In Brave New World everyone exists in ignorant bliss thanks to the drug Soma. The Controller explains that, "universal happiness has been achieved by shifting the emphasis away from truth and beauty and towards comfort".
But one person objects. "I don't want comfort, I want God. I want poetry. I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness, I want sin."
People come up to me all the time and say "you should be a model," or "you look just like a model," or "maybe you should try to be a man who models." And I always have to laugh because I'm so good looking. Of course I'm a model.
-- Derek Zoolander
There was a young man who said, "Though
It seems that I know that I know,
What I would like to see
Is the 'I' that knows 'me'
When I know that I know that I know."
-- Alan Watts
2nd photograph by Kim Ayres
Most Australian adults wake around 6 or 7 in the morning. Get to work at 8 or 9. Knock off around 5. Home again, 6-ish. Forty eight weeks a year. For about 45 years.
Most are glad to have the work, but don't really choose it. They may dream, they may study and even train for work they intensely want; but sooner or later, for most, that doesn't pan out. They take what they can and make do.
Most have families to support, and they need their jobs more than their jobs admit to needing them. They're employees. And, as employees, most have little or no say about what they do or how they do it - it's pretty clearly spelled out in the company's job description - even though these issues drastically influence every aspect of their lives.
This seems an odd way to structure a free society. Most people having little or no say over what they do, five days a week for 45 years. Sounds more like a nation of drones than a nation of free people.
Try to not say nothing negative about anybody;
a] for 3 days
b] for 3 weeks
c] for 3 months
d] for 3 years
See what happens to YOUR frame of mind and YOUR life.
Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending Open University classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paying job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and a vacation abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see Father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he enrolled for another course at the Open University.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.
Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Jubilantly, he decided to hire a helping hand twice a week to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough, it would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a large family home.
Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients. Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often yearned to spend more time with his family.
As expected, Father’s hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful home in Mosman, overlooking Sydney Harbour. On the first Sunday evening in their new home, Father announced to his family that he had decided not to take any more courses, or pursue any more promotions. "From now on," he said, "I am going to devote the rest of my time to my family."
Father did not wake up the next day.
[based on a true story -- a guy I met who's Father died the day after he retired, after working his ass off his whole life]
to be nobody but yourself
in a world which is doing its best
day and night
to make you like everybody else
means to fight the hardest battle
which any human being can fight
and never stop fighting
-- ee cummings
