Consumption.
I don't always eat feta cheese, but when I do, I have revelations on cultural growth.
There's something to be said of the societal dopamine reward center, a macro-psychological phenomena that functions as an inflated standard of the individual's gratification system.
The Salad
I've always been a sucker for a spinach salad with feta and balsamic vinaigrette. It melts the interior of my heart and sets my tongue a-dancing. I haven't had one of these salads in two years. Today, I broke that trend. My stomach doesn't entirely agree with my mouth when it comes to dairy. This weekend, though, I chose to sacrifice the slight internal discomfort for the sake, the pleasure, of my taste. This is what we call immediate gratification. There are two types of short-term gratification: the universally beneficial and the long-term sacrificial. The former is simply a good idea, it's a choice to take action on or consume something that is beneficial both now and down the road, both for me and other parties involved. The other type, sacrificial, is a short-term gratifying desire that comes at the expense of something or someone in the future.
My choice to eat cheese today is a perfect micro-example. In the here-and-now, it is incredibly delicious and the treat sets my dopamine receptors on fire. The consequence comes with my gaseous slight discomfort, which will also displease those persons behind me in the subway. Furthermore, I will get tired sooner this evening than I otherwise would have, which is precisely why I just had coffee, the act of compromise to balance out the energy loss that's unique to me and eating cheese. There's another consequence, the resource expended to purchase the coffee. This series of compromises brings me to a point of illustrating the art of decision making.
I say there are two types of short term decision making, the truth is that our world isn't so black and white. We exist intertwined with everyone else, both present and future, including our future self. The decisions made today bear an impact which ripples through the tapestry of life throughout the days to come. Hence, we live in the middle-ground, the area of compromise in decision making which is inherent where ever community exists. I feel that community, in its distilled essence, closely parallels compromise. This is where our macro-societal trends of consuming enter back into the picture.
Let me tell you about my problem with cheese. I break abstinence for it, and it satisfies me for a solid moment, however, it also unleashes a beast-one that is awfully hard to keep in check. That check, that act of compromised balance, descends from the wisdom of discipline.
We, as a world society, are quite young. We lack the discipline which instills within our will the ability to check our consumption when we cross the threshold of necessity. The problem, next to which obesity (of stomach and possession) is only a footnote, is that the distribution of resources in the world demands that we consume in balanced moderation. (If we have any consideration for the welfare of others, that is.) The fact is that we don't abide by this moderation. The effect is that, with increasing consumption, it becomes harder and harder to reach satisfaction, thus further shifting the balance of resources disproportionately towards our spectrum of the world population. The individual desire to perpetually consume is further encouraged by cultural immersion in a society of consumers. My consumption is affirmed by the endless consumption of the Jones' next door.
The serious problem, aside from the desolation of our souls because we're rarely satisfied, is that our desire to consume is fulfilled by organizations (corporations + governments) that objectify human life. These organizations, that profit greatly over our insatiable appetites, subjugate the powerless and lesser developed people of the world, taking from their resources and suppressing their voice for the sake of our stomachs.
Drugs.
There are many terrifying drugs in the world that illustrate the bottomless appetite. This ever thirsty drug culture gives rise to gangs and warfare that escalates to international levels. This warfare exists only by the combined, individual, drug addictions of people. The reality is that every object in life is a sort of drug, inducing some kind of mental response. The macro effect of our individual spirits of consumption is the fuel for the world-wide wars that are accompanying globalization.
I love globalization. I believe that world-wide inter-connectivity is part of our inherent design as humans and it will foster awareness of the value of all peoples, regardless of race and culture, irrespective of state boundaries. We are all one family on this planet, globalization is increasingly opening our eyes to this light. I take issue, now, with the expansion of globalization by the driving force of ignorant consumption.
So what now, then?
Next time I have a feta-topped salad, I'll be conscientious not to eat the whole tray of cheese.
Spread the love,
Don't eat it.
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