boblq wrote:
Easy Andrew. I can assure you that the corn and rice farmers in my
family are doing a lot less damage to the global ecosystem than
the average American.
Yeah. And how did that land get cleared for the corn farmers?
Hopefully not by burning off the cover (the standard Southeast Asian
method). And, I presume that they rotate their crops to preserve the
soil and let the land lay fallow some years? If so, I bow before them.
They really are ecologically sensitive.
I won't defend the damage done by the "Average American". However, your
idyllic world is not quite as idyllic as you think.
Good for you and good for them. I have a Ph.D. in physics but have
learned more about life from my relatives in the Phillippines then I did
building a spacecraft instrument that went to the moon. But you have
to assume an open mind to learn from people. If you go in with the
assumption that they are your inferiors then you won't learn a thing.
I don't go in with the attitude that they are my inferiors. But I also
don't go in with the attitude that they are superior because they are
"happier".
In addition, *you* were the one who pointed out that their happiness
stems from inward focus to the exclusion of outside influence.
Furthermore, no small amount of violence and evil exists because people
choose to be happy and ignorant. This country is a shining example of that.
Finally, sheep are quite happy right before they get slaughtered. Just
because you ignore the world does not mean the world ignores you.
Now it is my turn to be snide. I am glad you have such valuable friends.
It must be wonderful to be associated with such brilliant and creative
people who look down their long intellectual noses at those who merely
"suck off the global teat."
We don't look down our "long intellectual noses" at them. Most of these
people, in fact, labor out of the hope that their work benefits us all.
But, neither do they pretend that the larger world does not exist.
Not in the Philippines, chuckle. It is not my fault that your relatives
moved to Pittsburgh (or wherever) to work in the Satanic mills.
Yeah, they left idyllic, pastoral Hungary, braved the boat ride across
the ocean, and slaved in the mills and the mines because idyllic,
pastoral Hungary was just *so* nice.
I'm glad your relatives think differently. Perhaps 100 years of
technology bought on the backs of those who worked in the "Satanic
mills" is rather important to their opinion.
Having children who don't die does not seem to be a problem for
my family. Nor are the wives dieing.
Then you are blessed to have good luck and genetics. The statistics on
childbirth mortality prior to modern medicine suggest that your family
is not the norm.
You suggest they are a problem
for the globe while we use ten times the resources for one of our
privileged Americans. I suggest you look around at who is really sucking
the global teat dry. It is not poor people.
I agree with you. However, returning to a pastoral society and ignoring
the world does not work, either.
If we choose simply to breed, be happy, and die--our existence is
pointless. The goal is to *improve* life for us all.
Besides Andrew let's look at some personal facts I do know about you.
You are incredibly intelligent and gifted. This is obvious and a matter
not of your doing but of good genetic luck.
I take exception to that.
I was blessed with good genetics for intelligence. I also worked my ass
off in school. I had practically no social life in high school, but it
got me a full scholarship for my undergraduate. And I went on from there.
I wouldn't trade a happier social life in high school for where I am
now. Sorry. My average happiness over my life is much higher with the
choice I made.
But I don't propose to speak for you nor the arrogant and elitist pigs
you value as your friends.
And we arrogant and elitist pigs will continue to contribute to society
even for those who do not appreciate it.
-a
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