Utopia

[winston]

Basic Shelter

I was in the capital of a third world country recently and went to one of their gardens in the evening. There were many locals there, enjoying the summer. Some of them were singing. Other were dancing. Some were fishing. Others were teaching their kids to fish. Everyone seems quite happy ...

As the garden was very big, I exited through a different gate and ended up near a highway. It was getting late and I was getting hungry...

I then saw some neon signs across from the highway and decided to use the underpass to go to to the other side.

When I went into that underpass, I was shocked! There were at least 50 people inside that tunnel. Some of them were cooking. Some of them were playing cards. Some were sleeping. They dont looked too unhappy or too poor. They probably have accepted their situation...

Later that night, I asked a friend why they were sleeping there. Dont they have some welfare homes that they can go to? I then went into my usual ranting about building stadiums and lighting fireworks and having ceremonies, while there are millions still living in poverty ...

My friend told me that very likely these were people from other towns who were in the capital to petition against some injustice in their home town. There's supposedly a "complaints bureau" close to that garden that I went to. Usually, their hearing takes a long time and to save money, those people were sleeping in that tunnel instead of a hotel ...

Someday, we will get our priorities correct. Instead of building stadiums, having sporting events to tell the world that we have arrived, lighting fireworks, having ceremonies etc, we will first ensure that that there's basic shelter, there's adequate food, there's sanitation, there's clean running water, there's affordable health-care, there's justice, there's transparency etc..

[millionairemind]

Someday, we will get our priorities correct. Instead of building stadiums, having sporting events to tell the world that we have arrived, lighting fireworks, having ceremonies etc, we will first ensure that that there's basic shelter, there's adequate food, there's sanitation, there's clean running water, there's affordable health-care, there's justice, there's transparency etc..

I am not sure when that day will arrive. Man's need for ego gratification will never stop as long as there is an "I".

Having said that, despite some flaws, I must say both Singapore and Canada do come close to what I call "Utopian" society.

[winston]

Someday, we will get our priorities correct. Instead of building stadiums, having sporting events to tell the world that we have arrived, lighting fireworks, having ceremonies etc, we will first ensure that that there's basic shelter, there's adequate food, there's sanitation, there's clean running water, there's affordable health-care, there's justice, there's transparency etc..

I am not sure when that day will arrive. Man's need for ego gratification will never stop as long as there is an "I".

Having said that, despite some flaws, I must say both Singapore and Canada do come close to what I call "Utopian" society.

Canada - I would quite agree, especially for their free press, fair election and transparency. However, -30 degrees with a wind-chill factor does not appeal to me

But there are also other countries that are trying their best to build an Utopia eg. USA, Some Western European countries, Japan, Australia, UK etc.. eventhough some of these countries may get distracted along the way ... as long as the intention is noble, we still have a chance.

[kennynah]

there's only one Utopia....it is found in Heaven.... we will never attain utopia on earth...

[kennynah]

Actually, I made an error... There's an utopia in Singapore... A pub my buddies n I used to visit even so, it went out of business... patrons won't buying enuf drinks...afterall, in utopia, we don't get drunks

[iam802]

This movie also feature some kind of 'Utopia'....



And the reality is, when people starts to disagree.... 'Utopia' will disappear.

[winston]

Sir, what is your idea of a new world?

Questioner: Sir, what is your idea of a new world?

Krishnamurti: I have no idea about the new world. The `new' world cannot be new if I have an idea about it. This is not just a clever statement, it is a fact.

If I have an idea about it, the idea is born of my study and experience, is it not? It is born of what I have learnt, of what I have read, of what other people have said the new world should be.

So, the `new' world can never be new if it is a creation of the mind, because the mind is the old. You don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, do you?

You may know that there will be no school tomorrow because it is Sunday, and that on Monday you will be going to school again; but what is going to happen outside the school, what kind of feelings you are going to have, what kind of things you are going to see - all that you don't know, do you?

Because you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, or the next morning, when it happens it will be new; and to be able to meet the new is what matters.

- Life Ahead Part Two Chapter 1

Source: jkrishnamurthi.com

[winston]

Although we may have an idea of what our Utopia might look like, it would still not be a reality until we take some steps towards that ideal.

What one small step can you take today, that will move you towards your Utopia ?

[winston]

George Clooney was on Larry King this morning.

He was asking people to spend 2 minutes of their time to change the world.

He was asking people to write to their elected officials on certain issues. And if enough people will write, the elected officials will have no choice but to do something.

The two minutes is not a lot of time in a day of 24 hours. It also does not cost money. And you can 'copy & paste" your mail and send it off to other elected officials as well.

So are you going to spend two minutes of your time to make the world a better place ?

[kennynah]

have you tried doing so? maybe write to dr m ?