Love Thy Neighbor
Let me start by saying that I refer here not to the biblical but the social injunction. You see, balance is a tricky thing to find both literally and figuratively. Whether you’re a baby learning to walk, a trapeze artist walking the high-rope or an expert expressing a view, the difference between success and a mighty thud can be so thin that it is barely perceptible to the naked eye. Have I lost you? Please indulge me for a further minute or so, I’ll make my point shortly.
Somebody actually came up with the idea that by way of being environmentally friendly people should consider falling in love with the girl next door, as against someone in a location that would require travel to visit. The argument is that all that journeying will be detrimental to the environment in the form of fumes from the airplane or bus and such. To be fair ‘babe next door’ is ok by me as I fail to see that there are any peculiar demerits in paying attention to someone who is a mere ‘knock on the door’ away (unless of course you live next door to a brothel, in which case your mum may not be so hot about your ‘neighbor’!). It’s the reasoning in this particular instance that I’m not so sure about. I mean, for God’s sake where does being careful end and paranoia take over? Global warming is no doubt a major concern; all sorts of gases are daily making mince meat of the ozone layer, but ‘green loving?’ Please tell me it’s a joke.
Nothing is too ridiculous to be taken seriously these days. Everybody is an expert of one sort or the other so wacky postulations fill the airwaves as ‘Dr. Soso and So’ reveals his latest discovery or theory on Oprah or other such fora. Did you know there is actually a diet plan called “Dr. Atkins” whose weight loss strategy is that you eat endless amounts of protein and protein alone? Seriously, that is a diet plan? I have another name for it: mere wishful shrinking! The guy probably had an obscure practice in Saskatchewan and needed a way to get out and be heard so voila: Dr Atkins weight loss plan. As soon as I figure out what I can be an ‘expert’ at I’m finding my way to one of them talk-shows with an idea so crazy the producer’s ears will be tingling for a month after he/she hears it. Wait for me Larry King . . . .
May I submit most humbly that if either fear or the puerile desire to always have something new to say should ever become the driving force of the search for solutions then we all are in trouble. Who can possibly forget the ‘millennium bug’ fiasco at the turn of the century? I repeat we need large doses of caution.
On a lighter note though, for those who have been looking for even a half decent reason to terminate their long distance relationships, search no further. After all what could be more un-selfish than giving up personal happiness for global benefit? This is as good a chance as you will ever get to being Superman so I encourage you to seize it with both hands: ditch your partner and save “Metropolis”! How about it?
Somebody actually came up with the idea that by way of being environmentally friendly people should consider falling in love with the girl next door, as against someone in a location that would require travel to visit. The argument is that all that journeying will be detrimental to the environment in the form of fumes from the airplane or bus and such. To be fair ‘babe next door’ is ok by me as I fail to see that there are any peculiar demerits in paying attention to someone who is a mere ‘knock on the door’ away (unless of course you live next door to a brothel, in which case your mum may not be so hot about your ‘neighbor’!). It’s the reasoning in this particular instance that I’m not so sure about. I mean, for God’s sake where does being careful end and paranoia take over? Global warming is no doubt a major concern; all sorts of gases are daily making mince meat of the ozone layer, but ‘green loving?’ Please tell me it’s a joke.
Nothing is too ridiculous to be taken seriously these days. Everybody is an expert of one sort or the other so wacky postulations fill the airwaves as ‘Dr. Soso and So’ reveals his latest discovery or theory on Oprah or other such fora. Did you know there is actually a diet plan called “Dr. Atkins” whose weight loss strategy is that you eat endless amounts of protein and protein alone? Seriously, that is a diet plan? I have another name for it: mere wishful shrinking! The guy probably had an obscure practice in Saskatchewan and needed a way to get out and be heard so voila: Dr Atkins weight loss plan. As soon as I figure out what I can be an ‘expert’ at I’m finding my way to one of them talk-shows with an idea so crazy the producer’s ears will be tingling for a month after he/she hears it. Wait for me Larry King . . . .
May I submit most humbly that if either fear or the puerile desire to always have something new to say should ever become the driving force of the search for solutions then we all are in trouble. Who can possibly forget the ‘millennium bug’ fiasco at the turn of the century? I repeat we need large doses of caution.
On a lighter note though, for those who have been looking for even a half decent reason to terminate their long distance relationships, search no further. After all what could be more un-selfish than giving up personal happiness for global benefit? This is as good a chance as you will ever get to being Superman so I encourage you to seize it with both hands: ditch your partner and save “Metropolis”! How about it?
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