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Why doesn't western media portray the good side of Africa? Why dualism?
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Obviously, it's not perfect, but western countries aren't perfect either. Our media is too black and white. The American median income is only around 45k, but on television, the vast majority of the time, you'll mainly see upper middle class or rich people. And people watch, wishing to one day be as prosperous, as our country heavily promotes materialism.
My mom is from a so-called "third world" nation in Africa, but she said the worst poverty she has ever seen has been in America. In African countries, people generally help each other. You can be a complete stranger (even if you're non-African) and someone will treat you like family. My parents' friends are called "auntie" or "uncle" even if we aren't related at all. I have relatives in Africa who are upper middle class and they often get complete strangers who show up completely unannounced, around dinnertime, because they are hungry and desperate. Instead of shooing them away, or calling the police, they help them out, out of kindness. Sometimes people will even be given a place to stay, depending on the relationship, or the stranger's character. But in America, everyone fears each other! Too much focus on differences. I guess that's why so many people own guns, or send their parents to retirement homes and stuff. They fear their own countrymen and lack compassion, and it's just sad America has developed to become this way. My sister is sick and relatives and family friends have all donated money, even a family who was struggling! I used to hate when my mom mentioned I should keep closer ties with family, because I'm someone who wants to be friends with EVERYONE, but now I realize that I can't expect others to be as compassionate as others in my family. I knew of materialism and spoke of it, but didn't realize it was everywhere, and I was part of the problem as well.
Also, in African countries, at least people eat food that is closer to nature, so they have far less illnesses and what not. Notice how cancer is a huge problem in America and Scandinavian countries. When you see how people generally eat in different countries, it's not very surprising: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
And when people get sick from processed foods, their doctors give them medicine that only makes matters worse. It apparently affects your pineal gland, which makes you less calm, less happy, and less spiritual. It contributes to why there's so many depressed, angry, and egotistical people in the western world, especially in America. The link between hate, fear, and processed foods truly shocked me. [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
I don't think our world is very balanced. If we could only work together, we could solve all of our problems. Separate "races" don't exist. It's scientific fact. Everyone has the potential to do anything they want, regardless of skin color. [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Everyone has potential to be successful, and everyone has potential to be spiritual. All that separates us is culture. If someone from China adopted someone from Nigeria, the child would act and have the same value system as any other Chinese person. And vice versa. It is possible for a society to be technologically advanced AND still compassionate. Look at ancient Egypt, for example. Egypt was far more advanced than we are today.
I grew up in America, and I strugged a lot, and a few days ago I came to realize that my compassionate side was fighting against the materalistic society I've grown up in. I thought I was depressed, and lately I kept craving junk food, because I couldn't be the "perfect" person I wanted to be and messed up too many times. I wanted to do a certain profession and help other people so that I could finally feel respected by everyone. I wanted to prove negative stereotypes wrong, too.
But I recently realized that I don't have to do anything. I had to learn to love myself first. I had low self worth, had social anxiety, and procrastinated heavily because I didn't love myself, for simply being me. I've read countless of articles online about how to increase my self worth and etc and none of them worked one iota. I've never felt this peaceful since my very early childhood, before I could get corrupted by the world. Because I've realized that we're all connected. And I can't love others without loving myself. When I realized it was late at night, and for the first time, I really felt like hugging somebody. I'm in college, and my roomie was gone, and it just brought me to tears. I've ALWAYS felt uncomfortable hugging others, or with compliments me or is too nice to me. Peaceful, religious people used to piss me off, because I couldn't see where they were coming from. And I used to get the urge to eat junk food a lot, and I bought my favorite candy as a test and I still haven't felt the urge to eat it at all. And literally for the past week all I had been mainly eating was junk food. You know, for the first time in my life I actually feel like god exists. and I understand why bad things happen, because he allows us to decide our own lives. before when I thought those words it's like.. I was jut thinking them, but didn't really believe them. all true religions are connected. and even if someone believes a religion that goes against that, I shouldn't judge others for it. judging others is just egotistical. I'm now starting to catch myself for doing it. if the dualism does not end, our society will be ruined. everything in the bible suddenly makes sense for me and I had always been agnostic before. I kept trying to run from pain but pain is just a part of the process of life. like maybe if I have more stuff I'll be happier. maybe if I get a boyfriend I'll be happier. when I should just be happy now!
wow, sorry I've gone off topic but it now really makes sense how we really just need to love each other unconditionally. i'm not saying bad deeds should be rewarded, but I mean.. jesus sent his own son to die for all of us, even though all of us sin. and we're supposed to learn from him. i feel like so many people have religion wrong. it's not about trying to force your ideas on other people, it's about showing them love and trying to understand where they're coming from. maybe i went through the struggles in my life before so I could learn to be more compassionate. cause now I can understand where someone's coming from who is an atheist, agnostic, etc. cause I had to learn to lose my ego. I have to continue developing myself as a person from the inside, and by being satisfied by doing the best of my capability in school, to truly spread good in the world. I just can't believe it all makes sense now. Whenever people said stories about them finding God they all seemed like a joke to me. I used to hate going to church cause I never felt anything. but maybe this is just something that has to naturally develop. now I want to go to church as soon as possible, and truly pray. everything natural in the world is of god. and nature on its own is not good or bad. it is just one. no person is fully good or bad. from nuns to criminals. we all make up one people, but too many people don't truly see things that way. i just can't believe I feel this way and just felt the need to write about it. like I feel like I could die in the name of the lord right now, and I wouldn't be afraid. before I had been using music as my religion when the feeling I feel now is way better, and I feel grateful that my condition hadn't progressed to the point where I became obese, started using drugs, did very promiscuous things, etc. not that I look down on people who do those things.. well I used to actually, but now I realize its silly to, cause if I was in their shoes I might have gone down their path. I'm lucky to be part of a family that promotes healthy eating, lucky to not have been exposed to drugs, etc. I still feel overwhelmed! I think society can only progress if compassion drives industrialization, and not greed.
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Maybe give some free advice about: Spirituality?
Hi there. I have no spirituality or religious conviction at all. But your observations and comments on western capitalist culture are so accurate unfortunately. Bizarre situation isn't it? Man alienated by his own man-made world!! And that is what we are. Industrialisation on the massive scale IS de-humanising and brutalising. Each step takes us further from the natural human condition. Man is by nature a social creature. But 10 million individuals do not make a society. For what it's worth, my view of many of what we call third-world contries is positive and admiring. Races living at one with the natural world, not set against it. Taking what they need from nature and no more, and giving back too. Keeping to the ideas of true society, helping their fellow man without judgment or question. Now maybe the scientists will come up with a source of clean, sustainable energy and our unbridled greed and mindless consumerism will just keep rolling along. But I feel many of us are now becoming aware that the earth's resources are finite. And the rate at which we are consuming them is not sustainable. And perhaps one day we will HAVE to return to earlier values, methods and ideologies. Perhaps for the first time, when man looks at the future he does not just see technological advances and greater industrialisation. Possibly we are NOW at the peak, and a more conservative use of the earth's resources is the path ahead? I find myself looking at little old England and thinking maybe a (still distant) future generation might find themselves looking at the same land and seeing a team of heavy horses pulling the plough again! At present, our society is pissing in the well it's got to drink from on the grand scale. And that's not a great idea! My 'gospel' I think is true socialism (NOT communism please note...which has been tried and found to be easily corruptible). Where each man gives according to his abilities and each man takes according to his needs. And after reading your question I'm definitely giving you a literary and intellectual 'hug' right now. I envy you your faith in a divine solution, but sadly I cannot share the same hope in my heart. Best wishes for the new year mate!
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