Idealist: Things that should not happen This Day & Age

The Chinese earthquake that killed 100,000 souls in mere minutes really shook the foundations of my insular view that most people live in conditions as safe as I. A natural disaster should not have the power to kill cities of people. Why are the buildings so unsafe? Why are they so vulnerable? What is wrong with people to essentially allow this kind of stuff to happen by protracting social injustice throughout societies? Why do third-world countries exist? I would not consider foraging village societies to be third-world countries, because they have been untouched by time. They have preserved a particular way of living for generations. But the social injustice I am so irked about is that of countries that have attempted to develop, but have failed so miserably, because they have not the resources to complete their sad tries at modernizing. Like China. It is industrialized, but in the sense that everyone is exploited. So I wouldn't come close to saying industrialization has done good for China, because, look at their toxic atmosphere; people get paid squat for doing the industrial work; people still live in crappy conditions. I mean. What is this?

Another thing I don't believe should happen this day and age is Religious conversion. Why would somebody unaffiliated with Religion all of a sudden turn to it? It's not like it's coerced. We have a pretty secular government. And even when legislation is religiously-driven, they're not sponsored by the Church. So there really is no external pressure to convert. If it's internal pressure, then I really believe that the government ought to introduce some material on Evolution to be required learning for all students. And also, I am hating the increasing visibility of religious influence in the Democratic party. You know it's just for votes. I would not believe for a minute somebody as strong a politician as Hillary Clinton believes in God. If she does, my Gosh, please enlighten yourself. Broaden your mind and take a break from reading Law and policy crap.

These are signs that we are not really as advanced as we think we are in society. Where is the humanity? Where is the humanism? Where is the Curiosity? Curiosity is something I believe occurs in the absence of belief in God. When you don't do something and think, "Oh, I was 'meant' to do this. God had it all planned out." Curiosity is when we explore as if We are in charge of our future. And that is something very idealistic. It's a sense that I believe all Liberals have, that we Can make a change. That our minds have the power to come up with solutions that no God intended. We are innovative. Our genus homo are toolmakers. We have cognitive ability. We are smart and flexible in challenging social and ecological environments.

This also prompted me to think of the link between Realism and Idealism. They are inextricably linked. Idealism is a byproduct of Realism. Idealists see the reality and want to find solutions to change it; to fix it. We see social injustice and want to act on it. On the other hand, Conservatives like to run away from reality and drone out the agonized laments of the oppressed in their wealth and contentedness.

Hearing stories of Garment Industry workers makes me want to help out. Makes me want to say, "Stop. This isn't right." Capitalists versus Socialists. I get it, Nobody wants socialism. People should get what they deserve. Total Egalitarianism is not good. But on the other hand, opposing socialism does not mean that one should engage in such acts that extremely oppose total egalitarianism. Meaning, just because the hired employee should not earn as much money as the business owner, it does not mean that there should be such a discrepancy that the business owner rakes in millions, while the employee makes $30 for a 10-hour day. That is Reality. It condescendingly slaps you in the face and doesn't say Sorry. The force of the hit is so powerful that it makes you numb to the horrible Truths of Reality. And you're so knocked out, so unable to act, that you sit back and deny. You allow Injustice to run rampant.

It's so hard. It's so very hard. You can't exactly boycott design houses that contract sweat shops. But then it is only through sweatshops that living is affordable. You don't get that $10 shirt for $10, unless the person who sewed it made $.10 on it. If the person made $5.00 on it, you would probably be paying $50 for the same shirt. And then again, these workers need the sweat shop job so bad that they would get pissed if you boycotted. Boycott leads to the fashion house cutting down on jobs. And then that effect is felt to a higher degree in the Industry, where garment laborers lose their jobs. How does this end?