I’m looking to the day when
The suffering of others really does break our hearts.
When we say, first things first, and stop shopping and throwing parties and upgrading office furniture until everyone in this city has had enough to eat.
When we say, I can’t keep going knowing how many children experience terror in their homes.
When we say, only an insane, still very young civilization would live like this.
When we come home to our ideals, and gather in the streets to begin the work.
Hi Tara,
I’m looking to that day too. Beautiful, thought provoking words. It starts with one person, then two, then four. I believe it’s possible.
Topi
Hello Tara,
I love your blog! Thank you for inspiring us all.
On this issue, I think about it often and I was recently discussing it with my girlfriend. There was an article about Peter Singer in the New York Review of Books that considered the balance between giving as much as possible and giving enough to make a difference.
If we tell people to stop shopping and throwing parties and doing anything fun, and instead give that money to people in need, I think the average person will be unable to make that sacrifice. We are human, and we value our happiness.
That said, if we ask people to buy just one fewer pair of shoes, maybe they could do that. If everyone gave 5% of their income, that would help so many people in need around the world. And, another interesting point made in the NY Review of Books article, is that we’d be cultivating values in our culture and community around giving and helping our fellow human beings. I certainly look forward to that day, too!
Best wishes!
Thanks Topi! It will become more and more possible as more of us see it as possible and as the only way.
Hi Ira!
Your comments always make me think.
I would be very happy with 5% too.
I think we as a culture are caught up in spending money to bolster our egos, make us feel full/secure, and distract us from what’s available if we slow down and spend less. That is different than spending for happiness.
Later this week, we are going to a big corporate party. It will be fancy, it will probably cost tens of thousands of dollars to throw. I am quite certain that more authentic human happiness would be generated by the attendees distributing tens of thousands of dollars of food to people who need it than by showing up to one more cocktail party event.
I’m not asking people to deprive themselves of meaningful gatherings with friends. But I am asking us to think seriously about priorities and question our stories about what spending makes us “happy.”
But can I still come to your next birthday party? 🙂