Living in the here and now, right here in this very time, on this very planet, the question is, "Where is the shame?" What is happening in our world today? Every time we pick up a paper or watch the news there is another example of people using others for their own benefit and in doing so, harming others. The worst part of all of it is nobody notices. And, if they do the response is typically, "Everyone does it." That makes it totally acceptable.
Our country has just witnessed the collapse of major corporations such as Enron, Worldcom, Arthur Anderson and many more. We have experienced the collapse of our financial system. The tragedy of it is that we experienced a similar situation in the early nineties when the S and L’s collapsed and were saved by the taxpayers. Wall Street has continued and is continuing to operate as though nothing has changed even though most Americans have lost thirty to forty percent of their portfolios. This is not even counting those who lost everything through Bernie Madoff’s scam.
If we look at our Congress and Senate, we have to ask who are they really working for? They are much more concerned with pleasing the large corporations, the pharmaceutical industry, the insurance companies and Wall Street than the constituents that elected them. What has happened to of the people, by the people, for the people?
There are so many people out of jobs which cause them to have no health insurance, food and other basic necessities of life. Some are homeless. Some are sick. Many are working part-time minimum wage jobs just to put a small bit of food on the table for their families. There is a sense of urgency and fear permeating our country and the world.
Then there are those who are multi millionaires and billionaires. What are they doing about this situation? Are they aware? Do they care? Do they feel any responsibility towards the other? Where is the shame?
How can we live in a country, in a world, where some have so much and others die because they cannot afford food or medicine? How can we live in a country where a member of Congress calls the President of the United States a liar in a joint session? How can we continue to let the greed of some take so much from others? Where is the shame?
Perhaps there will be a time, hopefully very quickly, where we will take our country and our world to a new dimension. There must be a way in this world of plenty where there is enough for everyone. Humanity must begin to reach a place where we think about the other as we think of ourselves. As we sit down to eat a nourishing meal it is our responsibility to contribute to others who do not have this luxury.
The greed and avarice we have seen manifested as man continues to evolve, will one day bring the world to ruination. Each of us has a responsibility not only to ourselves and our families but to all humanity. Look back in history. Read about nations that became consumed by their desire for more and more. Eventually they fell. We are at the brink. Our nation is in great debt and at war. It seems we just keep doing the same thing and really seem to expect a different result. That is the definition of insanity.
We must unite in our thought and action and demand that we move to a sense of caring for the other. Sanity must return to our government, corporations and industries. It is a matter of survival. Ultimately the question is the same. Where is the shame?
