COMPARISONS

Comparisons.

The current lack of peace has been blamed on many things. It's obvious reason being terrorism, war and economic crisis but there is another silent culprit that's been working quietly for a long time. It is the comparison.

Knowledge is good when it brings wisdom. Exposure serves its purpose when it teaches and improves. Individual advancement is desired for the collective betterment of the masses. Resources are a blessing when utilized to be shared and they benefit everyone.

Today technology has provided us with facilities beyond the imagination of our forefathers. There is a constant stream of new products in all sorts of markets. The world is producing more than ever before. The resources are being tapped to the fullest. Innovative ways and styles, of enjoyment and luxury, are available to the masses. Fast information has raised awareness and brought the whole world within reach of all.

All this is good but there is a serious problem. There is no watch dog. The so called watch dogs have their own agendas. Except a few exceptions, the main driving force behind all this advancement has been monetary gains. Profit driven industries are focusing on their own revenues. They are not concerned about the moral devaluation. There is no moral police in charge. The ones who try are denied the authority. The religious leaders who self nominate themselves for the task are more focused on preaching hate than tolerance. In most cases, they are the ones who are far removed from realities. They preach in a way that alienate people. There are some who actually change what they preach to gain a following. The latter are no better than the former. If the former is rigid, then the latter has no sincerity.

With so much information, exposure and awareness, comparison is inevitable. Comparison means a hidden desire to achieve better. Easy access to personal life details of others have opened the cans of worms in the form of social comparisons. How big is their house? How much are they making? Where did they go for vacation? Where did they sent their kids for education? Who are they meeting? How many likes they got on their Facebook post? How many comments in Twitter?....

Unlimited facilities have made life easy and busy but usually it's unnecessary business. A rat race to out run the others. People are living beyond their means and working overtime to payoff their debts, debts taken for pleasure and leisure, for show off and/or to outdo others. The craze about living in the moment has wiped out the age old wisdom of saving for future. Everyone wants to have it right now, right here! No one has the patience to wait which is at odds with the longer life expectancy. Minds are occupied with fun where responsibility finds no room to dwell.

Everything is conflicting. There is more information but less wisdom, more beauty but less happiness, more facilities but less time. There is abundance of everything but less satisfaction. Values are gone from everything and that has taken peace of minds with it.