by Robert Singleton
The Black Urban Times
Staff Writer
Almost daily someone will exclaim,"Why won't people do what they are supposed to do?", or why don't they act the way they are supposed to act?", or, "why are things this way in the world rather than that?" What is wrong with people? What is wrong with the world? Maybe there's nothing wrong at all.
A shortcut might be to go back to where it all began, back to a time before there were people, if we want to understand the world. In its most primeval and 'primitive' state our world, this Earth, was, and still is, a wild, stormy place, a place of earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and consuming fires. It has always been that way. Geological evidence will reveal cataclysmic activity that has buried countless ruins of features that were never seen by man.
When we come to the world of men (and women) we can consult recorded history. Of course, people existed before there was recorded history, but we can assume, I think, that these people were somewhat more 'primitive' than those we might encounter today. So, what is the problem? There might not be one."
We don't have to be particularly bright students to realize that, voila!, there has never been a time when people did what they are supposed to do! According to our norms, nor has there been a time when people acted the way they are supposed to act. Where there was one renowned for "righteousness," it was generally enough a mark of distinction for the name to have come down to our time.
In our minds we might see a better time and a better world. Surely, these exist only in our minds, since there is no evidence such a state of affairs has ever existed in reality. Writing in his novel, 'Candide,' Voltaire refers to "the best of all possible worlds." Chances are, this might be it.
So, where is the problem?
We ourselves might be the problem. We should not expect that a state of affairs that has never BEEN before will BE or BECOME in our lifetimes. We have to admit it would be ridiculous to do so. People and things will be as they are, as they have always been.
In order to live sensibly, then, in the world, or have any peace in our minds while we do so, we have to come to terms with the world they way it is. But, we can do a little more than that: we won't be able to stop the storms, we may never change other people actions, but we ourselves are able to do the right things. No matter whether other people do so or not, we can take control of ourselves. We can do what WE are supposed to do, and act as WE are supposed to act. If we do only this, we will be at least one person closer to the ideal world we see in our minds, and the world will that much closer to the way we think it is supposed to be.
Media Outlets must credit The Black Urban Times
www.theblackurbantimes.com
twitter.com/blkutimes76
facebook.com/theblackurbantimes
A shortcut might be to go back to where it all began, back to a time before there were people, if we want to understand the world. In its most primeval and 'primitive' state our world, this Earth, was, and still is, a wild, stormy place, a place of earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, and consuming fires. It has always been that way. Geological evidence will reveal cataclysmic activity that has buried countless ruins of features that were never seen by man.
When we come to the world of men (and women) we can consult recorded history. Of course, people existed before there was recorded history, but we can assume, I think, that these people were somewhat more 'primitive' than those we might encounter today. So, what is the problem? There might not be one."
We don't have to be particularly bright students to realize that, voila!, there has never been a time when people did what they are supposed to do! According to our norms, nor has there been a time when people acted the way they are supposed to act. Where there was one renowned for "righteousness," it was generally enough a mark of distinction for the name to have come down to our time.
In our minds we might see a better time and a better world. Surely, these exist only in our minds, since there is no evidence such a state of affairs has ever existed in reality. Writing in his novel, 'Candide,' Voltaire refers to "the best of all possible worlds." Chances are, this might be it.
So, where is the problem?
We ourselves might be the problem. We should not expect that a state of affairs that has never BEEN before will BE or BECOME in our lifetimes. We have to admit it would be ridiculous to do so. People and things will be as they are, as they have always been.
In order to live sensibly, then, in the world, or have any peace in our minds while we do so, we have to come to terms with the world they way it is. But, we can do a little more than that: we won't be able to stop the storms, we may never change other people actions, but we ourselves are able to do the right things. No matter whether other people do so or not, we can take control of ourselves. We can do what WE are supposed to do, and act as WE are supposed to act. If we do only this, we will be at least one person closer to the ideal world we see in our minds, and the world will that much closer to the way we think it is supposed to be.
Media Outlets must credit The Black Urban Times
www.theblackurbantimes.com
twitter.com/blkutimes76
facebook.com/theblackurbantimes
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