| Two significant movements are apparent in our society ("our" meaning the industrialized nations of the world) today. The first being the incredible increase of unnatural materials in our everyday lives. From the vast amount of plastic and styrofoam we throw around daily, to the perscription medications we claim are solving all our problems, it seems we are moving further from our natural resources towards a completely synthetic world. Is the Earth not sufficient? Should our needs not be tended to by our Mother Nature? If our needs cannot be sufficed by the Earth's natural resources, we are destined to perish. The more dependent we become on our plastics, microwaves, computers, and preservatives, the weaker we become. If we do not respect our habitat and live in harmony with it, it will abandon us, and then where will we be? Locked in our homes with our cell phones and iPods and Easy Mac. The second movement apparent in our society today is the quest to find a quick fix to the severe damage we are doing to ourselves and our enviroment. It seems now more than ever the race is on to save the world of cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimers. About 50 years ago came the rise of the perscription medication and the drug company. Doctors turned from old-fashioned, natural cures to medications that seemed to alleviate symptons rapidly. About 30 years ago natural remedies nearly stopped being passed down all together. Our society as a whole erased an entire medical history to fill the pockets of the makers of perscription drugs. With the rise of television came the rise of advertising. Drug companies can now easily spread the word of terrible, new diseases that can only be cured by popping their pill three times a day. Our society has grown too accustomed to instant gratification. We want what we want when we want it. And that's right now. And when we realize the fastest way is, more often than not, the way that causes the most harm (to ourselves and our enviroment), we are quick to look for a quick fix. Thus, the second movement can be described as the instantaneous phenomenon. We want to live in an instantaneous universe. We keep propelling ourselves faster and faster into the future, so eager to forget our past...constantly needing to accelerate at a greater and greater speed. I think we should all take the time to breathe.
Take the time to prioritize.
Take the time to weigh out the consequences.
Take the time to appreciate.
Take the time to cooperate.
Take the time to initiate change.
Take the time to wait. |
