World's Going To Hell - Handbasket Not Included

       

Hey, take me with you!

    I’m really getting sick of people. Not ALL people. The irritating ones. The rude ones. The ignorant ones. The people who don’t understand that the earth revolves around the sun and not them. EVERYWHERE you go these people are lurking. They drive on the highway – cutting you off, tailgating you, driving in front of you 20 miles under the speed limit while they talk on the phone or text. They spit propaganda like garbage at you – reasons why anyone who disagrees with them is wrong, being sure to include slogan like phrases they’ve seen or could put in an image on Facebook. They look up and say “Huh?” after you’ve tried to address them or speak to them because your presence in the room or at the table is inconsequential to their existence. They strategically grunt, whine, and whimper when they’re completing an action in the presence of others, just to make sure you know that they’re not happy about what they’re doing. I’ve had it.

            When did people become so egocentric? I fear it is a largely wealthy world driven characteristic, meaning I’m pretty sure it’s not like this in the Congo. Perhaps there you have a survival instinct instead. A better example would be Cuba. It’s been a while since I’ve been there, but I distinctly remember watching younger people and men step off the sidewalk so older woman would not have to walk in the road. People would look you in the eye when you spoke to them, and listen to what you had to say, because all opinions are worth something and that’s how cultures grow. Cuba has more doctors per capita than any other nation (Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation), not to mention the near 100% literacy rate since as far back as 1985 (that’s as far back as the UNESCO chart goes). Intelligence is a duty and something worth striving for.

            People have completely forgotten how to communicate, and they don’t even seem to be aware of it. If they are aware of it, they must just not care. It used to be that people knew that the important thing in life was the difference you made in people’s lives while you were around and the good things that you did (not for the sake of doing good things). Now the trend is to post pictures and articles on Facebook about how those are the important things in life, BUT I DON’T ACTUALLY SEE PEOPLE ACTING ON THAT. It’s the age-old truth that actions speak louder than words. If someone matters to you, you show him or her, rather than ignoring them the whole way through a meal or falling asleep while they sit there wondering if you’re suffering from an illness or just insufferably rude.

            If you want to make a difference in a life, DO it. CALL your friend who you haven’t heard from in a while and might be worried about. Go visit someone who’s having a bad day. Bake some cookies for your neighbor, just because people like to eat cookies. 

            Whether or not you’re a Bible reader, I’ll share with you an anecdote (that is not the least bit preachy). Revelations was always my favorite section of the Bible – that says something odd about me I’m sure since it is the book detailing the Apocalypse. I never understood though, if you were going to take it at face value, why the number of “saved” Christians that would go to Heaven was so small. Just 144,000. As a child, I knew that was a lot of people if you were going to be in a crowd, but definitely not enough given all the supposed Christians there were wandering the Earth. Except when I look at that number now, it makes a lot more sense, and THAT is the real tragedy. People are really horrible to each other. It’s not just the bombs and the shotguns and the suicide bombers. If you want to look at it from a truly grim perspective, at least THOSE people are being honest. It’s the people who look at you and pretend they care that are the worst. They lie to your face everyday. Some of them are so involved with themselves, they don’t even know that they’re lying. They don’t understand the “being the better friend” syndrome – where their friends put in all the effort and get nothing in return, until they realize that there are some people out there who are more worth their efforts and move on.

            If you don’t agree with someone, you’re an idiot. If you try to have a meeting of the minds instead of giving in, you’re an extortionist. There is no more dialogue. There is little respect for others. And, communication is a memory now that people can’t go a minute and a half without looking at their smartphones (which, ironically, make people really dumb). Anyone who is still holding on to the old ways sticks out like a sore thumb, looking lost, uncomfortable, and sad. I don’t want to be part of a world like this. And I’m smart enough to know there is nothing I can do to fix it.