“Quality of life” is a term so ubiquitous and oft used that it has become banal. The question to be asked is: what does the phrase truly mean or entail? Are we speaking of material well-being or spiritual enlightenment? Are we living the ultimate American Dream or we ensconced in the upper reaches of Bhutan: the self-described happiest country on Earth? These questions are fraught with as many new questions as they are filled with antiquated answers. Obviously, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Are we capable of making ourselves “World Citizens” (1) or must we choose between civilizations and countries? Recently I travelled to Canada. During my sojourn, I had an opportunity to speak to many Asian immigrants. I inquired if they were contented with their new-found home? The answer was invariably, “Yes, but…” The “but” being in essence, “No! The dream that I was promised has not or will not materialize.” Conversely, few foreigners stay in Taiwan for a protracted period of time. Both examples, tragically, hinge on 20th century models that, by definition, are either nationalistic or chauvinistic. It is to be noted that passports did not always exist. In the 30 years prior to WWI, for example, they were considered unnecessary in Europe, due to the speed of train travel. (2) The severity of the passport system has been greatly enhanced by the post-apocalyptic period after 9-11. There have been relatively very few incidents of terrorism in the subsequent 12 years, but we are herded like cattle and treated like criminals when we travel. It has come to such a point that we are endlessly, endlessly searched by sad-looking, blank humanoids. Why? To quote Henry Thoreau (3) while he was in jail for civil disobedience: “They plainly did not know how to treat me, but behaved like persons who are under-bred. In every threat and in every compliment there was a blunder; for they thought that my chief desire was to stand on the other side of that stone wall… I saw that the State was half-witted, that it was timid as a lone woman with her silver spoons, and that it did not know its friends from its foes, and I lost all my remaining respect for it, and pitied it.” What Thoreau is indicating is that the security personnel are as equally a part of the “big farce” as we are. The reason, simplistically answered, is power and control. There is an international “push” on the part of the ruling elites to control population movement and limit personal liberty. I give you a very small private experience. At Canada Customs, the official noted that I lived in Taiwan, seeking my acknowledgement. Nowhere in my passport does it state that I live here; I have never registered with the Canadian Consulate nor have I signed any documentation. Contemporary governments do not possess the expertise to stage management the developing new economy. We have a very fascinating article entitled Young Whistle-blowers are trying to protect the US identity. The piece claims that the youth of today are trying to expunge the moral corruption of the old post-capitalistic system. Interesting! They are afraid of George Orwell. (4) We must remember that change is eventually good: winter gives way to spring and spring to summer. We are left with this thoughtful quote by Mother Teresa (1910-1997): Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. (Reprinted from July 13th 2014)
A closing thought: Many eastern and western mystics claim that the real adventure is the search to go within, uncover the real self, and unleash your pure potentiality. This movement is “gaining ground.” Recently, the United Nation proclaimed June 21st as International Yoga Day.
A small joke: My high school assignment was to ask a military veteran about his war experience. We were bused to a local retirement center and I found an ex-serviceman. “Were you in a war?” I asked. He became very quiet and then he replied seriously, “Yes, I was.” I couldn’t hold back, “Did you ever kill anyone?” “Probably,” he replied solemnly, “I was the camp cook.”
This week on your pleasant stroll, ask where your adventurous life will take you.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: We all come from a common stream. It makes little sense to be drawn apart by religion, politics or history. Grade school is over; it is time for humanity to grow up and find some maturity.
Footnotes:
1) World citizen refers to a person who disapproves of traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship. Diogenes (412 BC-323 BC) was quoted as claiming, when asked where he came from: “I am a citizen of the world.”
2) Passport
3) Henry David Thoreau (1817 –1862) was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading Transcendentalist. He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state.
4) Arthur Blair (1903 –1950), known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist and journalist. He is best known for his dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949).