SERVICE: A burden or an investment?

We love our lies; we live our lies; then we wonder why we have a mess. Thus, our insanity always earns its just rewards.

We substitute cultural and other prejudices for our lost instincts, and it does us nothing but damage. Truth doesn't matter; it's what people believe to be truth that counts. Many people do not want facts and unvarnished truth; they seek only blind faith and a "magic helper" to solve all problems.

Mankind carries the ultimate weapon of mass destruction within himself. Man created a god in his own image and now we worship ourselves. That we invest our idols with powers we lack is proof of our arrogance. Could this be why man remains a mystery to himself? No idea or doctrine gains footing unless it meets, or appears to meet, some fundamental need within an individual or group. Many ideas and doctrines are simply the primary weapons used to fight off reality. Civilized society isn't about indoor plumbing, autos, planes, missiles and electronic games. It's about how people act and interact with others of our own kind.

In the ‘80s, when Ronald Reagan was elected, we stopped investing in ourselves. Public service by government ceased being viewed as a key element in maintaining a civilized society. We now view education, health care, public infrastructure and our environment as a burden and expense, not as an investment in ourselves and our future. Since everything now has a price but no value, we have lost the sublime quality that made America great. The value of a civilized society cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

The fairy tale "The Emperor has no Clothes" is a metaphor for one who is not beguiled by appearance, smoke and mirrors or lipstick and rouge. It takes an uncluttered mind to see truth behind layers of BS and lies. But despite this truth, we love our lies and live our lies because they're so rewarding.

JIM ROWE

Coeur d'Alene

(Mr. Rowe can be contacted at bscutter@frontier.com)