Nothing to complain about

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

Has it occurred to you that we live better than royalty did five 500 years ago? Nearly everyone today has heat in the winter, a bathroom and hot and cold running water.  

In the United States, food, clothing and healthcare are available to all. Many have air conditioning in the summer. Transportation is available and in most cases, low cost.  

In my 75 years of life, it is astounding to consider the changes in technology that have made life easier. Go back 100 of 150 years and the changes are even more shocking.

I hesitate to call these matters “improvements,” because I don’t think they have all been improvements.

One of the outcomes of technology changes has been the development of a plethora of idle time. A couple of generations ago, at least as they are measured in my family, it took nearly all the waking hours to keep up with food, shelter, clothing and heat needs.  

Yesterday, I just read about an entity that has a rebellion on its hands because, starting in February, they are going to make everyone come into work five days a week. What punishment!

All of this spare time has caused much mischief due to idleness. People get bored. They abhor doing activities that may be interpreted as work. They get caught up in doing what their neighbor is doing or living as their neighbor is living.  

These activities cost money. I don’t make as much as my neighbor. I am unhappy.

Greed and pride are the largest drivers behind these attitudes. These issues put people on the streets protesting where they then have a likelihood of being hurt.

I have been in many poor countries and have seen people with real, basic needs. The worst place I have ever been was a nice seaside restaurant in Brazil. Everyone was seated, eating a fantastic meal. Many, many children came up behind our chairs, begging for food.  

We were cautioned not to feed them, for if we did, all the children would swarm to us, looking for food. I don’t think I have ever emotionally felt worse in my life.

I help support a school in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. I am amazed how far they can stretch a dollar.   

Our U.S. schools waste lots of money compared to what they can do there.

We need to realize what we have, how financially rich we are, and give thanks to God for our bounty at this time of year. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.