Sunday, January 24, 2016

Values? Or technology?

My grandchildren can't remember when there wasn't television, cell phones, or video games. It's unimaginable. They wonder how we entertained ourselves. We must have been bored silly.

When I explain that whatever exists at the time is the latest technology I'm not sure they get it. I tell them that fifty years from now we'll look back at technology today as being old-fashioned and maybe laughable. Who knows where technology's going?

Be that as it may, I think the danger of paying homage to technology is that we might become cynical.  And in the process think that old values are also outdated.

For example, has honesty changed in the last two or three hundred years? Compassion? Love? Charity? Trust? Kindness? Maybe the application - but not the values. Not much. Practicing these values teach us how to live in harmony.

Some might think these values are outdated. That technology is what's important. But to me they're as fresh - and more valuable - than the latest gadget we can get online.

We might have a better world if we tried to advance these values with the same energy we expend on technology. Maybe a Silicon Valley type center where major breakthroughs would be those that merged technology and values to make the world a safer and more peaceful place.

A place of harmony and love where we didn't destroy one another in the name of obscure deities - or in the name of simple profit.

I think this will come in time - once we realize that our most important asset is other human beings and their welfare.

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