An Adversarial, Competitive & Selfish Life.

It seems to me that in my lifetime people generally have become more adversarial, competitive & selfish. I understand that could be because of the speedy world of instant communications that we live in. I also understand that negative news gets reported far more than positive news. However, as a generalisation, I think that humans have become quicker to demand their rights & ignore their responsibilities. I believe many have lost the innate filter which stopped them being verbally abusive, also many more people are physically abusive to others. We tolerate bad behaviour more than we should. We do not enforce existing moral mores & legislation.

We humans want things for ourselves. The difference is that today we want gratification now. I remember having to do without, save up to buy things, make do with second hand. I'm glad that generation after generation sees an improvement in living standards, but I think the time has come to count the cost of consumerism & constant growth. In particular, although I understand the complexity of international disputes, I don't understand why politics tolerates the huge human cost of dictatorships, land grabbing, resources grabbing & ultimately the horror of war.

What is the point of the United Nations if they are unable to reach consensus & negotiate effectively?

What is the point of International Law if it isn't policed, enforced & brings culprits to justice to answer for their crimes?

Obviously the 2 major current conflicts in Ukraine & Gaza are at the forefront of my mind. But Syria, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan are in there too. Many of those have been ongoing for years. Innocent people, mainly the old, women & children, live with suffering & death constantly. 

How do we, living in conflict free zones, tolerate that suffering? Do we compartmentalise what we see as not our problem & too difficult? Do we think of it like a computer game rather than real life? Do we just think that there is nothing we can do & it isn't our problem? Yes, I think so. All of those. If humans can commit the horriffic acts they do in wars, they can certainly disassociate themselves from things they see on TV or Social Media.

But it will all come back to haunt us if the underlying problems are not tackled & solved. We are all directly affected by conflict in the world. At a simple level by the shortages in the supply chain. At a complex level because doing nothing makes us less human.

We have to learn to tolerate difference, share land, resources & opportunity more equally. If we don't, if we continue in this adversarial, competitive & selfish life we will get what we deserve & it won't be Nirvana.