I understand that everyone has different problems, and depending on where you live in the world your problems are going to differ. However when we live in a first world country that has 10 times the amount of food it needs, where our biggest problems are obesity and heart problems (which 9/10 times is related to weight) that is a big deal.
Our society is so focused around image when there are bigger fish to fry. There are huge problems in the world with malnutrition, unsustainable food sources, curropt governments, natural disasters, genocides, wars, etc. and the biggest thing that is on the mind of North Americans is the fact that we're fat. Which is our own fault. People don't get that walking to mcdonalds doesn't count as excercise. Those ridiculous diet pills don't work if you don't try excericising and eating better. Losing weight takes work, its not something magical that happens overnight.
Our society puts billions of dollars into making us look our best. For example Macy's has a competition for a million dollar makeover right now. Do you know how much 1 million dollars would benefit places like Japan, which just suffered a huge natural disaster and is now having to deal with the aftermath. Or what about places like the Congo which has a GDP of $319. Can you imagine that ? To put that in perspective, Canada's GDP is $39 033.
We have so much money, we have the potential to do so much good and we waste it because our society is so concieted and so self centered. If that offends you, well tough luck honey. Its only going to get worse.
I like your attitude, I think. Ken Wilber writes about the narcissism of our culture and he sees and believes the next level beyond this is a social world where we are humans who care about the earth rather than self centred little creatures runniing around yelling- "ME ME ME!" We'll have to transcend consumerism though. First step- stop buying so much stuff....
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