This past week-end, I went to a food preservation day at a nearby farm. There was a guy there who lives in a tent using a cooler for food storage. There was an older man who lives with almost no electricity. There was a woman who traveled around with her boyfriend, living in a tent. As I drove home, I realized something. A pretty lethal, alienating, and privileged thought. I don't want to live like those people.
I like my life of luxury.
Luxury doesn't mean a 75 ft yacht, silk sheets, daily spa and masseuse appointments, or many adopted children representing 53 countries. No, I mean the luxuries that middle class Americans have access to and enjoy daily. Luxuries like running water, electricity, refrigerators, freezers, meat, dairy, fish, gas stoves, warm showers, a firm mattress on my bed, a building on land that I can OWN, possessions.
Most of the time I think of myself as quite a liberal hippy. And to a point I am. But in comparison to these other people I met at this food preservation day, maybe I'm not. Because I like my comforts and I'm not willing to give them up. Even though I have these comforts and others may not...I don't want to give mine up.
Realizing that, that I am not willing to sacrifice certain things for a greater good ... was surprising. Sad too...in a sort of nostalgic way. I wanted to be, want to be one of those people who strive for equality in any way they can ... but maybe I'm not.
2 comments:
I don't think liking the way that you live means that you don't strive for equality. You have more privileges then these people do, and part of that is your upbringing, and your ability to go to college and get a job, etc... which these people may or may not have had. How would giving up your family or your ability to go to college save these people or make them more equal?
I think you can still strive for equality and not live like them, or like the way they live. Do you think they are liking the way they are living? That doesn't mean they don't wish/strive for equality...
@csnizzle - these people are just like you and me but they are of the crowd who "renounces their privileges" sort of deal to feel/do/convey more equality. I do not want to renounce my privilege in order to feel like I am fighting for equality bc like you, i do wonder how that helps someone who does not have privilege....but then ... i feel like a hypocrite.
Post a Comment