Ellie Mae

Ellie Mae
Beautiful Ellie Mae

Freddie, the French Bulldog

Freddie, the French Bulldog
Lazing on a sunny afternoon

The artist

The artist
Ollie Mac

Ollie and Annie

Ollie and Annie
Azorean grandmother

Acrylics and watercolors

Acrylics and watercolors
Cannabis and sunflowers

Papa and Ollie Mac

Papa and Ollie Mac
Priorities, Baby

Acrylics and watercolors

Acrylics and watercolors
Hollyhocks

Mahlon Masling Blue

Mahlon Masling Blue
My friend and brother.

Mark's E-mail address

bellspringsmark@gmail.com

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Good Enough for Me


Good Enough for Me

When it comes to disseminating information, the internet is a much more reliable source than the more conventional methods of the media.  Take the whole travesty of Monsanto, for instance.  You are highly unlikely to find pertinent information in the newspapers today, unless the paper is a local publication, particularly those in NorCal.

The recent March Against Monsanto is a classic example.  Because no one disrupted traffic on one of the major bridges, or blew up any populated buildings, the media generally ignored it.  On the internet, however, there is-and has been-an incessant flow of up-to-date information, providing details of not only the marches themselves, but just as importantly, the reasons for the marches.

Whether it is the genetically modified production of food, or the manufacture and purveying of deadly chemicals, or the results, such as the mass-destruction of our world’s bees because of the deadly chemicals, the media is not going to provide us with any sort of cohesive coverage, because big business protects big business.

However, whether you are as conservative as they come, or are a fire-breathing liberal, you ought to realize that we are discussing, rather calmly for the moment, the future of our children and our children’s offspring.  The one element that keeps haunting me to the point of distraction, is that there is enough greed in this world, for a few to grow rich and richer, at the cost of our very survival.  The irony, of course, is that no one gets out alive.  Those who are foisting upon us, this curtain of doom, are going to sink also, and their descendants as well.

I know folks who get so wrapped up in the world’s injustices, that they stress to the point of illness, and I understand their distress.  I get worked up also.  However, I also realize my inadequacies, as far as changing the world, and I reign in my emotions, to the point where I do what I can, in my own limited manner, and carry on as best as possible.  As far as the Monsanto insanity is concerned, I recognize, that for many of my sixty years, I have ingested what is undoubtedly unhealthy food.  That’s water under the bridge. 

Now, all I can do is right the ship, check the labeling, and proceed forth in the most appropriate manner possible.  It is more of an internal process than an outer one.  I can’t change the way the world functions, by myself, but I can make the necessary mental adjustments, to ensure that I do everything possible to eat healthily, and encourage others to do the same.  When it comes to the specifics, like poisoned, sugar-coated, GMO-laced cereals, I’m never going to be able to stand outside a giant grocery store, and convince the parents of youngsters, that the “breakfast” (and I use the word loosely) they are feeding their precious children, is deadly.  It’s not going to happen in this universe, probably not ever.

Nor am I going to convince the parents of a young, picky eater, that the hot dogs he craves so terribly, are laced with chemicals found in most processed meats, and will prove to be an unquestionably poor choice, as far as stockpiling those deadly chemicals, within the body, for later destructive action.  It’s not going to happen, because people don’t want to hear it.  That’s what Monsanto relies on, that the need to make the present moment more bearable, is enough to avoid a confrontation with the future.

Why does the FDA allow this travesty to continue?  As difficult as it is for me to comprehend, it is the same answer as the reason why the media ignores the Marches Against Monsanto: big business defers to big business, and put more simply, money talks.  Big money talks louder.  Hence, the lobbyists do their job, the politicians accept their contributions, and the process continues.  The situation is as wretched as is conceivably possible, in a classic instance of man’s inhumanity to man.

I’m not capable of writing the words needed to stem this tide of greed and malicious progress, so I stumble forward, checking labels, keeping informed, and doing what I can on a limited basis, to stem the tide.  If enough people were able to do the same, a difference can be made.  We can all contribute to our own forward progress, if we can only work together.

Working together, to stop a monster.  In numbers, there is strength.
I won’t live to see the downfall of Monsanto, but I will live in the knowledge that I did my part, and that’s good enough for me. 

   

2 comments:

  1. Follow the money. It's the same issue in health care. The pharmaceutical industry is not essentially about helping people - it's about fleecing people and making money for a few. If they were really about helping people they would look at ALL the alternatives - not simply producing pills for people to purchase. do't get me started. as you know, I am one of those people you cited who gets too stressed about these things --
    the FDA is as wrapped up in protecting big business as every other part of our government is - they are not, at their core, about serving people. I know I am cynical but that comes from reality.
    I am doing the best I can to do as you said : to educate myself and to make good choices re: food and re: medical care. It's not easy but it's all you can do.

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    1. I think it is very immoral that so many Monsanto personnel are also affiliated with the FDA. There is such a blatant conflict of interest; no wonder Monsanto gets away with murder. Making good choices is the best way to deal with the whole mess.

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