What Is Wrong With Us?

Achmad Ibrahim / AP
A woman rushes for free food during a food distribution sponsored by the United Development Party in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Thursday.







When I pay attention to what is going on in the world around us, it becomes obvious that there is something wrong with the path we humans are taking. The news is dominated by stories of:


war - Divided nation ready to fight to the death

murder - Yonge St. killing described at hearing

environmental devastation - Two greenhouse gases rose sharply in '07

the negative consequences of drug - Spain holds Moroccan drugs baron

and alcohol use - Acquittals in groom's shooting spark outrage

prostitution - Former Prostitute Publishes Internet Escort's Handbook for Aspiring Call Girls

our fixation with consumption - Bush says tax rebates will bolster economy

political cover-ups - Despite E-mails, VA Boss Denies Cover Up

and inequality - U.N. chief calls food price rise a global crisis

It could be that the news media tends to dwell on the negative stories, or it could be that these stories highlight the symptoms that are telling us we need to change our ways. I tend to believe the second option.

So what is the underlying ailment is that is causing these symptoms, and how to we go about healing our world?

I hope to delve into these questions and pose some possible alternatives in some upcoming posts.