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(I may have posted something similar some time ago, sorry if it’s a duplicate)
So we hear all the time, mostly in a religious context (shul, religious education, fundraising drives) that situations now are worse than they have ever been. This, however, is an objective lie. With the exception of very specific times (after the 2008 financial crisis, or 9/11) we are overwhelmingly better off now than we have been throughout history, both as diaspora Jews, and as humans. And yet, no one ever points that out.
Why might that be? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? (I happen to think that it’s worse than anything, ever). And if we should change it, what should we do to change it?
No. Make no mistake about it. We live in the Utopia a king long ago could not have dreamed of. Indoor plumbing, phones, lighting. Then the latest gadgets, like the hearing-aid one sticks in his ear to talk to the other side of the globe, hand-held human distractors that can do anything but hold its’ users’ attention focused at current task, and the list goes on. Yes, we have improved our external trappings greatly. No doubt about it. The comfort one lives in today is unparalleled to anything in history.
But.
Are we better people? With all these energy and time savers notwithstanding, do we utilize the vast of extra time and energy to become better people, serve Hashem better? ???? ????? ???? ?????, is for real – in it’s true sense, is it not? That is our day’s machla. So much extra time and energy going down the drain (including posting!) How much of a person’s attention is truly tuned into Hashem, His Torah, character improvement etc. (and I have myself formost in mind – Oh Shreck!) I’m told in the times of old, here in America too, a man would sweat the day away in work, come home to some sort of meal, and devote the rest of the night to learning and avodas Hashem. Do we have that today? (maybe you, certainly not me, if I’m lucky maybe a measly hour)
Yes, I’ve got a long way to go. (cutting down my time wasted here is but one)
From a chassidic sefer about 200 years ago:
“People are always saying that things are not as good today as they were in the past.
They say that in the ‘good old days’ everything was much less expensive than today, even though people did not have as much money as they have now. Even ordinary people, even those who live off charity, spend more today than wealthy people did in the past.
But the truth is the opposite of what people say. God now runs the world better than ever!”
Sichos Haran #307
VM,
You’re not being very specific. In what way do people say, in a religious context, that things are worse than ever?
Your indicate that it’s at least partially a financial issue; I can’t imagine that in a religious context, you’ve often heard that we’re worse off financially tan ever, so I’m not sure what you mean.
We aren’t worse off financially (except those who choose not to work and even they are doing way better than poor people of 75 years ago or more.) Spiritually I think we are doing a lot worse than previous generations. We traded quality for quantity and unfortunately its costing us big time.
Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.
Squeak sums it up perfectly.
WIY: Perhaps we aren’t worse off financially in actual dollars and cents, but if you compare the current standards coupled with the high cost of living (especially in NY) times are very difficult indeed. What makes it hard to compare is that debt is much higher today than it used to be. People (and government) spend what they don’t have so it appears that we have plenty, but it takes an emotional toll, which is more insidious. Mosdos also have to supply more, utility and labor costs constantly rise, so it’s a constant struggle to remain afloat for them as well.
Also, I’d like to heart your opinion in 10-15 years from now when you’ll hopefully have a growing family to support.
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