The Humanity of Society
I work in a service industry. A pizza shop to be exact, a total slacker job. It's a good job, pays well, little to no responsibility, but I would say Kevin Smith said it best in Clerks: "This job would be great if it weren't for the fucking customers".
Working behind a counter, serving food to all different kinds of people has afforded me the benefit of seeing some of the worst in people. Humans. When you think about it, this thing we call humanity is extremely interesting. Maybe it's my staunch elitism, but why do I always feel like I'm so much better than everyone else? I'm no success (though hope to be, like everyone else in the world), I work a slacker job, and contribute little to "society", yet I see things in humans that sicken me.
People are smart, humans are hideous, greedy, ravenous creatures. Trust me I see it. Put a bunch of people in a cage with a piece of bread, and they'll tear eachother's eyes out untill there's one left standing to claim the prize!
Okay, that was a bit extreem. But when it comes to what one needs for survival: food, water, (unfortunately) money, shelter, humans will do anything to get it if they're desperate enough. Animal instincts, primal insticts. The truth is, I admit I am guilty of this, but we all are. We're all animals and this is survival of the fittest. We like to think we're better than our decenents, but in reality, we're all animals who thrive in small communities or tribes, but force ourselves into a dense community of opposing views, expressions, languages, values, and ideals. That is how things get dangerous for humanity.
But what does it mean to be a human? What is humanity?
Humanity is what "distinguishes human beings from animals or from their animal nature." So as humans, what is so different from animals? Aren't humans still animals? Is it our appreciation for art, beauty, aesthetics? I've seen a monkey paint better than some people! Sure the monkey may not have noticed its beauty, but how the hell do we know? There are billions of people that don't appreciate art or have any notion of beauty or aesthetics.
What it all boils down to, is that humans have a society, and there inlies the problem. We have created a society that values money over love. That's why it seems like our society is crumbling. Or at least that's what it seems like to me in America. Where money is power, and power is everything. Of course the powers at be, want you to think: You are important, you matter! But really, you don't. Unless you have money. We like to think we matter, like we're all part of a whole.
Dunkin Donuts - America Runs on Dunkin'!!
Bullshit! America runs on money and oil. The problem is that we've been trying to mix so many different values and ideals into a single society that only values money. Human society can only work in small communities or tribes, each with it's own values, and laws, like our ancestors as far back as monkies. The only universal law, is don't push your views on others, be it laws, religion, values.
Unfortunately, the society we've created is crumbing and we're left with survival of the fittest and what truly makes us human. An open mind, love, and an appreciation for beauty and aesthetics. I know that beauty and aesthetics differ from person to person, but if you have a valid explaination for why something is beautiful, prove your love, than you might be on the right track.However, what truly makes us human is put on the back burner as society grows more and more unstable as it depends on money and oil, not love and beauty. Perhaps that's why I feel like I'm better than everyone. I love, I appreciate beauty and even create it, and I haven't let society brainwash me. I'm happy with my life and it can only get better, which is more than I can say for most of the people that I see walking these streets.
Until next time (and the inevitable economic and social collapse). Love.
