Narcissus In The Mirror
I wanted to take a stroll down the aisle of Greek mythology and look at the story of what has become a god for many in America; Narcissus. There are several versions of the story, so I will choose the classis one. Narcissus was a young man who was very pretty. One day he was looking at his reflection in a pool of water and fell in love with the person he was looking at; himself. He only realized his folly when he tried to kiss the person and found his lips meeting the water. He was so distraught that he could not realize his true love, that he killed himself. Of course the story ends in the fashion that all good Greek myths end, with death and tragedy.
Americans have become worshippers at the altar of Narcissus. We are in love with ourselves. We are obsessed with physical beauty and physical perfection. We feel the need to have the newest accessory, shiniest car, the biggest house. It is not a matter of whether we can afford it; it is a matter of how soon we can get it. American culture has become one of unbridled desire to have everything you can want instead of being happy with what you currently have. Patience is no longer a virtue, it is a relic left from my grandparents generation. We have become a country where waiting to get something is no longer acceptable. This must feel very much like the Roaring 20’s.
Is there a way to undo this kneeling at the altar of Narcissus? Can Americans change their ways and become rational in their expectations? I think there are several ways to get back to a more reasonable level of personal desire. The first is to be responsible parents. I heard a story this morning about wealthy New York parents renting private jets at $8000 per child to send their child to summer camp. What message are you sending a child when you remove them from the “camp bus” and send them in exclusive fashion.
Parents should also expose their children to the teachings of their faith. My preference would be to expose them to Jesus Christ but most religions teach a solid moral foundation. Parents would be the start to a change in our current plight.
The other, more draconian measure would be for a depression like what followed the Roaring 20’s. When people have to stand in line for food and jobs. When it is a struggle just get what you need to survive. When the house of cards collapses, Americans would be forced to begin depending on each other instead of trying to depend on just themselves. This is not the future I am looking to live through. I would rather our nation change their views because they see the futility of their present path. I am not daft enough to think that we will choose what is best for us. After all, we paid more attention to Paris Hilton and her jail sentence than we did to what our government is doing last week. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Icool
Cobb
Americans have become worshippers at the altar of Narcissus. We are in love with ourselves. We are obsessed with physical beauty and physical perfection. We feel the need to have the newest accessory, shiniest car, the biggest house. It is not a matter of whether we can afford it; it is a matter of how soon we can get it. American culture has become one of unbridled desire to have everything you can want instead of being happy with what you currently have. Patience is no longer a virtue, it is a relic left from my grandparents generation. We have become a country where waiting to get something is no longer acceptable. This must feel very much like the Roaring 20’s.
Is there a way to undo this kneeling at the altar of Narcissus? Can Americans change their ways and become rational in their expectations? I think there are several ways to get back to a more reasonable level of personal desire. The first is to be responsible parents. I heard a story this morning about wealthy New York parents renting private jets at $8000 per child to send their child to summer camp. What message are you sending a child when you remove them from the “camp bus” and send them in exclusive fashion.
Parents should also expose their children to the teachings of their faith. My preference would be to expose them to Jesus Christ but most religions teach a solid moral foundation. Parents would be the start to a change in our current plight.
The other, more draconian measure would be for a depression like what followed the Roaring 20’s. When people have to stand in line for food and jobs. When it is a struggle just get what you need to survive. When the house of cards collapses, Americans would be forced to begin depending on each other instead of trying to depend on just themselves. This is not the future I am looking to live through. I would rather our nation change their views because they see the futility of their present path. I am not daft enough to think that we will choose what is best for us. After all, we paid more attention to Paris Hilton and her jail sentence than we did to what our government is doing last week. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Icool
Cobb
posted by Cobb at
8:59 AM
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