The Paradox of our Time - by George Carlin The paradox of our time in
history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider
freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy
more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more
conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more
knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more
medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,
drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too
tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too
much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a
living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the
street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air,
but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We
write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've
learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more
information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short
character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times
of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more
kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more
divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick
trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, overweight
bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the
stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time
when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. |
