Imagine, if you will, that no matter where you live in the world or what language you speak, we all share common interests and preferences in many areas. These include food, cars, bikes, drinks, ice cream flavors, and clothing. It doesn’t matter if it’s Armani, Versace, Levi’s, or Wranglers; whether you prefer dress shirts and ties, flannels, pullovers, or button-down tees; or if you choose Victoria’s Secret, Playtex, Fruit of the Loom, Jockey, or BVDs. In reality, most products are made by a handful of companies that deliver them to your store, car, or door. This extends to everything we wear, from our underwear to our socks and shirts!
The only real differences among people stem from what we grow up accustomed to or what is available in our respective countries. Ultimately, there is a fundamental aspect we all share that transcends politics, creed, religion, gender, intelligence, and morality: we all put on our pants or dresses, along with our undergarments, in pretty much the same way.
Things become complicated when we start comparing personal preferences, such as: I like Skippy peanut butter, while you prefer Jif; I prefer Air Jordan sneakers over New Balance or Nike; or I’d choose a Corvette, while you might like an SUV. You get the idea.
When personal preferences are applied to status, wealth, position, and religious beliefs, a Pandora’s box effect occurs. This can lead to issues such as greed, obsession, war, deception, and political differences, all fueled by the divide between the haves and the have-nots.
The real differences among people are often shaped by what we grew up accustomed to or what was available in our own countries. One fundamental thing we all share—regardless of politics, beliefs, religion, gender, or intelligence—is that we all put on our pants and/or dresses, along with undergarments, in pretty much the same way.
The complexity arises when we start comparing our individual preferences. For example, I might prefer Skippy peanut butter while you prefer Jif, or I might like Air Jordan sneakers while you prefer New Balance or Nike. Similarly, I may prefer a Corvette while you prefer an SUV.
When the principle of preference is applied to status, wealth, position, and religious beliefs, it can trigger a Pandora’s box effect. This leads to issues such as greed, obsession, conflict, deceit, and political divisions, all driven by the divide between those who have and those who do not.
Point to Ponder: What if everyone took a break from identifying as American, Polish, Italian, Irish, British, French, Spanish, Russian, Indian, Chinese, and so on? What if we could all grasp the perspective of the few astronauts who have seen the Earth as one fragile world among countless planets and endless stars, many of which have their own solar systems, galaxies, and universes that outnumber the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on a beach?
We need to let this idea sink in, much like our toes sinking into the sand, allowing each wave to wash over us in hopes of cleansing us of our own shortcomings. Perhaps then we can truly become Earthlings and take our fleeting lives more seriously.
Leave a comment