Most everyone agrees, if they search deep in their hearts, that people everywhere should be entitled to their basic needs: water, food, shelter, healthcare and life sustaining jobs. Why is it then, that even in the richest nation in the world, these needs are not met for many people? Could it be that we have all been caught up in a materialistic culture that has been part of our upbringing and infused into our daily lives so seemlessly that we don't even realize it?
Many of us no longer give any thought to our basic needs-we don’t have to. All we have to do is turn on a faucet and out comes clean water. Open a refrigerator or cupboard and there are several options for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. When we get a cold or sore throat, we go see a doctor before it has a chance to develop into anything worse. When it is raining, snowing or unbearably hot, most of us can go into our homes and be quite comfortable no matter what the weather is outside.
Our sense of the definition of “basic needs” has changed. We've slowly begun to feel entitled to more than those five basic needs that are so essential for existence. It used to be that washers and dryers and cars were necessities. Next came TVs, DVD players, cameras and video cameras. We began to feel entitled to two or three cars and larger homes. Once you start to feel entitled to something, it easily transforms from a want to a need-and that is what is happening now. Exotic vacations, second and third homes, cosmetic surgery; these are just a few of the things that have begun to replace our old wants, shifting them to needs. Our basic needs are not even in the picture because they are so taken for granted.
This is not to make a judgement call on wanting or doing special things in our lives. We've all looked forward to the long-awaited vacations or buying that special house we've always dreamed of. However, it's when we begin to feel entitled to these things, that we also begin to overlook those who struggle every day to meet their basic needs. Those who can't take them for granted.
A friend of mine sent me a link to this article. Very thought provoking and informative.
The Gospel of Consumption
Jeffry Campbell
Orion magazine. May-June 2008
http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/2962/
Lori
Friday, May 9, 2008
Basic Needs
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1 comment:
Hey Lori
I would like to put a link to your blog in a project I am doing for a graduate class in computer courseware if you don't mind.
I'm in the Instructional Systems master's program at Florida State and the project is a "training module" for people who have volunteered to work at a Recycling Information booth during an Earth Day Street Fair. I'm including The Compact as an "oh by the way" part of Reduce REUSE Recycle section.
Practically no one will see it, except my professor -- But it will be online so I thought I'd ask if you would mind.
my email is
rld07c@fsu.edu
thanks
robyn dixon
Tallahassee, FL
P.S. I am a little older than the average student...I have two grandbabies myself!!!
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