As  Minimalist I believe that it is our responsibility to monitor what we allow ourselves to be exposed to. What media, what info, even what sights we allow our minds to absorb. Because whether we like it or not, whatever we expose ourselves to is definitely getting in (into our minds).

But that responsibility is an individual responsibility. Aside from adhering to a few basic morale codes the majority agree upon, it is not societies job to dictate what it’s people are exposed to. Or ….. to look at it from the other side, it is not societies responsibility to control how the people of that society express themselves.

In todays society (here in the USA), many forms of entertainment and expression are under attack of censorship. The art of comedy in particular is under attack, and this saddens me. Comedy is one of our oldest, dearest, and in my opinion highest forms of entertainment.

Comedy comes in many forms: Slapstick, Contextual, Clean, Juvenile, Dirty, Discriminating, etc. And all are free to explore. Not everyone likes all kinds, and that’s ok. They can pick and choose which ones they allow themselves (and their children) to be exposed to.

It seems that we have a rather big movement for a culture change that favors eliminating options and filtering down our society to only what “they” deem acceptable. The trouble with this is that not everyone has the same idea of what is and what is not acceptable, even within the movement.  So in the end, such a movement will fold on itself well before it comes to fruition.

In the end this is all about laziness, and lack of taking responsibility.

What we have here is a movement of people who refuse to take on their individual responsibility as individuals and parents , and instead take on a group responsibility together to force society at large to conform to their idea of “utopia”. This way they don’t have to monitor/filter what they and their loved ones are exposed to (“Hey, lets make the village raise our child, so we don’t have to”).

This would have validity if the movement, the group, was large enough to be the vast majority. Then whatever changes they wanted implemented would simply become part of the “basic morale code” I mention above.  But no, as it is now they are just a whiny lazy group that wants the powers to change what can be viewed on their TV screen rather than put in the effort to change the channel or turn off the TV.

Everyone draws the line in the liberty-security balance in a different place. Some prefer “FREEEDOOOM” at the risk of being exposed to things they don’t like. Some are comforted by the feeling of safety, even if it costs them options for them and their children. But what I think the latter people are forgetting is that a persons PRIMARY line of safety/security is themselves:

It is THEIR  responsibility to defend themselves and loved ones when a predator engages them (by the time law enforcement gets there, that damage has already been done).

It is THIER responsibility to monitor what they and their loved ones are exposed to via all media channels.

It is THIER responsibility to monitor the social circles they travel.

 

With that being said, their is no reason why any of the liberties we have today need be taken away as long as we have that first line of security, including freedom of expression.

Where is no reason to limit expression when such expressions can be easily ignored if undesired.

Always, I hear the term “Improvement”.

Home Improvement

Lawn Improvement

Auto Improvement

Life Improvement

 

I always see people working hard to make everything around them bigger or better. The things they own, the people they know, their social status, their wealth.

Seldom do I hear the phrase “Self Improvement”, and even when I do the measurement used to track their progress is always “success” (wealth basically); so in the end it’s always STILL about wealth/status/image/stuff.

We should be focusing on actual “Self Improvement”.  We should be asking ourselves the questions:

“What can I be doing to improve my character?”

“What can I be doing to better serve others?”

“What can I be doing to better serve myself?”

“What can I be cultivating inside of me to get more out of life?”

“What more can I learn to be a more cultured person?”

 

These are the pursuits worth pursuing. This is where the real wealth is that this life has to offer. These are the things you get to take with you wherever you go, even to the next life.

At some point we are all going to die, and we don’t get to take our money, house, lawn, garden, car, or knick knacks with us. The only things that appear in our portfolio that goes with us are the lives we changed, the love we gave, and maybe the knowledge and wisdom we have gained.

Once we have a broader perspective, the urge to “Improve” all these things around us and the illusions we’ve been taught are important, is just absurd.

Star Trek series creator Gene Rodenberry Had a very clear vision about what he thought the future should be. Not just the technological aspects of it, but more importantly, the value system of the future; what motivates people.

Since I was a child, to this very day, I have always been a big fan of Start Trek. I must have watched every episode of Star Trek TNG at least four times. The series mostly dives into exploration, new discoveries, fascinating ideas and concepts, but every now and then we would get a glimpse of the lifestyles of the people both individually and as a whole.

Do you know what that lifestyle is??

Minimalist of course.

You see, in Gene’s future the acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving factor in our lives. We seek only to grow, to learn.

When you think about the long term consequences of the decisions humanity makes, living this way is really the only sustainable way to live. The only fulfilling and harmonious way. I know that, you know that, ……. and Gene sure knew that.

Here is a clip from an episode of Star Trek TNG that puts it all together.