Humanism & Responsibility 2009

We seem set on destroying forests, poisoning our waters, polluting the air, and raping the land.  We didn't think that the world could be killed just as any living creature.  We believed we were dominant over nature.  We are not.  We are stewards and trustees.  It is the responsibility of human kind to preserve and sustain the world.  The future of this planet and indeed the planet itself depends on it.

We are ingenious and inventive.  Our ability to think critically and constructively has made our artistic achievements and medical and technological advances possible.  But we've destroyed so much in the process.  New York City:  A great city, full of wonder, full of interesting items, things of our inventiveness.  Unfortunately, the ocean surrounding New York is poisoned by our refuse and sewage.  The air itself is polluted with our excretions, by the effluents of our manufacturing, by the out pouring of our furnaces.  We didn't consider the long term consequences of our achievements and advancements.  We were too occupied satisfying our reckless appetites.  Too busy breeding.  We were only interested in the gratification of our current desires, no matter where it lead.  We became so trapped within our immediate needs that we didn't look ahead to the future.

We've waged war, pursued endless pleasure, sought dominance, power and glory.  All has been achieved and all has turned to dust in our hands.  Civil unrest over the wealth and resources with so many suffering at home has lead to violence.  Military groups have taken a hodge podge of economical, political and racial grievences to their court of war and destruction.  While those new up and coming - polorizing and charismatic - leaders continue to unravel the social fabric. 

The destruction of the world depends on the willingness of the people in it to harm each other in ways necessary to achieve their own ends and to further their own causes.  We need to set aside our power and ambition.  We have to take responsibility and recognize the consequences of our actions.  Only then will we understand that we must change.  And even then, we may not have the fortitude to do so.