You look at the news, there's violence, war, deceit, materialism, aggression, people who are starving, lying, thievery, manipulation, to name just a few of our more current prominent traits.

Our political candidates have to look for ways to paint an insulting portrait of their opposition, rather than just proving they are the better person for the job. People don't want to hear about positive things. It's the sensationalism, the SHOCKING controversial slips of the tongue these people have engaged in.

There are folks in the middle east who have been fighting a religious war for thousands of years, who use children as bait to kill unsuspecting enemies, who use hospitals and churches as sanctuaries, endangering the lives of those who are just there to grow spiritually.

Slavery was acceptable and expected in our not too distant past, we ravaged entire cultures such as the Native Americans, to the point where all that is left of these nature-loving groups are passed down word of mouth stories, museums, and reservations. Women were treated a step above pets (and slaves), and we murdered many of those who looked different, spoke their mind, or tried to take control of their life (but weren't high enough up on the food chain). 

We champion millionaires who do nothing more than say nasty things about each other, wear expensive clothes, make sex tapes, sing about shooting each other and banging 'ho's, compete to do the most outrageous things, etc. etc. These people are the role models of the time, selling such emptiness and lack of character and substance, yet we cry for more.

We have settled for such crap. Are we truly content to sit in front of our great teacher, the television - which could only possibly be outdone by the internet, and what would happen if both were suddenly taken away, would we surive (*sarcasm*) - allowing ourselves to be programmed and molded by advertisers and writers with only their own best interests, and checking accounts, at heart?

I wonder, are all of these things truly human nature? Is this all the culmination of thousands of years of development, our pride and joy? Is this the natural course of events, that a civilization, when given technology and possessions and a system of money, takes it to the nth level, exploits those around them, whoever they can, in order to get one step ahead? Are we really slaves to the "7 Deadly Sins?"

Are we truly incapable of "getting along" with each other, will we ever be content with the land we have rather than trying acquire more - by force if necessary (just because we think we deserve it), and stop opposing the religious freedom of others? Is war inevitable for our species? Are we destined to always distrust, accuse, instigate, and oppose, rather than compromise, accept, reveal, and share?

This could all possibly be nothing more than the signs of a baby species learning how to walk. Maybe we just have to get out all this negativity before we can enjoy true fellowship with each other. Is it so horrible to acknowledge the equal worth of those different from you? Who cares if they wear different clothes, pray to a different god, love those you couldn't love.

Love knows no boundaries. Are we afraid to truly love one another? For that would mean SHARING, and we have grown up believing some should be rich and some poor. Some are destined for suffering, some are destined to be King. I believe this way of thinking is outdated and unsustainable. Time will tell.

Perhaps we are innocents, being manipulated by unseen forces, swayed by a dark nemesis. Or have we honestly and subconsciously chosen this path? If the latter is true, do we as a species have a death wish? I don't see how this path is sustainable for the indefinite future. Or is the saying "out of sight out of mind" appropriate here, the future is too far away, so not worth doing anything about. Let whoever's around then deal with it.

Is it really so difficult to change, just a little bit, to start thinking independently instead of blindly using the lines we've been taught or heard a public figure say. Is peace always going to be just out of reach? Is it so offensive to ask that everyone has something to eat and access to basic human needs like shelter? Some of us, myself included, are busting out of our seams, while others literally die from lack of food. Yet, in many places, were we to offer assistance, violent warlords would horde the food and medicines for greedy purposes.

What is the answer? What do we do? And what do those of us do when there are millions who don't want to do anything?