Civilized

Civilized

“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
                                                                                                                              Albert Einstein.
Is mankind truly civilized?
We in the democratic countries of the western world like to think of ourselves as civilized and perhaps we are in many ways. But are we letting people down?
Recent events showing young men and women who have become radicalized killing and innocent people with the deluded idea they are doing God’s work, perhaps points to a flaw in our society.
Western society in particular is wealthy. Yet every western country has people that are living in poverty. They have youth growing up it seems without hope.
Governments are quick to give tax cuts to the wealthy but are slow in spending money on the poorest of our society. They even complain that there is not enough money in the governments coffers to pay for affordable housing for the poor, good education, and seeing the most vulnerable in our society have all the necessities of life.
As someone looking from outside the United States the country that people look up to, to stand up for our way of life, I see people in government that would deprive their own people of good affordable health care.
Here in Canada and all around the western world people are living on the street. Families are not getting enough to eat. Children in the richest countries in the world are going hungry.
One of the big concerns here in Canada now it’s winter with temperatures dropping below -30C without the wind chill is the lack of warm places for the homeless to go.
It’s a problem that I’ve heard talked about every year since I come to Canada and I’ve lived here fifty years.
It’s a problem that can be fixed relatively inexpensively providing there’s the political will from all levels of government.
Some youth of our youth. Those that are becoming radicalized seem to be looking at our society and see no hope. They are turning to gangs, and now even worse terrorist organisations to find a sense of belonging. To find a meaning to life.
I think it’s time each western nation. Each western government needs to look inward and ask itself how can I truly help the most needy in our society. And not by simply tossing them a few pennies out of political expediency.
We need to be giving all our youth hope.
Some time ago Harry Goldman said,
“I would recommend that we straighten out a few things before we contemplate any interplanetary transportation system.  Suppose a man from Mars should suddenly appear on Earth?  I think it would be terribly embarrassing if he learned that a second-rate singer in a night club makes four thousand dollars a week, and a high-school teacher makes three thousand eight hundred and ninety dollars a year.  This and many other things should be straightened out first if we intend to maintain our dignity when planet folks start visiting us.”
                                                                                                  Harry Golden.
Western democracy is the best we’ve got yet tens of thousands of not only children but adults go hungry and live in poverty. This should not be so.
The situation is thousands of times worse in the developing world, in the third world. I can’t imagine what it is like to live in a refugee camp or live in the countries fighting Ebola.
Society needs to redouble its efforts to help the poor.
There are two quotes from the Talmud that I really like,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
                                                                               The Talmud
The other goes like this,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
                                                                                    The Talmud.
I believe those in government. Especially those who claim to believe in God will have the most to fear when they stand before God, because they have the ability to make a drastic difference in the world today.
And our world is truly in need of a drastic change for the better.
For me as a Christian I believe it is only by making real the teachings of Christ in the lives of all men that the world will be changed.
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                                                                         Francis of Assisi
This is something our government leaders and we as individuals need to think about doing.
Think about it.