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We have taller buildings but shorter
tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more but have
less; we buy more but enjoy it less; we have bigger houses and smaller
families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees but less
sense; more knowledge but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems;
we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, yet less
wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results. We drink too much;
smoke too much; spend too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get
too angry quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too seldom;
watch TV too much and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we fly in faster
planes to arrive there quicker, to do less and return sooner; we sign more
contracts only to realize fewer profits; we talk too much; love too seldom
and lie too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've
added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon
and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things,
but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;
we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less;
plan more, but accomplish less; we make faster planes, but longer lines; we
learned to rush, but not to wait; we have more weapons, but less peace;
higher incomes, but lower morals; more parties, but less fun; more food, but
less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but
less success. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce
more copies than ever, but have less communication; drive smaller cars that
have bigger problems; build larger factories that produce less. We've become
long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, but short
character; steep in profits, but shallow relationships. These are times of
world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; higher
postage, but slower mail; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are
days of two incomes, but more divorces; these are times of fancier houses,
but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
cartridge living, thow-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies
and pills that do everything from cheer, to prevent, quiet or kill. It is a
time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room.
Indeed, these are the times!
Author: Dr. Bob Moorehead,
former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church
This piece (or modified versions of same) has been
incorrectly attributed to many authors:
Jeff Dickson posted the very similar 'Paradox of Our Time' essay to his
Hacks-R-Us online forum, loosing it upon the Internet. The
essay has since been attributed to comedian George Carlin, an unnamed
Columbine High School student, and that most prolific of scribes, Anonymous.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paradox.asp
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