In the midst of the long and winding road called life, is it best to feel anything at all? When no one can hear, see, or help, is it best to be comfortably numb? I've heard ignorance is bliss, and perhaps the beauty of this statement is its ultimate truth. As a lover of knowledge, naturally, I'm diametrically opposed to this statement. However, upon further reflection, perhaps the best times in my life were when I was younger (not that twenty three is old at all). What i'm saying is; I miss the days when a simple reassurance from my mom was all I needed. I think we're all like this. I'm just wondering if I'm happier with the knowledge i've attained? Or if the experiences of youth were better. As people become more knowledgeable, as the world becomes smaller, as religion provides less reassurance, and as humanity seems...well...as destructive as ever. What's the ultimate good in our accumulated knowledge? Especially considering the fact we were happier as children.
What I Fear Most
Ok, ok, what's going on America? A country whose first amendment includes "freedom of speech" sure is getting bitchy when it comes to, and here's the kicker, FREEDOM OF SPEECH. What's this atmosphere against speaking your mind? Of course a prime example is the backlash Ricky Gervais has received from this years Golden Globe awards. In my mind, he basically said things we all know to be true (and trust me, if you've seen the movie, you know it's true) I.E how was The Tourist nominated for anything????..... ANYTHING?? I mean, what do you expect a brash comedian to say? But there are more examples, Helen Thomas being fired from the White House Press Corps, Rick Sanchez being fired from CNN, and Juan Williams being fired from NPR. See where I'm going with this? And I know freedom of speech works both ways. A literal depiction of the first amendment would be me blogging; you disagreeing, me responding, and you disagreeing, on and on and on (oh America). But what is this firing business? it seems people are being fired because of some group they've offended. Juan Williams said the Muslims attacked us on 9/11. And though I'm not calling my Muslim friends, or Muslims in general terrorist...did someone else attack us on 9/11? I thought these specific attackers were all Muslim? My point is, America has gotten to a point where people are afraid to say obvious things out of fear of being fired. Speech is being curtailed because it's too "messy" or "Brash" and this is what fear most.
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One of the most important knowledge of all is knowledge of the self. That is, the awareness of our wants, needs, dislikes, passions, skills and motivations. We take self-knowledge and create happiness by actively pursuing these likes, passions and needs and avoiding or eliminating obstacles that prevent us from attaining what we want. And then, this gives our life meaning so that we do not have to be "comfortably numb".
ReplyDeleteAnd, on freedom of speech. Americans like to say they like freedom of speech, theoretically but in my opinion Americans tend to be sensitive people. They rarely say what on their mind, either in efforts to be "politically correct" or not to offend a person or group. I'm not saying that we should go around being un-necessarily mean but sometimes the truth hurts and has to be voiced.
I'd rather be told the truth and have my feeling hurt for a minute than live/be fed a lie. Thats what I think.