December 10, 2007...9:51 pm
Tomorrow is Not Guaranteed
What if we discovered that we were mortal?
We are mortal, but that doesn’t seem to impress the majority with any sense of urgency.
Some might disagree with me and speak of the soul, or some other forgotten part of our existence that could live on when our physical bodies no longer function. That is a possibility which is comforting and interesting concept to entertain. Yet, whichever way we look at the subject of our own deaths and that of those we love, the physical nature of their existence is taken away completely but the people they love, the objects they owned, do not leave with them.
If we truly discovered that we were mortal, I believe that more people would make decisions on what is most important. If you thought you will cross the road and be hit by a bus by next Tuesday, perhaps those battles that you choose to fight today would be a waste of time, perhaps your priorities would change drastically.
Is a pencil sharpener important when you die? Take this one for example:
Is a knife rack important when you die? How about this one?
Maybe these objects are not important by themselves but the message behind them?
These are mere objects, they do not own any inherent ability to communicate their own existence and purpose. The only beings that give these items a message are those who are choosing to take offense to them. Neither of these objects mean anything to me, they are simply objects. I wouldn’t even know of their existence if I were not plugged into the internet and currently reading the views of those who would find such items offensive.
I have been quietly watching the conversation between Feministing.com and Glenn Sacks (among a few others) on these objects. I couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. Why?
Ask yourselves, ladies and gentlemen, why a knife rack or pencil sharpener is important enough to grant them any power to offend you? Precious moments are wasted on these arguments that could be better used to focus and explore issues that require more thought and attention.
For me, the following music video by Alicia Keys communicates how often we all forget the fragility of our lives, and that we all fall into the trap of battling the least important whilst forgetting what is most valuable that needs defending.
Men and women are priceless; children are precious.
Building meaningful relationships are important.
Trust, integrity, honour, love, and hope are vital.
Humanity is valuable.
The exploration of ideas and alternatives are what have helped human beings survive up until this point. It is our strength. Let’s not allow our native intelligence to be distracted by that which bears little importance on the grand canvass of life itself.
Once you put the meaning of a pencil sharpener and a knife rack against those values, I hope they become pale shadows of the importance they were granted before. If not, what more can any rational being do or say?
12 Comments
December 11, 2007 at 7:54 am
Unfortunatly, we still live in a world where both genders are throwing statistics at each other in a contest of who should be pittied the most. I’d rather men and women just talk to each other like human beings.
December 11, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Me too, Sam.
To be fair, there are a few pockets of sanity here and there. There are places where men and women can talk to each other like human beings.
I hope my blog is such a place and that in the future there will be far more places where men and women can just discuss and explore these topics without digging trenches and attacking each other.
December 14, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Your blog is a good place Luka. Just like you!
December 14, 2007 at 7:31 pm
That is very kind of you, Female.
(Flattery will get you everywhere
)
December 15, 2007 at 5:31 pm
I second Female’s motion. I tiptoed back onto another blog I previously frequented and got told to go “bite a tree.” I don’t even know what that means, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t very nice.
It seems to be human nature to run as fast as we can away from the notion of our own mortality. It’s very true, too, that when one’s demise looms, everything takes on greater meaning. I know this Christmas will be bittersweet, with nothing taken for granted, as we think it may be my mother’s last.
Thank you, Luka, for providing a forum for cooler heads to prevail in the gender …. conversation. I am philosophically opposed to war, even a war of words.
December 16, 2007 at 1:27 am
LOL!
Bite a tree? Well, it is certainly an original saying!
I wonder if that lovely human being got any points for creativity?
Sorry to hear about your mother, I sincerely hope that this Christmas is full of meaning and joy (as far as is possible given the circumstances, it seems)
Thank you both for your kind words. I hope I continue to provide a cool head for the task. Believe it or not it is very difficult to do sometimes
December 16, 2007 at 3:12 am
A few years back I coined a different phrase, that’s meant to inspire creativity and imagination. “Chew the moon!” is used to be non-abusive, and make someone laugh.
But symbols are representative of things including abstract concepts, and thus they do lend support to arguments.
Though I agree with the sentiments you have expressed in the last two paragraphs of your article, Emm, from a creative perspective I question the sanity of those who create objects that reflect a set of values that are so obviously intended to foment and foster conflict by demonizing others. It makes whoever created those things no better than any who offer such items in order to establish their position as a dominant one, while justifying their own excesses.
Rising above such values is important, holding a higher perspective is a winning position, but ignoring them is not. They represent that which should be opposed and give very real credence to the nature of a Gender War that is ongoing. Doesn’t mean to say that we should actively oppose. Just recognize that they are representative of what is unfair, unjust and problematic.
I also think that “finding (the dialog between the opponents) amusing” is utterly appropriate.
Such symbols should inspire those who do not embrace these viewpoints to do more to evolve in the face of what I personally find revolting as they attack the very notion of humanity being valuable.
December 16, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Without a doubt one has to question the rationale (if there was one) behind those that would make such crap… I am certainly not saying that these items should be ignored - just put in their rightful place (in the bin). These items are given more attention than they deserve.
It would be nice to see all sides of debate look at these and say - Dear me, why do people make such stupid, violent objects? - and leave it at that. Not this stupid discussion on “Oh, this object depicts violence against X group, so we must be more oppressed” mentality.
I agree with your last paragraph, though.
December 17, 2007 at 11:20 am
(chorkle)
December 18, 2007 at 1:26 am
Well, all I was going to say was that, putting aside the legitimacy of arguing about these objects, if I happened to be on the dating circuit and came across either of these objects in said date’s abode, I would RUN, not walk, to the nearest exit…
December 20, 2007 at 12:05 pm
The people who buy these things must think they’re cool or something. I believe they call that being ‘functionally retarded’.
December 20, 2007 at 8:37 pm
LOL Female!! Functionally retarded? That is funny!
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