WHO'S TO BLAME FOR THE STINKIN' MESS?

Well, I disagree with you on all points but I gave you a 10. Not going to debate today, I'm too tired. Who knows what I might say! lol

Lacey: Thank you for your comment. I anticipated that many would disagree. That's o.k. Do you disagree with my contention that the world is in a mess?

I totally agree that most of religion today in all religions is man-made, not made my God, who or whatever that is - and I'm a very new age thinker and strongly believe that our concept of who God is might be radically wrong, in light of recent archaeolgocal finds etc, buit that's not to discuss here...

I do agree that religion, which ever you choose, lays down rules for people to follow, rules for how to treat your fellow man, for how to live your life, respect, friendship, love etc, and these should apply to everyone, whether you are religious or not.

One of the problems in the world today is that people don't know to follow these rules. Kids are growing up watching and listening to violence and crime, and all the bad things. They watch MTV and shows life The Real World - and there is nothing REAL in a bunch of losers who appear to have totally empty heads.

It's time for the media to do what it should be doing - to teach people how to be nice to each other, to respect each other, to do the right thing, not just to cling to material posessions at the expense of others and the expense of the world that we live on.

The whole Middle Eastern situation is really scary to me. growing up we never heard of such things as terrorists. Now it seems people have no respect for life, not even their own. We never imagined suicide bombers blowing themselves up in a public place, aiming to kill as many innocent people as possible. It's frightening, and who is to blame? Religious people who brainwash their followers into thinking this is the way to salvation! The world has gone crazy...

Even growing up in England where the battle raged in Northern Ireland between the Catholics and Protestants, nobody would dream of bombing or even shooting close to a church, and where bombs did go off there were almost always warnings sothat innocent people didn't get hurt. Yes it was still terrorism, but aimed at getting a point across, not aimed at mass murder.

There is so much in this world that has gone wrong, but I don't think getting more people to church will fix things, I think society as a whole needs to teach better ways to live. That means in church of course, in schools most definitely, but most of all where teaching should begin - at home.

Just my 2cents for the day....

Lyla: You are right. There are good people everywhere, and I have nothing against them.

Tony: I agree 100%. Thank you for the excellent overview of the situation. These religions started out perfect and just look at what their followers did to them over the centuries.

Lyla, I agree with you - just because many of the problems today are related to terrorism by Muslims, that doesn't mean they are all bad.

I have met some really good people who are Muslims. I also know some really good Jewish people, and some really bad Christians as well! You can't paint all people with the same brush.

I feel sorry though for anyone who looks Middle Eastern who wants to travel, especially in the USA. You are going to get questions asked, and extra treatment, just because of the terrorist situations. It's unfair, but what can we do? Nothing! There is one thing in common with suicide bombers - they are all Middle Eastern. It's unfortunate for the good ones, they are treated like bad people becauseof their race or religion.

Same as Colombians. If I am standing in line at Miami airport and there are Colombians in front of me going through Immigration, I change lane, because if not I'm going to wait for ages while they are asked additional questions.

Does that mean they are bad people, or drug smugglers? Of course not, they just happen to be from a country with problems.

It's a sad world that we live in...

There are many things to complain about in this society, but at the same time there are many things to celebrate. On the day of Martin Luther King's assassination, I prefer to focus on the dramatic change in our society that came about because of this wonderful man's leadership. There is a black middle class today. In days gone by blacks were all relegated to the same class (the underclass). People are more accepting of each other today. We have medical science advances which enable people to live more comfortable lives. Are there problems? Sure there are, but things improved greatly in the last century and there are plenty of decent hard working people toiling at the mission of improving our lives further. We have much to be thankful for on this day.

Joe T: You are absolutely right. I couldn't agree more. However the premise of my article still stands. Thank you for commenting.

Thomas you didn't have your coffee today did you?
My thought on all of this is; we are becoming a nation of cognitive pessimism.
Of course the world is better today, we have laws and schools and many freedoms. It is not all perfect ,but hey, so much better then a couple of decades ago.

There will always be corruption,greed, war mongering that is some of human nature.

Yes thomas, I get upset at times too, when a see a ten month old with brain cancer or a family with an abusive drunk for a parent.

All still goes on in this world ,and there is great beauty to be held even if it is giving a baby with cancer an orange popsicle...

As for religion it is a matter of faith (or a leap there of). I am human first,mother second wife third and someday an older lady who hopes not to be a big grump like most of the people I see everyday.

It still amazes me that in some parts of the USA African Americans are not treated as equals, but in so many places they are, and it's good to see white and black people getting along and relating to each other better.

I find a lot of black people are happy to chat with you in the grocery store, restaurant, or wherever, definitely in the office, and that's nice. For the most part there is no more "us and them" situation or status, which is how things should be.

You are who you are, independent of nationality, religion or color. None of those things should make you either inferior or superior.

I travelled to a number of 3rd world countries for work over the last 20 years, predominantly in Central and South America and the Caribbean, and I met some of the nicest people. Just because some of them have to live in a poor environment doesn't make them any less of a person than me. I treated them as equals, not as inferior because was I white Englishman, and enjoyed my travels so much because of that, an dhopefully enriched their lives a little too.

Oh sorry - back to the plot....
Yes I do think MLK did a wonderful job that needed doing, standing up for his people. I think society might have turned around anyhow, but it might have taken longer.
I think it was evident from WWII onwards of a lot more interaction between black and white, so American society was heading more towards integration, but without the courage and steadfastness of someone like MLK it takes generations for these changes.

This comment is to let you know that this content has reached ten comments, and as such has been removed from Comment Speedway! Congratulations!

Pepsie: There is much truth in what you say. The world has made much progress materially, scientifically, but has actually regresses spiritually. The two must go hand in hand lest we destroy ourselves. And no, there will not always be war, corruption and greed. That is not the true human nature. That will change when religion catches up with science. As I said the purpose of religion is to better mankind, not to leave it in a primitive state.

Tony: Wise words indeed. Who could argue with your philosophy!

I agree with almost everything here ... but some "self-styled" (mine) concepts of God are "perfect" ... IMnsHO of course ... :-)

Spirituality is the essence of all religions that have basically lost it via their "institutionalization" into hierarchical "authorities" spouting dogma and creed ... Spirituality is generic (non-branded), personal and true when properly related to.

The non-spirituality of people is the root of all of our problems which are exponentially increasing lately.

See my recent article about those issues at: Why Racism ? , there I give the root cause for world problems and the answer for correction.

Peace, j.

Jerry: You are so right - "the non-spirituality is the root of all our problems". Right, we have turned our backs on God, and instead worship materialism, greed and self interest.

Thomas,

I agree that the world is in a terrible mess. The cause of the mess however, is simply human nature. And it is not the first time the world has been in a mess. Like I've stated before, we may have fifty years in which mankind must grow up. It makes no difference whether there is religion or not. The question is whether there is mankind or not! Mankind must learn to respect its obligation to mankind!

At this point, looking for causes to blame is counterproductive. We need to look for real solutions.

Right again, James. Thank you for your wise words. No, this is not the first time the world has been in a mess. But the remedy is with God, and it is God who helps man to grow up. He does this be re-newing His religion periodically throughout history. It is time for the followers of all religions to move forward together.

Yes James, but in looking for solutions, we inevitably blame some one--a vicious circle! Most of us truly do not possess spiritual values. Our idea of spiritualism comes from praying for something we "want"--health, wealth, a good life, etc. We rarely consider what we have to give. "Wanting" and "having" have replaced "believing" and "giving" consequently, true happiness and contentment is never achieved.

Lyla: There is sadness and there is joy. The world will get better, infinitely better. Believe me.

Kay: True, but things WILL change. Rest assured.

There is enough "blame" to go around because we are all self responsible for some portion of it ... but it would really help a lot if we sought the real truths that underlie it all ... and there are some that deserve much more blame than others ... those that are knowingly lying to take advantage of others for self gain ... this goes on ruthlessly at the very highest levels and kept relatively out of sight to most of us ... then those that profess such are called the liars ... S*it rolls down hill ...

Jerry: Right again. There is a saying, I think from Hinduism, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".

Truth,belief,faith,life it is all in your head. Your perspective and your reality are all found in your brain. Am I ranting? Sorry.

Interesting article and interesting comments. I fear that too many people take offense prior to thinking the thing through. The fact that there are devoted and sincere people in every extant religion (form of religion, that is) does not mitigate the fact that most people are trying to use laws given by God a thousand or more years ago for people of those times (not facing the collective problems we have today and not developed yet socially as far as we have gone) to try to handle our multi-task problems of today. Things are much different now than a thousand years or more ago. Why is is that people believe in a God Who doesn't up-date His message in a timely fashion? In a total universe that is anything but static, why would people imagine that God is static? Why do people believe that there is a God but only their "kind of God" and not the God of other "religions"? Come on, folks, either there is a God or there isn't a God. If there is a God then there is only one God and that God is the same by whatever name you choose to call Him. In any case, the idea that something as omnipotent and powerful and all pervasive as God is the exclusive property of one tribe or one country or one color of people is juvenile and absurd. The very fact that this infantile way of looking at things is so universal now-a-days, is proof that what Tom's article is saying is true.

Pepsie: Thank you. I understand what you mean, however there is such a thing as general consensus.

Donald: My point exactly. And I would emphasize that there are good people in every religion, that the religions are divine in origin, perfect as delivered by their Founder, and necessarily updated by God as needed.

Ed: I do appreciate your participation, however I would love to hear your views on this matter.

Dear Thomas,
After further mulling on this article of yours I disagree with your comment on human nature.
I believe we come from the womb selfish, self-for filling creatures, hungry , needy and greedy. We want nourishment, warmth, and love. I believe we are taught kindness, love, tolerance and compassion.
I do not think it is an inborn trait unique to humans. I wish it was. I think there would be less psycho paths then.


Oh, and Bush wouldn't be president.




Forgive spelling please, as I know you are a forgiving type person.

Pepsie: Good points; no disagreement. And your spelling is great. You get an 'A' all around.