't afford it. But again, the truth is I have different (a.k.a. selfish) priorities. I'm more concerned about my own comforts than I am about the comforts of some woman in China I've never met, and will likely never meet. But this doesn't mean we're not connected in any way. It also doesn't mean I'm solely responsible for the continued existence of sweatshops. But I am responsible for my actions.
Of course this is about more than just the environment. But I don't want to get into sticky issues such as Chinese labor practices. Let me just sum it up like this: Supply and Demand. Without a demand for affordable products (a.k.a. cheap shit) business in China's factories would not be booming. But it is. Why? Because I don't want to pay $40 for something a competitor will sell me for $20. I tell myself I can't afford it. But again, the truth is I have different (a.k.a. selfish) priorities. I'm more concerned about my own comforts than I am about the comforts of some woman in China I've never met, and will likely never meet. But this doesn't mean we're not connected in any way. It also doesn't mean I'm solely responsible for the continued existence of sweatshops. But I am responsible for my actions.
I'm not about to make any pledges of rehabilitation. That's always been a recipe for failure. I do make an effort here and there. But for the most part I'm slowly but surely contributing to the destruction of planet earth in order that I may enjoy certain luxuries that only 10% of the planet gets to enjoy anyway. Does that mean I'm going to hell? I don't think so. But it does mean I have some work to do.
The Good
Recently I've heard several stories of animal abuse: people keeping an orangutan as a sex slave (that was a new one), various cat and dog beatings, plus sordid tales of animal torture which I don't especially care to relate here (you're welcome). You may be wondering what in God's name this has to do with anything good or worthwhile in life. Well, I'll get there. Eventually.
I always feel a little sick in the stomach when I hear these stores, and although it's an unwelcome feeling, it's also a reassuring sign that I'm not in fact a sociopath. In response, I could easily take the tack of righteous anger (always luring), but that doesn't change anything. Or I could say fuck it, not my problem (a standing favorite). But the fact remains that violence exists. It's always existed. Trying to save the earth from evil is a feat not even Batman seems capable of accomplishing, despite more than seventy years of fighting crime (when is that guy going to retire?) No, I can't change the human race. Nor do I want to. So, what to do? Or, what not to do?
I always feel a little sick in the stomach when I hear these stores, and although it's an unwelcome feeling, it's also a reassuring sign that I'm not in fact a sociopath. In response, I could easily take the tack of righteous anger (always luring), but that doesn't change anything. Or I could say fuck it, not my problem (a standing favorite). But the fact remains that violence exists. It's always existed. Trying to save the earth from evil is a feat not even Batman seems capable of accomplishing, despite more than seventy years of fighting crime (when is that guy going to retire?) No, I can't change the human race. Nor do I want to. So, what to do? Or, what not to do?
Writing raging articles (or otherwise ranting) about the evils of the world doesn't help anyone. It only serves to feed self-righteousness and the false notion that you are a "good" person simply because you're not a dog-beater. Well, congratulations on not being an asshole. You won't be seeing a medal of honor for that one. This kind of hate-mongering only serves to spread more hate-mongering. And hate never solved anything.
It occurred to me that the biggest contribution I can make in response to violence against animals is to love my cat. Did you just scoff? I don't blame you. It almost sounds too simple. Apathetic even. But is it? Sure, nobody's going to give you a medal for taking care of a cat. People won't stop in the streets and stare, saying to themselves "Now there walks a hero!" No, it's a quiet kind of protest. And not really a protest at that. It's more of a countermeasure if you will. This small act of kindness, of caring for another being - no matter how big or how small - is a step in the right direction. The loving kindness expressed towards that being (feline or otherwise) ripples the atmosphere like a pebble in a pond. The results aren't jaw-dropping. They're not instantaneous. And they're not news worthy. Certainly nothing you'd see in one of those action-packed adventure films we've all become accustomed to.
Perhaps that's why this is the hardest position to take. The simplest thing is often the most difficult thing. There will be no parades held in your name and no streets will be named after you. You may not even get a thank you. In fact, nobody may even notice. (I don't want to scare you but in some instances you may even suffer at the hands of ignorant but well-meaning people for your kind acts, but let's not open up that can of worms here.) You won't get to enjoy the smug satisfaction of expressing your "justified" anger, neither to friends nor to the general public. Nor will you reap the joy of exacting justice on those you think need to be "taught a lesson". By doing these things - by directing your anger at sociopaths and criminals and whomever else you deem worthy of revenge - you're just regurgitating that parasitic rage back into the water supply, thereby ensuring future contamination. Not to mention unduly inflating your own sense of self-worth (and let's face it - you're not much). The human race will not suddenly change course. And you will not be made into a comic book superhero.
The Ugly
You can't change the world. You don't need to change the world. The greatest thing you can do, and thus the biggest impact you can make, is an itty-bitty act of loving kindness. I'm not shitting you. But I'm also not trying to convince you to do anything (or to stop doing anything, as the case may be). I'm not the ruler of the universe. I'm not even his trusted adviser. Not even his secretary. And I'm certainly not responsible for what you do. I'm only responsible for what I do, whether that's supporting unfair labor practices or giving an animal a loving home. But bear this in mind: Instant Karma's gonna get you. That's not from me; that's from John Lennon. And why would John Lennon lie to you? Does this mean you're off the hook when it comes to long-term (a.k.a. non-instant) consequences? No such luck. You can pay now or you can pay later. But you will pay. And unlike a debt owed to Don Corleone, not even death will get you out of this one.
Now isn't that just the ugliest thing you've ever heard? There's no shortcut. There's no secret passageway. There's no prison guard to bribe. You reap what you sow. Period. The good news is that you have the power to sow all kinds of goodness. The bad news is that you have the power to sow all kinds of bullshit. (On a side note, here's a definition of weeds: plants that are competitive, persistent, pernicious, and interfere negatively with human activity. Sound familiar?) And the truly ugly news is that you are solely responsible for all of this! "With great power comes great responsibility." I've always attributed that quote to Uncle Ben (not the rice guy, but Peter Parker's uncle in Spider-Man). However, I'm sure someone older and wiser said it long before then (maybe even Uncle Ben of rice fame - although that would be almost too awesome of a coincidence).
So, it may seem that there's really no reward for acts of loving kindness, other than the act itself. Or that we're accumulating mere dewdrops of good karma that quickly evaporate into thin air.
Doesn't sound like much, does it? But if you ask me, it's the only thing in life worth a damn.
The Ugly
You can't change the world. You don't need to change the world. The greatest thing you can do, and thus the biggest impact you can make, is an itty-bitty act of loving kindness. I'm not shitting you. But I'm also not trying to convince you to do anything (or to stop doing anything, as the case may be). I'm not the ruler of the universe. I'm not even his trusted adviser. Not even his secretary. And I'm certainly not responsible for what you do. I'm only responsible for what I do, whether that's supporting unfair labor practices or giving an animal a loving home. But bear this in mind: Instant Karma's gonna get you. That's not from me; that's from John Lennon. And why would John Lennon lie to you? Does this mean you're off the hook when it comes to long-term (a.k.a. non-instant) consequences? No such luck. You can pay now or you can pay later. But you will pay. And unlike a debt owed to Don Corleone, not even death will get you out of this one.
Now isn't that just the ugliest thing you've ever heard? There's no shortcut. There's no secret passageway. There's no prison guard to bribe. You reap what you sow. Period. The good news is that you have the power to sow all kinds of goodness. The bad news is that you have the power to sow all kinds of bullshit. (On a side note, here's a definition of weeds: plants that are competitive, persistent, pernicious, and interfere negatively with human activity. Sound familiar?) And the truly ugly news is that you are solely responsible for all of this! "With great power comes great responsibility." I've always attributed that quote to Uncle Ben (not the rice guy, but Peter Parker's uncle in Spider-Man). However, I'm sure someone older and wiser said it long before then (maybe even Uncle Ben of rice fame - although that would be almost too awesome of a coincidence).
So, it may seem that there's really no reward for acts of loving kindness, other than the act itself. Or that we're accumulating mere dewdrops of good karma that quickly evaporate into thin air.
Doesn't sound like much, does it? But if you ask me, it's the only thing in life worth a damn.
"Uncle Ben" is appropriating Voltaire.
ReplyDeleteYou present a reasonable view of the situation.
I think only more Beatles could be appropriate in closing: "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make"
Voltaire, huh? Still, when I think of responsibility and power, I like to picture an animated Spider-Man swinging between buildings. It just feels right.
ReplyDelete