Humans Are Their Own Worst Enemy
A friend recently e-mailed the following. The little story line, while funny, also points to a flaw
that is taking us down the deadly road we are currently traveling.
In the beginning In the beginning God populated the earth with broccoli and
cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so
man and woman would live long and healthy lives.
Then using Gods great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerrys and Krispy Kreme. And
Satan said, You want chocolate with that? And man said Yea. And woman said, And
another one with sprinkles. And they gained 10 pounds.
And God created the healthful yogurt that woman might keep the figure that man
found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the
cane, and combined them. And woman went from size 2 to size 6.
So God said, Try my fresh green salad. And Satan presented Thousand Island Dressing
and garlic toast on the side. And man and woman unfastened their belts following the
repast.
God then said, I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook
them. And Satan brought forth deep fried fish, chicken-fried steak so big it needed its
own platter. And man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
God then brought running shoes so that his children might loose those extra pounds.
And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so man would not have to toil
changing the channels. And man and woman laughed and cried before the flickering
light and gained pounds.
Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.
And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and
deep-fried them. And man gained pounds.
God then gave lean beef so that man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his
appetite. And Satan created McDonalds and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then
said, You want fries with that? And man replied Yea! And super size em. And Satan
said, It is good. And man went into cardiac arrest.
God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. And Satan created HMOs
The irony in this funny little story is that it is true. The error is that it hasn't been Satan, but
American capitalism that created all of the deadly variations to turn good food into bad. It
was the capitalist system that brought us radio, television, cars, motorized golf carts and all of
the other devices that turned us into couch potatoes. And it was capitalism that turned health
insurance into a greedy empire conspiring against the people who need it the most.
And we let it happen.
Americans have consequently become a nation of overweight, unhealthy sheep who have lost
their ability to think. We are skillfully manipulated through subliminal messages delivered via
our televisions, radios and even the Internet. We can be programmed to buy certain
products, watch certain films, elect certain leaders, and even go to war almost at the flip of a
switch.
Why, for example, do you think the people would collectively agree to allow their president
to declare a universal and unending state of war against a political philosophy . . . terrorism . .
. which can never be won? Or willingly allow our leaders to dismantle the freedoms we once
enjoyed through the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, all in the guise of protecting us
from terrorism within?
And why would we just yawn and turn up the air conditioner another notch when our
president assures us that the record heat wave, flaming forests, and crazy weather patterns
are not caused by global warming. We even allowed Mr. Bush drop the lawsuits brought by
the Environmental Protection Agency against several big electric companies with coal burning
plants that are in gross violation of the Federal Clean Air Act.
That we have used this so-called war-on-terrorism to attack Afghanistan in pursuit of a
radical Moslem leader believed responsible for the 9-11 attack on America, was an act of
terrorism far worse than anything Osama bin Laden brought against us. There were slightly
less than 3000 people killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. As of
December, 2001, our bombs were known to have killed 3,700 innocent civilians in
Afghanistan. We also destroyed homes, crops and food sources. And the killing continues in
that country to this day. The irony is that we failed to capture or kill Mr. Bin Laden. As of this
date, we don't even know where he is.
And while our attacks in Afghanistan continue, our leaders are openly planning another attack
against Iraq, even though no one can connect that nation's leader, Saddam Hussein, with the
9-11 attacks.
Are the people acting right in America? I think not.
Visit the author's web site at: perdurabo10.tripod.com
or contact him at: jdona999@bau-net.com
