An International Monetary Fund report on 2009 gross domestic product per capita (otherwise known as Purchasing Power Parity) places the United States sixth relative to other nations.
As one measure of prosperity that is quite good, although we should note it does not take into account any disparities in actual average wealth resulting from other specific social features as income inequality.
Disparities and other factors aside, we in the United States must admit we live quite well relative to inhabitants of other nations. Take for example the constant struggle many engage in trying to find parking spots on a daily basis here at OU, which is but one obvious testament to our student body’s overall fortune: Most of us have cars.
Personally, my entire set of pots and other cooking implements are hand-me-downs, but hey, they are in very good condition and I have more than I ever actually use.
Who really worries about not having what they want? Surely with all our cars, air conditioning and pearly white teeth we are all in relative heaven?
Interestingly, having access to of wealth does not necessarily mean we are satisfied. Just look at the debate over executive compensation, or food consumption and average obesity rates. Obviously, there are people for whom a giant burrito loaded with a half-pound of animal fat is not enough to sate the beast within.
Access to wealth does seem to change our perception of value, however. Giving up something for Lent, comes to mind here.
Complaints of: “I gave up caffeine! It’s sooo hard, YOUHAVENOIDEA!” and “Sheesh, not calling people hilariously awful names anymore is sure getting me down” come to mind.
Please. My face is bruised from all the times I’ve smacked it with my palm. Want something hard? Try giving up texting for a month — I’m sure it would be absolutely excruciating for some out there.
Here’s a more worthy example of people who have endured actual hardship: A World Health Organization report dated May 2009 concerning the situation in the Gaza strip detailed major loss from military attacks.
“The consequences [of the December 2008 attack] for many families were severe indeed: 1,700 households lost their breadwinner from death or injury, and over 15,000 homes were totally or partially destroyed. 100,000 people fled their homes and neighbourhoods due to the military attacks, half of whom were taken in by UNWRA-organized shelters.”
Tell me, would you rather live in, say, the United States, where you have a several hundred times higher chance of dying in a car accident than a terrorist attack, or in Gaza? How about a nation such as Uganda in which roughly one-third of the population does not have daily access to clean drinking water and children have been known to be abducted for military service in a guerrilla army?
Sadly, not many people are confronted with the inequity that exists around the world. Few of those who have such experiences actually come to understand or care just how difficult it is for those less fortunate. Most of us go on happily day after day, complaining only about trivialities such as the guy in the library who had the audacity to take up an entire group study room for himself.
Even if we don’t actively devote our time to providing aid to the derelict and the destitute, we should at least try to do a better job of admitting we have it so good. The principle I follow, at least in theory (hey, I’m normal. Like most people, I’m also a hypocrite sometimes), is exemplified by what a Zen priest named Shunryu Suzuki said more than 40 years ago.
“Thus we should be ashamed of doing something proudly, vigorously, with some ecstasy even, ignoring the other side of the world, the dark side of our life,” Suzuki said.
Though perhaps Suzuki meant this solely in terms of self-reflection, I find it is equally applicable to our conception of all humanity.
If we wish to count ourselves as human we must always seek the courage and respect to face the reality that is the “dark side” of our existence. We should endeavor to distinguish proper needs from selfish desire, and to not let ourselves become complacent by being too comfortable.
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SupremecyofNature 2 years, 1 month ago
I refuse to feel guilty for my designer jeans and sunglasses. That's why I pay so much, for that wave of consumer complacency and satisfaction that my many trivalities afford me. My selfish desire requires jobs, factories, and industries across the globe.Those are somebody else's problems. My only problem is whether all that Mac Diesel I've been shoving down my throat is going to make my butt too big for those jeans i just paid $180 for.