How is this possible?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

In a society that worships money and excess and luxury and extravagance, we continue to ignore the things that give us the best opportunity to get us those things. Rather than fight tooth-and-nail to learn what successful people do and try to emulate them (and it is a path that is open to the vast majority of people in this country), we demand that the government take more from those that have achieved financial wealth and to give it to those who have not. We even go so far as to label those people as "greedy" and some even call them "evil." Even more confusing is how much time and energy we spend watching television shows and reading magazines about the things they do and the places they travel and the 'toys' they buy. We love them and we hate them.

In a society that worships beauty and being 'ripped' and being 'thin,' we continue to ignore the things that give us the best opportunity to get us those things. Rather than cut back on our calories, eat better, more nutritious foods, and, most importantly, exercise (all of which are available to the vast majority of people in this country), we demand that doctors perform surgeries and prescribe pills give us immediate results without changing our lifestyles. A recent study indicates that 86% of Americans will be overweight or obese by 2030 and that almost all of us will be overweight or obese by 2048, yet we spend billions every year on swimsuit calendars, magazines and movies to look at beautiful, fit people. We idolize them. But will we hate them next? Will we come to a point where we begin to demonize anyone who is in good enough physical condition to go for a hike or ride a bike? Will the demonization grow worse as more and more people see how much less fit people pay, on average, in medical costs?
I think there are some lessons to be learned here. The same kind of thinking link the two together.

All of this leads me to wonder: Am I doomed? As a relatively fit, relatively young, Christian, white male (census numbers indicate white people will be a minority by the time I retire) that is on track to attain a certain level of financial success, and with every intention of maintaining all of those things over the coming years, am I on my way to becoming public enemy number one in the eyes of the American public? It seems that to a growing number of people I am an evil (rich), self-absorbed (fit), oppressive (white male), infidel (Christian) that must be controlled.