Get your priorities (values) straight

When people are in a depression they do not want to hear of their bad selections or erroneous state of thinking, or to that effect that they need to change this and that in their mentalité or mode of acting. In fact, what they only want you to tell them, is when their “bad streak” is going to end, and when they will get back to being and acting as they once were accustomed to. Then, maybe, they will consider making themselves better ; and I say maybe, because in most cases they wouldn’t give a damn about what you would say to them, once they are “flyin’ high”.

One of the more bizarre takes on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's death comes from Associated Press business reporter Pamela Sampson, were in her article “Little Reaction In Oil Market To Chavez Death”, states that :

“Chavez invested Venezuela's oil wealth into social programs including state-run food markets, cash benefits for poor families, free health clinics and education programs. But those gains were meagre compared with the spectacular construction projects that oil riches spurred in glittering Middle Eastern cities, including the world's tallest building in Dubai and plans for branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums in Abu Dhabi.” [1]

 “That's right.”, notes Jim Naureckas at Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR),

“Chavez squandered his nation's oil money on healthcare, education and nutrition when he could have been building the world's tallest building or his own branch of the Louvre. What kind of monster has priorities like that ?” [2]

The reporter’s aim of course, was not into criticizing Chavez’s policy prioritizing. It serves though, as a striking reminder that people do not see things under the same perspective, even when those “things” could be expressions of what should be universally recognized values. 

Those said, was to prepare the ground of what follows, and that will not going to be soothing or nice, or kind.

At some point – whether all made-up and settled, or temporarily aggravated and miserable, imagining and creating or have reached a dead-end, either poor or rich, booming with health, or stricken by problems – you have to realise that the society has definitely taken a wrong turn, down a path that at the best, will lead to more misery for the majority. At some point you must realise that what separates you from the majority, is actually a very thin line. It has nothing to do with your belongings, your money in the bank, or your society status in your microcosm. It is only determined by the moment when the fish that is bigger than you, will decide that it has fed up with all the others, and it is time to eat you. And of course, the examples are numerous.

And because the examples list is so long, I am not feeling like I am treading on unknown territory now. You see, It is NOT my fault, that you have turned sort-sighted and deaf, illiterate at worst or incapable of having a thought-provoking discussion. Most of you, do not listen anymore or talk anymore to people that DO have something to say, and shout or write it. I do not care whether you are poor or rich, tired, or angry, or sad, or plainly fed-up with what goes on around you, but the fact is that YOU have chosen to shut the voices of logic, reason, truth and solidarity out. It has been YOUR fault, and when you realise it (if ever), you’d better hope that it is not too late to do anything ; because if it will, then your children shall pay a very dear price.

Those taken into account, at some point you will painfully realise that what you though was “the other peoples’ problem”, you actually helped create with your stance, attitude and deeds (voting included), and what is worse, it has now turned big and ugly and it’s coming to bite you, along with everyone else.

Wake up ! There is MORE to economic progress than growth. There is MORE to societal health than a construction boom. Those, start with you, but they also reflect back to you. There is MORE in life than career and wealth. There is MORE in distributing evenly, than phenomenal, though temporary, gains. After all, we are all (indiscriminately) going to be here for one meagre lifetime. Make it worth it ; and I am not speaking in currency terms. Live it in meaning, to you and others around you, happy and fulfilling.

To bring it in context with the articles mentioned above, one of the most inspiring lines I’ve ever heard uttered on the “big screen”, was the following : “Brothers, what we do in life, echoes in eternity”. By endorsing policies that cater for your populace (and I am not speaking about Chavez now), you will be remembered of for a couple of generations. Maybe historians will judge you fairly and recount your deeds, to inspire a few generations more to come.

On the other hand, the truth is that a well-constructed building, does have a longer lifespan, when compared to the former. But then again, that only applies until some delluded maniac, decides to ram it with a fully laden airplane.

[1] Ref. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=173521347

[2] Ref. http://www.fair.org/blog/2013/03/06/ap-chavez-wasted-his-money-on-healthcare-when-he-could-have-built-gigantic-skyscrapers/