my care2
make a difference

community & fun

shares

share your passions, stories, inspirations, and more

To Have. And to Have Not
Apr 6, 2006

Its a funny old world, isn't it? The circumstances that keep the human race united under the common ties of community - and yet poles apart in terms of commodity.

A couple of weeks ago a sleak black Lamborghini pulled up along side me in town. This admittedly gorgeous piece of machinery is probably one of the most recognizable statements of privilege and wealth on four wheels that you're likely to come across in public. And although my salivary glands were about to go on overdrive, my thoughts suddenly switched to the absurdity of what was sitting there, growling quietly in front of my eyes.

lambo

We all know that the distribution of wealth is spread unevenly across the world - and never more so than here in South East Asia. Where else would you find such conflicting scenes of sprawling urban slums sitting shoulder to shoulder with mansions and manicured gardens? Millionaires and misery living side by side. I've lived in this part of the world for almost ten years and I'm still not used to it.

shanty

Just three months ago I was in Sri Lanka, and although a beautiful country, its still got enough economical and political obstacles to keep it from reaching its full potential for many decades to come.

I recalled another unusual street scene from back then - a working elephant marching along a dusty back street, while closeby a street child begged deliriously for food.

ele

What a contrast to the sleek machine purring at the traffic lights back here in Singapore...

I quickly calculate that the small fortune paid for this car could easily: finance research on an endangered species, restore the livelihoods of entire communities destroyed by the tsunami, and even help fund any number of medical breakthroughs - the list goes on. Of course I'm talking humanitarianism here - a bit of an antique concept these days.

As we evolve as a species, so our notorious Selfish Genes have become more dominant - it seems to be the way of things, across the board. Now don't get me wrong - this is not a jibe against the owner of said supercar (oh yeah... you can almost see the sour grapes spilling from Charith's mouth) - rather its what he stands for; a symbol of where most of the human race would like to be. Its all about possession and prestige - an almost instinctive need that plagues us.

Although my aspirations don't include owning a million dollar sports car, I still want that new camera, that computer upgrade, and eventually a nice little farm in the country. There's always something we want, on any given day.

But if we could just manipulate that little piece of DNA - mutate it, make it more malleable - turn it into an altruistic gene with all traces of selfishness spliced out... yes that's all sci-fi - but what if? What if?

What would it take for us to address the realities of poverty that plague our race even in this so-called enlightened age? What would it take for the millionaire to swap his Lamborghini for a more practical SUV and divert some of his fortune to aid the less fortunate? No, that's not going to happen is it? That's not the way we're built...

So, in Singapore's thriving business district a stockbroker drives into the sunset on his wheels of fortune and a thousand miles away in a forgotten street corner, someone is trying to figure out how they're going to be able to make it through another day.

And someone like me will vent their futile frustrations, knowing only too well that ultimately they have no solution for this contagious human condition.
Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Thursday April 6, 2006, 2:58 am
Tags: [add/edit tags]

Group Discussions start a discussion
Comments
Or, log in with your
Facebook account:
Compose your comment and submit:

Harmony Kieding (506) 		Thursday April 6, 2006, 4:01 am
I've been homeless in the cold, on the street, looking through the plate glass window of a clothing store..gazing desperately at a mannequin dressed in warm winter clothing. I can relate to what you share absolutely.
http://www.inequality.org
http://www.whatmatters.nu/

Author

Charith P.
Author Tools:
Compose New Share
male, age 37, married
Singapore, SG, Singapore
CHARITH'S SHARES
Oct
30
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Hello All, apologies for the absence - illness and a bit of enforced rest have kept me away for a while, but enough about that. I am delighted to announce that Season of the Spirit Bear will be premiering in this part of the world (Asia and South East...
May
20
(1 comments  |  discussions )
Hi Everyone,I've just returned from a stint in the forests of Sri Lanka filming bears for my latest wildlife project. Just give me a couple of days to settle in and I'll be back on the network. Thank you all for the messages and the stars - will catch...
May
2
(0 comments  |  discussions )
At 2 minutes and 3 seconds past 1 A.M. on 4th May 2006, the time and date will be 01:02:03:04:05:06. It won't happen again for another 1,000 years. We should have a party or something - be thankful that we were around to witness it!
Apr
24
(0 comments  |  discussions )
I have already spoken of the organization 'Deep Griha', The Lighthouse - a charity that is looking after over 50,000 people living far below the poverty line in the slum cities of Pune, India.Deep Griha is a multi-faceted organization, looking after t...


ads keep care2 free
SHARES FROM CHARITH'S NETWORK
Dec
7
by Kat Y.
(8 comments  |  discussions )
Here is Chairman's Sazue's letter:   December 7, 2009         & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;   Dear Brothers and Sisters; &nb...
(0 comments  |  discussions )
YOU ARE THE ONE IAM The Creator IAM is the Creator YOU ARE.........the same yet uniquely different. We each are an ever-expanding individual expression of the Mighty, Magnificent, Majestic IAM Presence, Source, Creator. In exploring OneSelf's magn...
Dec
5
(0 comments  |  discussions )
LOVE IS 100% RESPONSIBLESometime back I read a wonderful piece written by Burt Harding called "There is only YOU!", embracing One(My)Self of course. I found the article profound in its simplicity. "YOU" are LOVE. That is who/what "YOU"ARE. There is...
by Mike W.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
Heart of the Wolf Organization News 12/5/2009'The choice today is no longer between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.' -- Martin Luther Kinghttp://www.heartofthe wolf.org/HoWWolfNewsUpdat e1252009.htmlMike WagnerFounder...
Dec
1
by Mike W.
(0 comments  |  discussions )
HEART OF THE WOLF ORGANIZATION NEWS 12/1/2009It's the month of December where peopleshould be beginning to celebrate peaceon Earth.But war is on the human's minds as of late.1) The hunt on wolves in Montana may be over,but the relentless slaughter of ...


ads keep care2 free
MORE MEMBER BLOGS
Dec 8
Blog: Wonder Directory: Free Article Directory by Davis D.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — An wonderful free article directory. more
Blog: DandelionSalads: Democracy Now! is the only daily global TV, radio news hour broadcasting from Copenhagen: http://wp.me/p5qmX-gu by Lo A.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — DandelionSalads: Democracy Now! is the only daily global TV, radio news hour broadcasting from Copenhagen: http://wp.me/p5qmX-guY more
Blog: SEO Company London by Ulda U.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — Totally provide quality London SEO and SEO London also known as Search Engine Optimisation London. We are a quality London Search Engine Optimization company and SEO Company London based in London. more
Blog: Time to Get back to the True Meaning of Christmas by Ronda C.
(0 comments  |  discussions ) — It is so sad that the children that are now grown up and having children truly do not know the true meaning of Christmas. In fact some of them do not even know the song "Jesus Loves Me." The other day the little children sat around in a circle and b... more
Blog: Be a smart online shopper using CouponUS coupons and promo codes by Pattrick W.
(0 comments  |  0 discussions ) — The best way to save on IT products either for business or home use is by looking for pc mall coupons, pc mall coupon code, pc mall promo codes. The best deals are found on the site of CouponUS and literally tons of pc mall coupons. pc mall coupon cod... more
 
Content and comments expressed here are the opinions of Care2 users and not necessarily that of Care2.com or its affiliates.
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved