As I look around, I see so many problems. Some of these problems I know intimately, some I only have read about and still others that probaly are not in my awareness. Though it seems that at the root of most of the problems is this idea that more is good. I want more attention. I want more people to think like me. I want more stuff. But, I think I finally realized that the fundamental problem is that for some to have more, someone must have less. If someone is considered more attractive, then someone else is devalued as less. Then, this creates hostility and pain for the group that is harmed. This leads to the second problem.

It seems that this intially good value of "looking out for yourself" is lifted up. I think this ultra-independent spirit helps perpetuate the problems. There is this island of isolation that forms when you really accept this self-orientated persepective. I think I see it in relationships all the time, even in my own. "I don't wanna do this". "I want that". The common language used suggests that the main way to go about resolving issues then is turned into a matter of preference if only there is direct benefit to the indivdual instead of doing things for the good of the group.

It appears that the way we always used to live has been hijacked by people with anti-social personality disorder *look it up and compare it to the way companies are run*. They've played off our desire to be liked by creating value in things that really aren't functional at all. Just look at the cosmetic industry. What really matters is how someone is. However, they would have you believe what is valuable is whether someone looks valuable. My God, what have we let them do in the spirit of allowing companies freedom from social responsibility. Our idea of freedom is being used against us to allow them free reign over redefining what is important.

This isn't the way it always was. There used to be small communities who's values were helping each other with all aspects of thier lives. If you had more corn then your neighbor and they were hungry, you helped them not because of some guilt, but because it was the right thing to do and you couldn't hide away from the reality of the situation. You also didn't worry about being taken advantaged of because you knew that they would and will help you if something were to arise because not only were there a close physical proxmity, but you would be shunned if you gathered so much and refused to help when you were more than capable. The values was on sympathy, honor and integrety. Trying to prop yourself up at the expense of another was seen for what it was, evil. People were intrinscially more valuable than having a particular object. Now, you have some objects that are more valued over other people. You could almost literally own someone and tell them how they should be. This power is corrupt. No one should have the power to allocate how much food or shelter another has.

As you can see, this is the first time in a long time that I have labeled particular things as good or evil. I wasn't sure that they existed. *especially as an atheist* Sorta felt that actions simply what people did, much like the actions that molecues do are not judged to be better or worse than another. Yet, when someone is made to be made more worthy than another, is that where we should go? Is the pursuit of objects really the value that should be put forth for the advancement of humankind and maintance of the planet? I think we mustn't forget that what leads to happiness at the end is the quality of our relationships and how much love was exchanged. Love hurts, sometimes finacially, sometimes emotionally, but at the end, it is the only thing that warms up our *dare I say* soul. Let's keep our eyes on the prize....