Just do it, mawf.
Post Script,
West Coast culture is DEAD, thanks prop eight
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Social conservatives = squid
Just do it, mawf.
Post Script,
West Coast culture is DEAD, thanks prop eight
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Please, tell me why
Precursor: Decisions I haven't been faced with include whether or not to buy food for myself, and instead for my family; if working another shift is worth sacrificing sleep for 2 days; paying for school or a home, gas or healthcare.I haven't been faced with that, nor should anyone.
Arguably, western civilization has become the most representative of a life that others long for. What you want, you can have. In the land of opportunity the only damper on your personal gain is oneself. The system seems to lend itself to wealth that is unimaginable in other cultures. Everyone has a car (many have several, large vehicles), the entire neighbourhood flaunts the newly acquired televisions, and children hand-in-hand with their parents believe that getting what you want is as simple as making the decision that, yes, I do want these things. I need these things. Even the Jones' have one.
This is where I see the problem. Now, given I have blessed with a situation in which I have never been forced into poverty and therefore I lack the perspective of those who have, I still believe I can speak confidently about spending habits. My main point is this: live within your means. For some reason what we view as acceptable has been stretched and skewed. Even our governments, the people who are chosen to lead the people through the storm, is doing us wrong. Please, tell me why people think it is okay to spend money they do not have. Having a credit card does not mean you have liquid money, it means you have a high-interest, liquid, long-run economy killer. Because eventually literal money must change hands and when all at once we realize the capital does not exist and both hands will remain empty, that is the moment our pie in the sky world crumbles. People buy houses they cant afford, cars they don't need, clothes to fit in, consumer products to feel alive. Governments lend money they don't have and spend money they've lent. Saying our society has fallen into a hole is an understatement. I accepted views and norms have failed. Living and dieing in debt is not the only way to live! Now, some may say, "hey mrmartyna you f**k head, you don't know how hard it is to live at the bottom". But let me share with you something; my grandfather, like most others, was an immigrant with a limited education. What he did was work hard, for his entire life he lived within his means and provided for his family. He sowed the seeds that we needed to start our families climb up from the bottom. My father and his four siblings lived in a train car. If you would like an accurate depiction of the bottom, I welcome you to imagine a train car hosting an entire family. My father (I like to call him dad, father sounds so unloving), so dad, followed in my grandpa's footsteps and worked hard, lived within his means and below them. Never has he driven a new car, nor has he ever had a bill go unpaid. Let it be for water, energy or visa it is always dealt with. I would say that my dad and my family have a wonderful life. Not even a full generational life has passed and what do you know, we're no longer living in a train. There are stories like mine everywhere, and the people in all these story are heroes. The people in my story are heroes to me and have afforded my the life style that I currently hold and share with many others. I am not saying I have done anything great, but anyone can. We can all do something great by simply living a good life, free of excess, free of meaningless consumerism. The 'things' come after the work. Work hard first, have things later. Imitating affluence helps no one. Here's to hoping I can follow these words with as much proficiency as I hope everyone else can.
Arguably, western civilization has become the most representative of a life that others long for. What you want, you can have. In the land of opportunity the only damper on your personal gain is oneself. The system seems to lend itself to wealth that is unimaginable in other cultures. Everyone has a car (many have several, large vehicles), the entire neighbourhood flaunts the newly acquired televisions, and children hand-in-hand with their parents believe that getting what you want is as simple as making the decision that, yes, I do want these things. I need these things. Even the Jones' have one.
This is where I see the problem. Now, given I have blessed with a situation in which I have never been forced into poverty and therefore I lack the perspective of those who have, I still believe I can speak confidently about spending habits. My main point is this: live within your means. For some reason what we view as acceptable has been stretched and skewed. Even our governments, the people who are chosen to lead the people through the storm, is doing us wrong. Please, tell me why people think it is okay to spend money they do not have. Having a credit card does not mean you have liquid money, it means you have a high-interest, liquid, long-run economy killer. Because eventually literal money must change hands and when all at once we realize the capital does not exist and both hands will remain empty, that is the moment our pie in the sky world crumbles. People buy houses they cant afford, cars they don't need, clothes to fit in, consumer products to feel alive. Governments lend money they don't have and spend money they've lent. Saying our society has fallen into a hole is an understatement. I accepted views and norms have failed. Living and dieing in debt is not the only way to live! Now, some may say, "hey mrmartyna you f**k head, you don't know how hard it is to live at the bottom". But let me share with you something; my grandfather, like most others, was an immigrant with a limited education. What he did was work hard, for his entire life he lived within his means and provided for his family. He sowed the seeds that we needed to start our families climb up from the bottom. My father and his four siblings lived in a train car. If you would like an accurate depiction of the bottom, I welcome you to imagine a train car hosting an entire family. My father (I like to call him dad, father sounds so unloving), so dad, followed in my grandpa's footsteps and worked hard, lived within his means and below them. Never has he driven a new car, nor has he ever had a bill go unpaid. Let it be for water, energy or visa it is always dealt with. I would say that my dad and my family have a wonderful life. Not even a full generational life has passed and what do you know, we're no longer living in a train. There are stories like mine everywhere, and the people in all these story are heroes. The people in my story are heroes to me and have afforded my the life style that I currently hold and share with many others. I am not saying I have done anything great, but anyone can. We can all do something great by simply living a good life, free of excess, free of meaningless consumerism. The 'things' come after the work. Work hard first, have things later. Imitating affluence helps no one. Here's to hoping I can follow these words with as much proficiency as I hope everyone else can.
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