A thoughtful muse.

While I truly feel that people in general can be kind, thoughtful and good natured, I more often than not find them in situations that demonstrate their selfish, demonic side. As I was growing up neighborly acts of kindness were an everyday event, the Mrs. next door made pies, always remembered to make an extra for us to enjoy, mom or dad went shopping and found a great bargain, they purchased multiples to be sure all the good neighbors got theirs.

Today it seems that everyone acts for themselves alone. Rarely do folks think of their friends or neighbors personal welfare. What happened to us? When did we become so self centered ?

It was often brought to our attention as children that if we consider others we ourselves will be richly rewarded, and we often found that to be just so.

I think about the many gardens, and grape arbors, and fruit orchards that surrounded us, no ever went hungry, and many willingly offered to help maintain them, as they knew that they too wold benefit from the harvest. Working together in our neighborhoods, towns, even suburbs can bring about the same good result. Many lending hands will make it better for all concerned.
If we police our neighborhoods, look out for our neighbors homes and property we will ultimately benefit. If we share our concerns and use our skills to help one another we can build trust and reliance that makes strong families into strong neighborhoods, and ultimately stronger cities.

I guess what brought all this on was watching the the many people users while here in Las Vegas. Solicitations for sex, gambling, continuous drinking that creates the atmosphere that allows one to be used further. It is interesting to me that in the same week one new giant casino has opened while two others file for bankruptcy. The daily news speaks to the billions in one time worth now devalued to almost nothing, everyone looses.

Its that way everywhere you look these days. The auto industry rapidly going under after years of abuse from management, unions, and labor alike, with ancillary industries shaking in their boots wondering what will happen to them if, if it happens and they go under. I guess we haven't really learned anything from the steel mills of a few years ago. The steel industry was booming, earnings were sky high, management was fat and happy, the unions representing their laborers became greedier and demanded more and more in benefits and pay. Soon the abuse by all ran the industry into the ground, mills could no longer maintain their large work forces and high expenses, in the little town where I grew up the mill that at one time employed 27,000, soon would lay off all but some 800, decimating the economy and workforce. The industry that could have, in fact should have cared for all, cared for none, all due to selfish greed and short cited thinking.

In a vineyard individuals cannot work alone, without everyone working to insure the harvest is brought in on time and the wine is made appropriately everyone ends up with either raisins or vinegar, not that they don't have their place, but not exactly the desired result.

So lets make wine, lets work together so we may enjoy the tasty result of our labors.

Sorry I was so long winded, but am I right? How do you feel about it?
Lets discuss it?

Til Later

D.S. David