So one of the many rationalizations for
the bad that exists is that without wrongness in the world, goodness
would lose both motivation and impact. How can we define what we want
without what we don't want?Some people thing we can't ascribe
positive attributes to The Divine because they're limiting. We can
only say what G-d is not. But aren't we G-d? Isn't this world?
"It
is not your responsibility to finish the work of perfecting the
world, but you are not free to desist from it either."Rabbi
Tarfon, Pirke Avot 2:21
Maybe two summers ago, I read Utopia
which is when I realized that the book became the word. Last week we
discussed that the Zionist build Tel Aviv from nothing and what they
were envisioning would become of their goals. Currently I am missing
my streetier days filled with unwashed-ness, punks, and people
generally living countercultures. And building counter futures.
What
would a perfect world look like? A completed world?
“ונאמר
והיה ה'
למלך
על כל הארץ.
ביום
ההוא יהיה ה'
אחד
ושמו אחד"
“It
has been said, G-d will govern all the world. On that day G-d will be
one and G-d's name will be one.”
Will
we all be brainwashed into a singular faith and doctrine of behavior,
like that season of Angel? Is perfection a loss of free will, or of
distinction (I have feelings about Imagine)?
Then I
heard this song: After
The Revolution by David Rovics
He
suggests many goals, which I've tried to tweak a little. Several are
still unfortunately too idyllic. But hopefully represent the
direction we should move toward. Spending less resources on killing,
and more on growing food and spending time with loved ones.
Just
stop making weapons.
Soldiers
go home. Or stop volunteering.
Disarm
WMDs.
Dismantle
Battleships...or take the weapons off but keep the boats maybe.
Since
no countries, less terrorists?
Since
less hunger, less terrorist.
Since
more education, less terrorist.
Let
people out of prison. This one is real. Let so many people out of
jail.
Cops
put down guns, or at least get better training when to take it out.
And how to talk about their feelings and prejudices.
Forgive
Debt. Who really benefits from owning money from things that
shouldn't have cost that much in the first place? The creation of
debt and the lack of resources drives people into the army and the
street-armies known as gangs. So does the criminalization of
recreational drugs.
Billionares
share, invest in farming and education. And education about farming.
Plant
trees
Solar
pannels
Trains
Food
I
think my perfect world is summed up by a weird dream I've had for
years: an apiary next to a florist.
I
believe that it would be possible to be distinct, happy, fulfilled,
and what I'll call nearly harmless. People need to eat good food,
they need exercise, especially since I see human aggression as a
psychological need, they need personal expression. And safety. And
all of those needs are interconnected.
But if
people learned and learned about farming and then farmed, then they'd
have food. They'd be exhausted and less aggressive. We'd have food,
build shelter, share things, have time to learn. We wouldn't be
stressed out over debt. If you wanted to pray to things, you could
pray to things. And maybe we'd all just suck less.
Thomas
Moore did a better job, but I am not starting with an island version
of a tabula rasa. I live in a messy complicated world. So I'm gonna
start with more food and education and less weapons. Except, I'm not
really in charge of a lot of those things. So that just brings me
back to suck less.
That's
pretty much my goal for Elul, suck less this year. It took a long
time not to be destructive. Now it's time to be productive. And maybe
some day after grad school, there'll be time for growing food and
solar panels. I'll leave the accordion to those more suited towards
it.
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