The other day I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said "The Power of Pride". I'm sure you've all seen one exactly like it, or maybe even have one. But, like I imagine most of you, I had never really stopped to think about it. But for some reason, it struck me. I pondered it for a while as I walked.
Is it any coincidence that we consider pride a great thing, yet we have a society riddled with problems and faulty societal standards?
Is it any coincidence that, inversely, the ancient cultures, which are highly renowned by our own, devalued pride, even condemned it? Was it not pride that was Odysseus' downfall, as he exclaimed "It was I who blinded you!" to the cyclops while sailing away? Was it not Poseidon, a relative of the cyclops, who punished Odysseus for his pride by sending a storm that took him 10 years off course? We look up to ancient socities, but we seem to disregard all they try to teach us. And why?
In our world, it's not "has society gone wrong?" anymore, it's "why has society gone wrong?" I think pride has something to do with it. I'm not saying we should run around being scared and doubting ourselves, but practicing humility is a lesson that many need to learn.
What do you think has gone wrong with society? Why can't we acheive the greatness that the ancients had? Why are we so violent and why do we never learn?
I think pride has a lot to do with it.
Is it any coincidence that we consider pride a great thing, yet we have a society riddled with problems and faulty societal standards?
Is it any coincidence that, inversely, the ancient cultures, which are highly renowned by our own, devalued pride, even condemned it? Was it not pride that was Odysseus' downfall, as he exclaimed "It was I who blinded you!" to the cyclops while sailing away? Was it not Poseidon, a relative of the cyclops, who punished Odysseus for his pride by sending a storm that took him 10 years off course? We look up to ancient socities, but we seem to disregard all they try to teach us. And why?
In our world, it's not "has society gone wrong?" anymore, it's "why has society gone wrong?" I think pride has something to do with it. I'm not saying we should run around being scared and doubting ourselves, but practicing humility is a lesson that many need to learn.
What do you think has gone wrong with society? Why can't we acheive the greatness that the ancients had? Why are we so violent and why do we never learn?
I think pride has a lot to do with it.