At 1:18 PM -0600 12/12/99, Cory Ramage wrote:
>In my life I have been both selfish and giving. I don't pretend to
>understand the whys of that; why I might give a complete stranger some money
>simply because they ask for it when I balk at giving a friend or family
>member money until they "do" something for me, i.e., chores, homework, etc.
>It seems we are always most cruel to those we love best. I am sure each and
>every one of us knows that deep down in our hearts whether we care to admit
>it or not.
We know on an a pre-intellectual level that giving to our family and
withholding from strangers is "bad". We're uneasy because we don't have a
any way to handle this fact intellectually. It seems a contradiction to
the laws of morality.
MoQ of course, solves the dilemma for us perfectly. Intellectually we can
apprehend that if we become the social source of strength and financial
support for our family members, we'd be assuming a specific role within the
family. If we want to be that kind of person that everyone else depends
upon, then we'd better rise to the role because we are createing a static
pattern of dependency. If we can't do this, then we'd be lying to try.
Family dynamics have their own roles and really, this is the heart of any
normal society. Thats pretty much where you get your mythos, from yo mama.
On the other hand, giving to causes outside of our family is truly a sort
of dying to self that enobles the society in general and increases the
wisdom of the individual giver as well. It is good on every level and is
percieved as good.
Of course, sometimes we have no thought whatsover to the effects our
actions might have on others. Sometimes we only care about ourselves. Mea
Culpa! And that's defined as evil on any level. But looking at it honestly
is the first step to understanding and handling our questions. Thank
goodness for a metaphysics that can deal with questions of values!
>I don't know much about social Darwinism or Ayn Rand or some of the other
>topics brought up here, but I have lived long enough to know the feeling of
>having nothing yet thinking it the world, and the feeling of having
>everything yet thinking it not enough and only wanting more. I have watched
>loved ones die so many times; each time it cuts like a knife. Yes you might
>see me talking and laughing at one of these funerals but I am only honoring
>the life past and the joy it brought to others. To me.
>
>This evolution of my life seems like the evolution of humanity itself. This
>joy and suffering I feel drives the universe ever onward, always. We can't
>eliminate suffering anymore than we can eliminate the stars, for it is from
>their long ago suffering that we are born. But because we can't eliminate
>suffering doesn't mean we cannot help others to bear that suffering a little
>easier. We can. There are so many ways.
>
>We are all going to suffer and die and this is scary. There is no way around
>it though. It's going to happen. Happily ever after just doesn't happen
>here. There are no happy endings. And when life draws to a close, we find
>all that we got left is fleeting memories of times gone by, both good and
>bad, all wound up together in the tapestry called life. When my time comes I
>hope someone will hold my hand. Can anyone wish for more?
>
>Money is just money. There will come a time when we each will no longer
>concern ourselves with it. Money can't buy what's really important, now can
>it. We all know that. Don't we?
>
>Cory
Your passion touched me. I myself do not suffer anymore. Life has gotten
very comfortable, I suppose. I did lose my youngest daughter a couple
years ago in a drowning accident. My grief was intense for a short time,
but all my memories of her are happy ones.
Money. If somebody suddenly gives you a whole bunch of money, the feeling
is about as close to "happy" as I can think of. But a life spent
pursuing money, of valuing money for itself, craving money and more money.
That pretty much spells out a life of misery to me. Cuz there's never
gonna be enough. It's an artificially created value not a "real" value.
Who creates money value? Governments create money value. Governments and
banks and the tri-lateral commission.
Hey. I usta hear a lot about the trilateral commission but nobody talks
about it anymore. I wonder why. Maybe it's all part of the plot.
Nah, more likely all those paranoid guys moved to Idaho.
jc
MOQ Online Homepage - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Unsubscribe - http://www.moq.org/md/index.html
MD Queries - horse@wasted.demon.nl
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:03:16 BST