On Greed and Popcorn
The other day, I was eating popcorn at this same computer table that I am sitting at now. Suddenly I had a strange urge to shove an entire handful of popcorn in my mouth at once. Thinking about it now logically, that most likely is an impossible thing to do, unless you have the mouth of a shark. Nonetheless, I did it – I grabbed a handful of popcorn and of course only some made it in my mouth.
I was soon on my knees, crawling underneath the computer desk, trying to clean-up all the popcorn that fell on the floor and all I could think about was what a donkey move that was and how I deserved to be on my knees, crawling around on the ground! Did I really need to eat fists-full of popcorn at a time? Not like there was anyone here to eat my popcorn or anything; just shot myself in the foot for not thinking and for being greedy.
This bothered me more than one would expect because I think greed is a viciously nasty breach of morality. I personally think greed is detrimental to any society. If fractures us, it breeds envy, selfishness and most of all it negates Life through its ignorance.
Many people think greed is good though. There is a news program everyday on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) called the “The Lang & O’Leary Exchange”. Kevin O’Leary, a Canadian entrepreneur who is one of the TV hosts, tells the public each and every day things such as: “Greed is good” and “Money is all that matters.” Indeed, Mr. O’Leary is a successful venture capitalist. Yet, I am not sure if preaching greed everyday on national television at seven o’clock is a good thing?
I have come to a point in my life where I cannot blame the status-quo on politicians, or on anyone else except the general public. We live in the world which we created. Luckily, I am on the younger side and do not feel greatly responsible for the misery and despair hovering around. I am also trying to do anything I can think of to change things. Real change is possible, we only have to look at Tunisia, Egypt, or Libya right now … it is only when we want it bad enough though.
The following is an Ojibwa saying if I am not mistaking:
“Only when the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then, will you find that money cannot be eaten.”
Comments
Excellent hub and beautifully written from start to finish. I love the popcorn shoving in the mouth analogy and I love your quotes at the end. Wisely written. Too bad our thoughts are like preaching to the choir. Rated up and awesome.
What a great hub on greed and its ultimate consequences. Loved the Indian saying.
Another great hub, thanks !
A truly wonderful Hub. I don't know the O'Leary fellow at all but I can think of no circumstance in which "greed is good." I wonder if he could say that looking into the eyes of a starving child? A child dying because there is no food for it? Would he do anything to alleviate the suffering of that child or would his greed get in the way?
Thanks for this wonderful message - and I'm glad you reflected on that impulse and shared the reflection with us.
Love and peace
Tony
- AUTHOR
Mr. Randslam, I do believe we have walked away from our spiritual connection with Mother Earth. We will have to return to the basics so to speak, before we can forge ahead again. For now, most of us are walking on a dead-end road.
Thank you for your comment.
Mrs. Amy, it seems you were lucky to have a wise father at a young age. Our teachers are critical in developing our personality and character. All the best!
Mr. Wesman, thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I always appreciate it!
Mr. Junko, you a right indeed. A balance is necessary in all things! May the Great Spirit walk with you.
A greedy person is never satisfied and never fulfilled He who takes everything in moderation last longer. Stay happy.
Very Nice Write! :=D
As a pre-teen, I had just come home with my mom and sister from a shopping trip that had garnered me a new pair of shoes. In my avarice, I'd seen another pair I really wanted. I was telling my dad about them. My adorable dad looked at me and, in all seriousness with no sarcasm noted asked me "How many pairs of shoes can you wear at one time". We were not poor. My father worked shiftwork at Anheuser-Busch all his life. We had a freezer full of food and everything you could want, but my dad abhorred waste and excess to a fault. However, he did love a bargain in the basic necessities. He preferred to work on Christmas eve and the day rather than suffer through the greedy grabbing and over-indulgence. By the same token, he was generous to a fault. He thought nothing of giving away an expensive pair of Italian leather shoes given to him as a gift, which he knew he'd never wear, to the garbage man who had told my dad one day he had a weakness for expensive leather shoes. He once gave away an older car he owned to a man who needed transportation for work. Mind you, he would buy a Honda Civic with no extras...not even a radio for himself. He always paid cash. I learned to be happily frugal from a man who practiced it everyday.
A wonderful piece with a wonderful message without being preachy. I love it.
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That popcorn is going to cost more now. Great metaphor for revealing the human psyche.
O'Leary is a dragon--you see him on that show--and I can't handle him on his report either. Greed is never good...ambition can be blind...but responsible tending to matters of renewable, replenishable earth-conscious living wouldn't do us any harm after the last thirty years of me, me, me.
The baby boomers haven't done us any favours and greed will certainly not help. The other greed mongers I can't stand are the "Profit" prophets who say that their god will bring you wealth.
The wisdom of the ages has always taught that proper maintenance and slow growth is the only way to happy wealth. So here's to bite-sized nuggets of popcorn and a dustbuster to suck up the few kernels that drop on the floor.
Great hub, Mr. Happy.
- AUTHOR
Greetings, Mr. Diogenese and thank You for your comment. If all the trees are gone and all the water is poisoned, I am quite sure there will not be any more popcorn either.
Mr. Mickey, You make me smile, thank You! Your comment made me think of the ending of a hip-hop song where the DJ tells the rapper: "Give 'em more man! Give 'em more". Then, the rapper continues: "Fuck it, I don't wanna stop ...".
I am just taking a break - I for sure ain't done! lol
Mrs. Darlene, our soul is one and the same really ... I very well could be You and vice-versa.
Mr. WillStar, indeed it does seem that greed is addictive. I never really looked at it that way. Thank You for taking the time to comment.
Greed, like alcohol and drugs, is a subconscious substitute for the serenity we all seek, but, since greed never achieves serenity, greedy people, like alcoholics, can never get enough.
Good Hub.
Yes indeed Mr Happy, great hub, you write like I do out of personal experience of the popcorn and how you found your way to greed. I love you style excellent hub. Rate up love & peace darski
Beautiful write Mr. Happy. Please keep on telling us. God bless you!
Hi My Happy: It seems greed is bouncing around somewhere between the ego and the super ego. One wins out and then the other chastizes us. Well, you didn't mention cereal crops in your poem's sad scenario, so it seems we shall still have popcorn?
Nice little gem of a hub. Bob
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