My first thought on reading this story was: Chinese toothpaste. The connection lies in competing to get ahead in a world with more competitors and a decreased feeling that we're all playing by any agreed upon rules. Remember the scandal with the Chinese toothpaste (not to mention bad pet food and other products) in the past few months? Some small production facilities had been cranking out toothpaste sweetened with an antifreeze additive, because it was cheaper and considered by some to be "not harmful in small quantities." They shipped it to America, Canada, and probably elsewhere with labels saying it was manufactured in South Africa. People bought it (mostly in discount stores, I believe), used it, got sick, and the investigations began. The ending to that small chapter in human history was the execution of the head of the Chinese Food and Drug Administration.
Much like the Tour scandal, there was much hubbub about tainted products coming from China. How could this happen? Where are the regulatory folks checking on the production of these goods? How could someone knowingly send out products with toxins in them for consumption by other people and their pets?
My take on it is this: I doubt there was anyone in China or elsewhere who was looking to poison people. I doubt anyone in the Tour de France was looking to shame the professional athletic community in the public's view. I clearly see two cases of people trying to get ahead by attempting to take advantage of loopholes in the system. If no one is looking, and I can gain a competitive edge in my profession by bending or breaking some arbitrary rules, why not take a risk? The reward is big - fame, fortune, a few more dollars to take home at the end of every day. Some might say that we have rules to make things more fair and even, but when you look at the news, the world is full of the powerful acting on their own agendas without regard for fairness. We make exploitative trade deals, lay land mines in third party countries, dump cheap commodities in foreign markets, cook the books at our respective Fortune 500 company, etc.
I think it's important to once again acknowledge that there are a lot of us on this green and blue sphere streaked with white that orbits the sun. We're still increasing our numbers all the time, with more of us struggling to get the finite goods, both real and imagined. There are more people waiting to be on professional sports teams, and more people pounding it up the mountain to get that yellow jersey, so you've got to be better to keep your spot. There are other facilities all over the world who will gladly supply cheap toothpaste and dog food if you can't do it at the right price. In this kind of environment, if we don't cut corners to get ahead, it's foolish to think that no one else will. Feeling shocked each time a scandal is discovered is an empty gesture that leaves us in the same place again and again. If we want to change our situation, we need to start our 12 step program as a global village and admit that we have a problem.
Where do we go from here? I have no idea, but I find that can never go too wrong returning to a smaller-scale life. How can I work to feel like I'm competing less with strangers 10,000 miles away? When I'm up in the garden, knee-deep (literally!) in bush beans, I can't imagine selling antifreeze-laced toothpaste to another human being. Maybe it's just the beta carotene going to my head, but as I much on a carrot I've just pulled up and gaze out over brilliant yellow mustard fields, I really don't want the U.S. to dump excess dairy products on other countries (like Jamaica, India, and others) and drive their farmers out of a livelihood. When I'm playing ultimate frisbee with friends, and I'm chasing down the disk like a manic golden retriever, the farthest thing from my mind is taking steroids just to get a slight edge on the others. Frankly, I'd much rather lose and go home happy...
Wherever you are, take one step local this week - meet someone at the coffee shop, buy from the farmer's market and meet the grower, talk with a person who looks lonely, do whatever inspires you to make your world a little...smaller.
ps - gotta get it out there - I just discovered that the dental floss that I love, Crest Glide, that super smooth awesome-feeling stuff, is Teflon coated. So, if you use it, I recommend reconsidering. Dupont says Teflon is safe, but the people living downstream from the factory in Ohio beg to differ. Cancer! I recommend a nice unwaxed, unflavored one. May your gums be pink and firm.
Chris and Jeff ponder floss and how to go local
3 comments:
I really liked this blog. What a shame in so many cases. I really am sad for the Tour since it is/was the perfect competition filled with beautifuly scenery and each person conquering their own limits. I only hope all of us can let go of the need to be number one and recognize the limited time we have on this planet to connect, love, make a difference, and be true to ourselves and each other.
P.S. When are we going to see you next? I'm ready to ride with the master cyclist and toss a few disks after a hike in the woods.
I work in an ultra-competitive field as well -- professional theatre -- and there are so many occasions when I get so frustrated with the cattiness and nonsense that we put up with and to which we contribute, particularly as actors. I was thrilled when I came to Philadelphia to discover that this is a theatre community unlike any other I've ever dealt with -- a place where the idea of community is lived by the people who make it up, where you are much more likely to find support than competition, and the competition that does exist (and of course it does -- we compete for parts, for space, for funding) comes with true sportsmanship and respect for all people. It's been inspiring. But even more inspiring is the fact that I have spent my summer teaching at a lovely little theatre camp for kids ages 8-15 at Delaware Theatre Company in Wilmington. This camp has reaffirmed my faith that the theatre can be a place where people come together to experience the power of the arts. These kids are truly part of an ensemble, and I'm sure that I've learned more from them than they've learned in any of my movement classes.
And I think that really it all comes down to interpersonal connection -- remembering, as you said, Chris, we are on this little blue ball together and that what I do really does affect my neighbor, sometimes my neighbor here in Philly; sometimes my neighbor halfway around the world. By living locally, we have the opportunity to see how we impact each other.
. . .while eating a banana
Post a Comment