Barbarism

We as humans tend to hold this somewhat pompous belief that we are civilized. We look at the past and see how much progress we have made, and we get so proud of ourselves that we just dont know what to do. However if you really look at things, we are not that civilized at all.

The rich (high social classes) still have absolut control over society. Sure, we in America have a government "of the people, by the people, for the people", but does it really act that way. In the wealthiest and presumedly most civilized nation in the country we still have bigotry, starvation, rampant poverty, rape, murder, and all manner of other heinous things done by humans to humans. We have millions and millions of children being raised below the standards that we set for ourselves, and the ever so big gap between the rich and poor continues to grow.

In little groups and organizations all around hazing is seen as a "right of passage". Stop for a second, and try to fathom that. In Ivy League schools; homes of the smartest people in the country, people conduct ritualistic acts of hazing just to "initiate" people in to their group. And if you dont participate, well you are just seen as insane.

And as all of this happens; as our society comes apart right in front of our eyes we sit back as apathetic as ever and let it happen. The government lies, wastes, and steals, and we sit by and do nothing about it. Educated people that see this trend are crying out, yet there amber screams are hushed by a growing society of people who could really care less.

Overseas, we see over half of the worlds population lives well below poverty. Starvation and mal nutrition run rampant. Disease and suffering of all kinds is common place, and yet the world sits idly by and watches it all unfold.

I suppose it is a nice thought to think that we are in someway better than generations that went before us, but my question is can man ever overcome its barbaric nature. We can advance as a society, but we always in some form or another seem to display all of our very worst traits.

Why

One of the greatest questions never asked in our society is why. People never seem to care why certain things happen the way that they do. They would much rather just go on accepting things as they are and not ask why they are that way. Religion is one of the best examples of this that I can think of. Now, don't get me wrong, I consider myself a believer of certain religious principles, however I don't understand why people just accept religious teachings at face value and refuse to consider whether or not they even make sense. People accept the truths that are spouted by those that they look up to and never take the time to consider whether or not the reasons given make sense. If somebody expects something of you, then you at least should have the right to know why they expect it. I know that I am really just ranting, but I tend to see blind trust as a very dangerrous thing, that is ever present in contemporary American society.

Mistakes were made...

Throughout my life I have had many successes, and many failures. I have made good decesions, and I have made very bad ones. However, no matter how hard I try to balance the two it always seems as though the mistakes far out weigh the successes; especially in times when those mistakes take hold. I suppose we do really learn from everything that we do whether it be the right thing or the wrong thing, yet at times it seems like the cost of the lesson is far more than I could ever bear.