We all like to think of ourselves as good people. We are all the protagonists of our respective books…that’s just human nature. The differences among us can be found in how we define “good” and how we implement it into our own lives and identities. The last few years I have struggled with how to work “good” acts within an immoral system (capitalism). When I found this video, it was nice to have someone else much more articulate than myself define the problem – watch below – the speech is great and the artwork is amazing.
To sum up the video (for those too lazy): our charitable acts end up contributing to a morally bankrupt system. The very act of compassion actually helps support the broken system. It’s as if we are prolonging a painful death in the name of love and compassion. According to the video, when I go to the homeless shelter I am actually working against the homeless and those in poverty by supporting the current economic and political systems that make homelessness and poverty not only possible, but in many ways enable and justify poverty.
Maybe it’s all just a dose of liberal guilt – you know you have it if you feel guilty for throwing away that can or plastic bottle instead of recycling (hence my car is full of bottles, cans and other items that can be recycled at home but never actually make it to the house). The question is, how should we work for "the good" in an all-present system that our culture celebrates (and defends at the drop of a hat).
Yes, I am insinuating capitalism borders on the equivalence of evil of robots that take over the world.
Even by calling our system "immoral" myself I am beyond the pale of American politics.
Drop the Kool-Aide, this guy would be a moderate Republican in the 70's and 80's.
How do you fight to change something that has no hope of ending within my lifetime (or even my children's lifetime)?I always teach and preach that, “we do what we can when we can". But is that enough? Is it ever enough? I don't have a option really. I have a family and bills to pay. So is Camus right? If living out life means that I'm neutral than there's never enough I can do. I've already embraced the dark side. Maybe this is why radicals never have families (Jesus, Buddha, etc.). You can't live out revolution if you've got kids to feed. That's the history of the world really - we're all too busy trying to survive (I hesitate to use the word "survive"; as my "surviving" is much different from survival in Somalia).
So, I'll do what I can. I'll read, think and act carefully. I'll teach about the nature of the beast in my class and plant seeds of doubt in those I interact with (believe me, my seeds are subtle and won't require a whole discussion on socialism, capitalism nor a "revolution" of any kind -- I'm too domesticated for that).
Besides, I have to mow the lawn and we all can't be revolutionaries.
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