Interestingly enough, just 5 letters, and 2 vowels. However if greed becomes an affliction of the soul, it is a vigorous enough noun to illustrate what could possibly be the darkest side of humanity.
As Gordon Gekko once put it so eloquently in the movie that changed the whole world's perspective on Wall Street, "Greed is good." Or is it?
Professionals with Doctorate degrees call greediness an "addiction" or some compensatory mechanism for guilt; an insatiable desire to get more than enough of what they don't really need; a compulsion.
My simplistic mind would prefer to refer to greed as a plague. It is a manifest infestation of an individual's desire to relentlessly pursue wealth and self-gratification in it's most gruesome and archaic form. A primitive display of covetousness.
I happen to embrace the anti-thesis of Gekko's dictum. Greed is not bad at all, it is evil.
I see greed's ultimate goal is to deprive others from attaining their own pursuits, to include the most basic of human survival needs. Whilst to some people they don't see the direct correlation with murder, greed kills. In third world economies, greediness should be a crime associated with genocide.
Sadly, and tragically, greed is not even considered a crime albeit it is one of the worst form of crime I can think of. The Law of the Land evades it, the Law of Corporations sustains it.
So in reality, there is an endless parade of greedy people in powerful positions in government and corporations around the globe guiltless-ly displaying luxurious and lavish lifestyles, sub-titling their Instagram snapshots with ... "look and die with envy." For the faint of heart, and spirit, they bleed with jealousy and with the same grain of desire longs to romp in the dark corridors of the absolutely seductive excessiveness. However you splice and dice it, the world considers these greedy, powerful individuals as "icons" and heroes.
Now, what are all these material trappings without wisdom, discernment, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and above all, fear of the Lord? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
At the end of everything, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"
Remain steadfast. I have personally chosen to uphold and clutch tightly to the Law of God
Is a personal journal Blog. My intimate thoughts and ideas, my unanswered questions, even share a bit of what I can do well; just a simple collection of my writings, my paintings, or just me.
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Saturday, August 31, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
The Truth About Lying
I have always wondered whether to lie or to speak of half truths is a deeply ingrained component of the human brain. Or it must be a carefully planned and manipulated programming? I tend to believe both. How else do you explain the fact that every one lies? You and I included.
We were born clueless of what is the truth and what is not. I recall however when I was a kid, that generally adults discouraged honesty, in some vague, sordid way.
ADULT: "No don't say she's fat, she's robust." (seriously, she looks like a German tank waddling in heels!)
ADULT: "Do not stare or mention Aunt Lisa's new horrible curls." (how can I if she looks like she electrocuted her wet nose in a socket?)
ADULT: "We're house guests, don't make that face and swallow the food. Smile." (WTF? Hay bale stir-fried in donkey's compost would probably taste sweeter)
So I argue, "But, Mom, we hate those nosy neighbours, why do I need to invite their kid to my kid party? I hate playing with that stinking, snotty kid. He does not even know how to blow his nose! We don't play with him at all." So I get a scolding and am told that those words are not proper and hurtful. Even if they are true. And it is gracious to invite neighbours to your own personal events, even if you hate them, because it is socially proper.
I guess I failed on that note. I grew up getting into major fights and fall outs with family and friends, for calling a spade, a spade. I still have no idea why I should call it otherwise.
So why do we lie? I can think of a few honest reasons why.
We were born clueless of what is the truth and what is not. I recall however when I was a kid, that generally adults discouraged honesty, in some vague, sordid way.
ADULT: "No don't say she's fat, she's robust." (seriously, she looks like a German tank waddling in heels!)
ADULT: "Do not stare or mention Aunt Lisa's new horrible curls." (how can I if she looks like she electrocuted her wet nose in a socket?)
ADULT: "We're house guests, don't make that face and swallow the food. Smile." (WTF? Hay bale stir-fried in donkey's compost would probably taste sweeter)
So I argue, "But, Mom, we hate those nosy neighbours, why do I need to invite their kid to my kid party? I hate playing with that stinking, snotty kid. He does not even know how to blow his nose! We don't play with him at all." So I get a scolding and am told that those words are not proper and hurtful. Even if they are true. And it is gracious to invite neighbours to your own personal events, even if you hate them, because it is socially proper.
I guess I failed on that note. I grew up getting into major fights and fall outs with family and friends, for calling a spade, a spade. I still have no idea why I should call it otherwise.
So why do we lie? I can think of a few honest reasons why.
- For survival and self-preservation. Yeah because often, the people around us would prefer to be lied to than deal with reality. If your Boss asks if he is right about his decision, you ought to know better that he is always right however warped his mind is. So you lie.
- To save face. A more common face-saving treachery is forgetting the name of the person who just stopped you at the corner Coffee Shop. Whilst he/she rattles off about how long ago you have last seen each other, your brain crashes as it tries to retrieve the Archives but the screen goes blank instead. You nod and agree and pray that the whole agonizing meeting would stop. It does. And you still don't remember who it was. But you shout back, "Yeah, let's have coffee sometime. Keep in touch." Lame. Liar.
- To avoid responsibility. It's lovely to loaf and fool around. When you get confronted you say, "Geesh, I'm swamped and neck-deep with to-do lists, I was trying to swing it but it just didn't pan out." But you didn't. You forgot. Too busy horsing around and just being a sloth. Truth is, you don't even know what you forgot. But you say this without batting an eyelash nor glancing to the right side.
- To avoid confrontation. "The Company has decided to initiate some cutbacks and move in another strategic direction." Truth is, "you suck and you are no better than an incompetent baboon..."
- For personal gain. Or personal interests. Or anything that is centrally about your delusions. Or perhaps because you want to and you can.
- To please people. Generally people love half-truths and lies, even if they are loaded with sarcasm, absurdity and trash. Or you are just a people pleaser and you love being lied to as well.
- Jack Nicholson is right. Always been and always will be.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Good Ol' Spam
Just because I am temporarily off my Blog web site, (in Latin it translates to lazy as fuck to write), it does not mean I don't monitor my Blog activity ...
And whaddyaknow? I chance upon 42 Comments on this Blog, and another 38 comments on my other site, awaiting moderation. It's all SPAM!!!!!
Seriously? I thought they have all been completely annihilated since safety and security measures (were they?) installed by Blogspot or Google or whichever. Not that I have anything against Hormel products, but what gives?
These Spammers now have gone a little bit sophisticated. They do painstakingly write a bit of nonsense (2 sentences, tops), hoping that somehow it hits something close to your Post, and then practically beg you visit their site... a link. It's not funny.
I promised myself I will suspend all "bitch activity" that I completely enjoy as a lifestyle preference, for 2013, but I am so close to going ballistic.
It's bad enough I don't post as regularly as I should and it's not like I have run out of material to write or rant about. Frankly, my dear spammer, I don't give a rotten rat's ass what you sell or advert or even what you have to say about nothing in particular. If you will notice, I moderate my comments, so it's primarily between you and me. Mano a Mano. And unless I approve any of your inane and mindless comments, they are all forever gone in the Internet-verse!
I do have to commend your creativity for trying or attempting at some level of smarts albeit still puerile. But meanwhile, back at the ranch, go fish or something.
And for my parting shot, here's nothing. 'Nuff said.
And whaddyaknow? I chance upon 42 Comments on this Blog, and another 38 comments on my other site, awaiting moderation. It's all SPAM!!!!!
Seriously? I thought they have all been completely annihilated since safety and security measures (were they?) installed by Blogspot or Google or whichever. Not that I have anything against Hormel products, but what gives?
These Spammers now have gone a little bit sophisticated. They do painstakingly write a bit of nonsense (2 sentences, tops), hoping that somehow it hits something close to your Post, and then practically beg you visit their site... a link. It's not funny.
I promised myself I will suspend all "bitch activity" that I completely enjoy as a lifestyle preference, for 2013, but I am so close to going ballistic.
It's bad enough I don't post as regularly as I should and it's not like I have run out of material to write or rant about. Frankly, my dear spammer, I don't give a rotten rat's ass what you sell or advert or even what you have to say about nothing in particular. If you will notice, I moderate my comments, so it's primarily between you and me. Mano a Mano. And unless I approve any of your inane and mindless comments, they are all forever gone in the Internet-verse!
I do have to commend your creativity for trying or attempting at some level of smarts albeit still puerile. But meanwhile, back at the ranch, go fish or something.
And for my parting shot, here's nothing. 'Nuff said.