We Are All Spolied

MrMoe

This is a continuation of a subject I broached on another thread...

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=30556&site=3

"I don't bi*ch about my JW childhood. I never have regrets. My parents loved me so very much and showed it the best way they knew how. (Not to belittle anybody's feelings here or anything...)

Wanna know why I feel this way? There is some little boy or girl in Cuba that does not have furniture and if they get caught with furniture their entire household is beaten to a bloody pulp by the military, the children do not have shoes on their feet and their mother or father just got shot last week for trying to steal a cow that the government will not allow them to have because the citizens are only allowed a diet of beans and rice. Just an example anyhow. There are countless others."

I am going to use the USA as an example because it is the only place I have lived.

We here in the grand 'ol USA moan and complain about this and that without even stopping to realize we are all growing "fat off of the land" or so to speak. If those of us living in luxury could only comprehend the millions of people living upon this earth that make it their daily mission to just go and get water and a meal to feed their families... If I want water I turn on the faucet. If I want strawberries dipped in chocolate fondue waited on me hand and foot by candlelight in a restaurant over looking the ocean at sunset, I can have it. If I want a car that may seem simple to me (my Honda Civic) it is nothing, but to somebody else it would be a luxury they will never own, and yet I take it for granted. Maybe their mode of transportation is bare feet and a dusty road in all sorts of weather battling thieves and murderers. I take everything for granted. The fact hat when I am sick there is a doctor at my disposal or if I want new shoes to add to my collection of 20+ to match just one outfit I can do so.

Don't we see? Can't we comprehend this? Each and everyone of us here has the easy life, no matter what you hardships are. Why do I say this? Because you all have access to the internet don't you? There are some folks who have never used a calculator let along the wonderful word of computers. So, our lives are not perfect. I have crap to deal with, everybody does, but all in all, JWs included, life has been very very very good to me.

It is time we stopped complaining and started appreciating all of the wonderful things we DO have.

Kisses,

Amanda

Southland

Another post ringing true ... in the Western world, we all too often lose sight and take for granted what we have. Think too of how fortunate we are to have learned English from infancy, the predominant language of the Western world, and have all these opportunities in front of us for the taking. No matter how bad we think we may have it from time to time, there are literally billions around the world that would trade places with us in a heartbeat.

Matty

Unhelpful Advice to Depressed People

"Pull yourself together and get on with it..."

"I always find busying myself with work helpful..."

"Don't let them get you down. I wouldn't stand for it..."

"I don't believe in taking anti-depressants..."

"I wouldn't go to a counsellor. I'd rather solve my problems myself..."

"Everybody gets depressed. Don't worry about it..."

"There's always someone worse off than you..."

MrMoe

Southland -- I would trade places with them, in a twinkling of an eye. So many people on this earth with so many hardships in ways the human mind that has been spoiled the way mine has could not even begin to understand. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about the things so much of humankind goes through.

And Bill Gates has enough money to fix some of these countries 10 times over, PIG.

Yes, I would trade places, it is about time other people on this earth had a chance. I am damn lucky I was born here I guess, but I don't look at it that way. So many people born UNLUCKY for being born in just a really bad place on a map.

So sad.

Moe

Xander

I guess I don't see the point of this commentary.

The plusses of living in a first-world country DO happen to outweigh the minuses. It's not like it is without cost, though. Many have given their lives to bring us this level of comfort and freedom, and many more stand ready to do so at a moments notice.

That our country is as powerful and rich as it is today is a testament to the burden our forefathers have carried. You're dangerously close to trivializing that.

And, so, yes, we DO find faults with parts of our day to day living. Well, why not? We have the ability to effect change, this is the means to do so. What's wrong with wanting things to be better?

revdrjohnson

There is some little boy or girl in Cuba that does not have furniture and if they get caught with furniture their entire household is beaten to a bloody pulp by the military, the children do not have shoes on their feet and their mother or father just got shot last week for trying to steal a cow that the government will not allow them to have because the citizens are only allowed a diet of beans and rice. Just an example anyhow. There are countless others."

Wha-Wha-WHAT??????????

That's not even propaganda, that's just plain old "where in the world did you get that from?"

I know not being able to travel frely into places outside our own world leads to lots of misconceptions, but I'd love to hear what your source is for these claims about Cuba.

Then I'd invite you to rent the video "Buena Vista Social Club" and pay attention to the background (it's about a group of aged Cuban musicians pulled together for a reunion tour)

Actually, Cuba is a tourist and vacation HOT SPOT for EVERY where else in the world except the U. S. becausse of our silly travel embargo -- and even that can be circumvented fairly easily, if you don' mind travelling from Canada. And while crime and punishment may be harsh, by our standards, what you describe may have occured in an isolated incident -- with LOTS of context behind it to explain the WHOLE story -- or never happened at all!

Matty

Actually I do agree with you Moe, but what worries me somewhat is that there are a lot of damaged people here, and I don't want them being put off seeking help because they think that their problems aren't important. I don't want the abuse the Watchtower society puts people through trivialised in any way.

Love
Matt

Xander

Bill Gates has enough money to fix some of these countries 10 times over

LOL! Sorry, but NO.

No amount of money would fix what is wrong in the third world. A number of things need to happen:

1) STOP HAVING KIDS, GODDAMNIT!!

2) The dictators in power in most third world countries who busily rape the land and its people must be deposed, and the mentality of the people that leads to such dictators rising must be worked out (IE. "I can bring a brighter future for you and your family, just join my army and help me rule...")

etc. Education will help. But, lots of money won't help that much. You need people to volunteer, and it needs to happen everywhere at once, and thoroughly or no good will come of it.

Individuals can't help. Governments need to for anything real will be accomplished.

MrMoe

I do understand your viewpoints Xander, but my stance remains the same. Human suffering is the one single thing in this world I would change above any other. If I could do anything, it would not to be rich or famous or anything else. It would be to save the world.

It is when you forget all of the beautiful things that you have when you loose substance. It is when you appreciate all the beauty of what you DO have when you begin to truly live.

This thread is not about politics or government. It is about the human race. And sadly enough, we are divided rather than standing together.

Maybe all of this is silly to you, but since I could remember suffering of innocent people has greatly disturbed me. I recall at the age of about 6 watching a show with my parents on the starving peoples in Ethiopia. In particular I remember this one little boy. I cried and had nightmares for years over what I saw. I still remember so much of that program. It forever burned an image in my memory that I will never forget. And ever since then, I have wanted to change things. And whenever I get low, I always think of this little boy that I saw with knees larger than the rest of his legs. I was only 6 but I knew he was going to de because his mommy and daddy did not have the means to feed his swollen tummy. Horrible, just horrible.

Why did I post this? Not sure really. It is the one thing I cannot control I guess. I wish I could change everything, you have no idea. Shoot, I am even rather teary eyed right now...

teenyuck

We of course were lucky to be born into an industrialized country. Would I like to live in a third world country? No. Do I help? Yes, I give cash to charities to help these people. They (the various charities) have the resources in place to help; and are trying.

I have no answers to these issues....scholars around the world are trying to come up with answers. I will allow them and their wisdom to do it. I will give money to help the cause.

The fact that Bill Gates has money 10 times over to help is looking at a small picture. So does Warren Buffett and every other billionaire around the world. We cannot expect billionaires to give up all wealth to help everyone on earth. The earthly governments are too inefficient and crooked to use the money effectively. This would create further chaos and not help the truly needy...the crooks would take what they could and run.

Just because I grew up in an industrialized country does not mean I feel spoiled. If I were Tori Spelling or one of the Osbornes children, I might feel spoiled.

Average people, living average lives.....that's me and everyone I know. I am lucky my ancestors decided to come to america for a better life. If not for them, I would be in the Soviet Union or Poland. Neither option is very attractive.

This thread is scary....it reminds me of all the reasons JW's embrace the borg. Armageddon....then Paradise.....a perfect life, with no stress, pain, suffering, etc.

We Are All Spolied

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