The Bikin' Fools

Where are we?

I’m not sure exactly what the problem is. However I do know that this world isn’t running as precisely and as efficiently as it should. There is way too much needless suffering on the part of both the have’s and have-nots. To further compound the problems of the world, there seems to be less and less agreement on which direction to go to make the human world a better place to exist.

It may not matter soon. The direction for humankind may be decided by our insults to the Great Mother (nature). In our blind rush to material wealth and gluttonous consumption of fossil fuels, the world is rapidly becoming altered with the by-products of this lifestyle. The will to change course seems lacking in the people who have the most influence in the direction of our society. Why is this?

What I don’t get is the predominance of outrageous and rampant greed. I don’t get why some people seem to need more than they could ever use, let alone the notion of frugality, economy and efficiency. Such noble elements exist in realms other than human. These attributes define sustainability. The course of humankind at this juncture seems headed towards certain oblivion, yet there is no recognition of this in the larger population, or at least in those who are running roughshod over the rest of the world.

My guess about the fundamental nature of problems we face lies in the overwhelming attention to the outside world and the creature comforts. The attention is focused, almost entirely, on the material realm. There is precious little attention given to our spiritual, emotional, and mental well being. It is in these areas that meaning and joy arise. All else is superficial, though influential in our ‘things’ oriented world.

There seems to be a flaw in the human system that allows for some to think that they are more important than the rest of creation. With this mindset, it becomes possible to over-ride any influence towards community, family and the fellowship of mankind. This is not new, but has been going on for quite some time. What I don’t get is why the great majority of people seem to allow this faulty system to continue. It is a complex issue. More and more, it is becoming an alarming issue with the sands of time running out on our ‘modern’ world.

The drum beat to war and domination continue at a frenzied pace, while most people of this planet are simply not interested, yet go along with the whims of politicians who blindly sally forth in their lustful search of power, influence and profit. It is indeed perplexing when armed with the knowledge that such tragic action is not in any way necessary for the existence of the human in all of its diversity, complexity and beauty.

One of technology’s greatest achievements is the marriage of human chemistry to machinery. This occurs in many venues; automotive, aviation and recreation. The bicycle remains as one platform that represents a reasonable compromise between industry and nature. Somewhere along the trail, one is likely to come in contact with a sense that we don’t need war, corporate profits or empire building to be truly happy. What we really need at this juncture in history is a greater application of common sense applied with compassion, reason and playfulness. Enjoy your bike ride, while I figure out the world’s problems. Peace.