Today, the angry, irrational, anonymous someone
said that he thinks that the only two motivators for human behavior are
Greed
and
Fear.
Certainly, these inspire most of the grime of human behavior, such as
bigotry,
oppression,
crime,
WAR,
and of course
Anakin's turn to the Dark Side of the Force.
My stomach churns like a washing machine,
and I feel sick
when I imagine a world
where he is right.
I'm sure he's wrong-- but at the moment, I can't articulate why.
Can you?
Monday, May 30, 2005
Greed and Fear
Posted by jo at 5:55 PM
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2 comments:
He's wrong because ultimately human beings have hearts and souls that, in spite of their inherent selfishness and ability to hurt others, in the end, seek to love and to try and do the right thing. It is true that we are motivated by our constant desire to better ourselves, but most people are aware that they need others to fulfill their own lives. So what do they do? They show concern, compassion, love, and respect because it is relationships that give us any semblance of happiness and contentment. We forge relationships not out of self need entirely, but because experiences are more rich when they are shared with others. Especially at this point in our lives, when we disconnect from our parents and are on our own, friends sustain us. We get through things together and are there for each other when things fall apart and when things are good--it is that shared experience and companionship that makes things worthwhile. How can that possibly be a reflection of greed?
I believe that we are more motivated to reach for a greater comfort not because we fear being alone or poor or unhappy, but because we wake up the next morning inspired to learn, to experience, and to grow. We are inspired by life's fragility and finiteness to do all we can do and be the best we can be. This isn't fear, this is an awareness for how things are. I quote Neruda from his poem, "Walking Around":
I do not want to go on being a root in the dark, / hesitating, stretched out, shivering with dreams, / downwards, in the wet tripe of the earth, / soaking it up and thinking, eating every day.
Some people bleed and cry, while others sweat and stare. Some people laugh, others just don't get that it's a joke. Some show effort, others apathy. Some are empathetic, others are oblivious. Some are dreamers, some are doers, and some just complain about their life. These are clear distinctions that we must reconcile and live with. We must be strong enough not to fall victim to the traps that others, in a desperate need for self-validation, lay out for us to fail. Neruda balances the misery with the joy by not simply "eating every day," but by constantly moving forward. In spite of everything, Neruda calls for us to, "walk with composure, with eyes, with shoes on, with fury." We are inspired to walk with composure because of what we don't know, because of the next experience, the next lesson, the next challenge.
Those that believe fear and greed are catalysts for human endeavors lack the love for themselves and for others that guide us with confidence and courage.
that's awesome. you rock.
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