Hope and Hugo Chavez

Lately, I've been thinking about a quote by the Alan Watts that someone posted over at IshCon. Here is the quote: "... modern civilization is in almost every respect a vicious circle. It is insatiably hungry because its way of life condemns it to perpetual frustration. ... the future is still not here, and cannot become part of experienced reality until it is present. Since what we know of the future is made up of purely abstract and logical elements -- inferences, guesses, deductions -- it cannot be eaten, felt, smelled, seen, heard, or otherwise enjoyed. To pursue it is to pursue a constantly retreating phantom, and the faster you chase it, the faster it runs agead. This is why all the affairs of civilization are rushed, why hardly anyone enjoys what they have, and is forever seeking more and more. Happiness, then, will consist not of solid and substantial realities, but of such abstract and superficial things as promises, hopes, and assurances." Alan Watts, in The Wisdom of Insecurity, 1951

I've heard many people say they are happy because they have hope. But isn't hope as Watt's says some "abstract and superficial thing" we cling to get through our days? How can you be happy with something that is abstract and not real?

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This morning, on Democracy Now, I heard something interesting. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered cheap oil to various poor communities through out the United States. And this comes as no surprise, but only two members of the United States Congress thought it was a good idea. One of them was Congressman Jose Cerrano from New York. He also voted for the immediate withdrawal of U.S troops out of Iraq. This is an interesting story, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

I think I'm going to call Dave Obey (My Congressman) and ask him why he isn't supporting the offer by Hugo Chavez.

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Oil Politics Psychology Civilization