Is Our Society More Divided Than the 'Incomparable' 6000 year old Sumerians?

Sumer was a civilization and historical region located in what is now southern Iraq and southwestern Iran, known as the cradle of civilization.  The Sumerians are credited for creating the worlds first (known) writing systems. They are also credited with creating a complex system of metrology (science of measurement) circa 4000 BCE. This metrology advanced the creation of arithmetic, geometry and algebra. The Sumerians were very serious about there education. It was imperative that a child go through rigorous studies for most of his life until he is capable to bring great wealth to his family.  According to Samuel Noah Kramer (Sumerian Historian), "The Sumerians highly prized wealth and possessions, rich harvests, well-stocked granaries, folds and stalls filled with cattle large and small, successful hunting on the plain and good fishing in the sea."  

In his book, The Sumerians, Kramer states, "...In spite of their lofty ideals and sublime ethics, the chances are that the Sumerians could never have come as far or achieved as much either materially or spiritually, had it not been for one very special psychological drive which motivated much of their behavior and deeply colored their way of life--the ambitious, competitive, aggressive and seemingly far from ethical drive for pre-eminence and prestige for victory and success."  The Sumerians would do anything to attain and maintain their power and hegemony over the land.  However, whereas all Sumerians were united in their struggle, we--here in the 21st Century--are divided in our struggle.  The "Sumerians" of our society are our government officials because we have allowed them to tell us that we are not good enough through various avenues of media.   

The Sumerians stuck together as a people and died together as a people.  Our society is seemingly dying away and no one seems to have any compassion for his fellow man.  We are a very selfish people. We envy one's possessions and do not encourage wealth and success for our fellow free thinking brothers and sisters.  Why do we not have the drive and passions to be wealthy leaders of our society? Why is it that people need to see "change" in the face of Barack Obama in order to figure out that anyone can acquire greatness?  It was never a surprise among Sumerians when his fellow man grew to amazing levels of greatness because many of the people in the society were autodidactic scribes, mathematicians, architects, masons, and astrologists.  They desired knowledge needed to contribute to their proliferation in their society. They created the methods, became learned men and then taught it to their children. 

High School dropout rates are at an all time high in America; the Education system is suffering from a rapid degradation due to the lack of quality teachers and quality students. Where did we go wrong? Where is the Sumerian bloodlines that once coursed through our veins? Have we traded in our age-old, precious yearning and desire for esoteric and precious knowledge in exchange prime-time television and other forms of nonsensical media? 

We are slowly being divided: by our ruling powers and by our very own SELF.  Where is that craving for wealth (health, love and financial)?  Is is only in our taste buds now? 

Sad to say...We may have been conquered as well...

Thoughts...

doM

Television Ruining Minds, One at a Time

When you are laughing hysterically while watching a show, do you ever stop to think about how the content may be affecting your sub-conscious?

When you are watching a dramatic show, do you ever stop think why you 'break your neck' to rush home and watch the show?

Most of us don't consider these things. I didn't for a very long time. If something was funny, it was just plain FUNNY. If the show was a dramatic and suspenseful show about 'how cool criminal investigators' are, I was on the edge of my seat.

According USA Today, Each household has about 2.7 televisions; and the average American watches TV about 4.5 Hours a day. (http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-09-21-homes-tv_x.htm)

This poll was taken back in 2006; so this could be about 3 televisions now and up to 5.5 hours per day. However, the questions remain: What are people watching? Is it enlightening? Is it inspirational? Does it make you want to be a better person? Does it make you feel better about your life? Do you "Love to Hate" certain characters on the show? Does it make us forget about our unsatisfying lives by drawing us into a fantasy land?

American Idol is one of the top rated shows on TV. It is fun, entertaining, nerve-racking, engaging, funny and good for giving us a good laugh: it touches on a lot of the human emotions.
However, I think that shows like this prevent us from looking truly looking deeply within ourselves. One of the many reason people love this show is because is shows how real people have the ability to become an "overnight celebrity sensation." For many of us, that is such a
relatable factor. However, as we dedicate time--every night--to watch this show, we take away time from learning about our true SELF. We are so busy analyzing, judging, criticizing, applauding and praising these entertainers that we are never really able to truly look within ourselves.

A great, modern day philosopher and cognitive scientist Ron McClamrock says that he 'excuses mankind for not looking within himself. Mankind's condition of "being-in-the-world" makes it impossible for him to understand himself by abstracting away from it(society) and examining it as if it were a detached experimental object of which he himself is not an integral part.'

We are so busy analyzing our society, our environment, our television shows, and everyone else that we forget (unconsciously) to incorporate our SELF. We analyze everything with our true SELF completely withdrawn. Then the question becomes, what happens to our true SELF? Does our society prevent us from acknowledging our SELF so much that we never really get to know our true SELF? What really happens to our true SELF? "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore--And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over--like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load...Or does it explode?" (From Langston Hughes "A Dream Deferred")

Our true SELF becomes so far removed that we start to enjoy and laugh at people that make a fool of themselves on these shows ("I Love Money" "Flavor of Love" "American Idol"). Why are we making fun? Why are we laughing at our fellow man? Is it because we look at them and then look at our lives as "not as bad"? Does our EGO make us feel better about ourselves after watching these programs? Whatever the reason may be, it is preventing us from using the mind the way it was intended to use. Instead we use 10% of our brain to indulge is senseless programming in order to humor ourselves. And the sad result is, kids are not reading at their grade level anymore, adults don't read any educational literature (gossip magazines do not count), and people on a whole want to escape from their normal lives.

Our minds are slowing starting to experience a regression of intellect. All of our conversations are about "what was on last night" and "what Angelina Jolie was wearing at the Oscars" and "How great of a show Ray J's 'For the Love of Ray J' is". What happen to the conversations about an awe-inspiring book on philosophy? What happen to conversations on a thought provoking book on abortion rights? What happen to conversations about things that pertinent to the growth of our true SELF. If we slowly move away from these conversations, how are we expected to grow as individuals? How?

People are slowly starting to fall into a 'deeper sleep.' Their minds are being filled with media propaganda, envious fantasy lifesytles and the mockeries of the average human all thanks to the good old fashion 'boob tube.'

We have to start taking control of what we feed and nourish our minds. We have to think of our minds as gardens. If you nourish it with proper nutrients and education, we will reap an endless amount of beautiful agriculture. If you feed in garbage and deprive it of intellectual media that would normally nourish the mind, we will reap a harvest filled with weeds: the mind will regress. We have to return to being comfortable with learning about our SELF without the help of television. Patanjali (Yoga Guru) says that the true nature of the human being is the peaceful state of silence.

That is why my television remains off and my books remain open! :o)

Thoughts...

doM