Deserving?

An interesting thing was said to me last Saturday night.  "The Saints deserve to win the Super Bowl."  My response was, "hmmph, why?"  "They just do," was the super logical response.  I wanted to say, "Why?  Because their city got hit with a hurricane a few years ago and it will make them feel better?"  Seriously???  So when Haiti rebuilds the island, are they gonna deserve to win the Olympics or the Miss Universe Pageant?  Ummm, I don't think that will fly with the other countries competing. 

This leads me to discuss the word "deserve".  So, of course I had to consult my handy-dandy dictionary to review the "proper" definition of the word.  Well... the real definition just seems different than the context applied by some people in modern day vernacular. 

Most people seem to use the word "deserve" in a manner that does not mesh with the "real" definition.  It used to mean that when you worked hard, you rated a reward.  Now, it seems that people are lazy and feel they deserve said reward without ever lifting a finger or exerting themselves in any way.  

This train of thinking leads my mind to the words written within the Declaration of Independence:

"we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

I'm not sure how you guys interpret it, but nowhere in that eloquent piece of writing does it say DESERVE.   It says, you have have a right to pursue-- which basically means, GET OFF YOUR ASS AND WORK for things. 

Yep, I'm annoyed at the mindset of the modern man... 

Ignorance

I'm tired of the misinformed masses that suck up the precious air we breathe.  

The tragedy in Haiti is just that ... tragic.  Mother Nature can be a vengeful mistress and Haiti has been her target multiple times in the last two years.  

Here is a little fact file on Haiti, compiled by the CIA.  I recommend that everyone read up.


I was discussing the plight of the people in this extremely impoverished country and their response was, "Why in the hell are we scampering to send money to those people?"  I said, "Seriously?  You really don't know?" They responded that "we" (Americans, I'm assuming) need to stop sending money to other countries and help ourselves-- "they put themselves in their current position".  Wow.  My response must of sounded harsh (like I care).  But, I said, "Wow, are you always this ignorant?"  There was a long pause... rightly so.

I continued... those people didn't ask to be poor.  That country, like so many others in the Caribbean were manipulated and abused by the IMF.  Entering into aid contracts for a short period of time, only to have the IMF/World Bank change the rules mid-flow. (This was a result of foreign folks going into the country and stripping it of timber [1950
s] thereby causing soil erosion and leaving the farmers in a pickle.)  The people of those countries are no longer allowed to sell their own goods in their country.  They are required to export food... all the while importing the food they consume.  This system makes zero sense.  If you don't believe me... you should watch "Life and Debt".  Amazingly insightful.  You should also read the book "A Small Place" by Jamaica Kincaid.  It will make you think twice about being a "tourist" and how the presence of foreigners can affect a small nation.  

I'm digressing from my original train of thought, which goes something like this... Be careful about blanket statements-- you know the old adage, "Think before you speak"?  It should be re-worded, "Read and learn before you speak".  Just sayin'... cause those of us who are informed are annoyed by those who aren't.