. . . .and throw in a six pack, some steaks, and a body bag. 

We Americans have become so spoiled.  We want everything now, easy, and cheap.  Do we give much thought to the consequences of our purchases?  How we dispose of things?  If you are like me, probably not.  Well, some of us seem to be more aware of recycling, and when energy prices skyrocket, we might watch the thermostat or shop for a cheaper gas station.  We do like to save a buck or two, don't we?

Paula Reed had a really terrific post on animals, as food, how they live and die, and their relationship to humans.  Click on her name to read her post.  John Sherck had a great comment which he turned into a post on ideals and principals in relationship to our food and manufactured goods.  Click on his name to read his post.

Bare with me, I'm going to make a big leap here.  If we don't reduce our dependence on foreign oil, aren't we contributing to the deaths of our soldiers in Iraq?  Are we inadvertently funding terrorist organizations who mean us harm?  It's painful to ask these two questions but I heard a comment to this effect on CNN a couple of weeks back.  I was waiting for some sort of public reaction, but there was nothing.  Not a peep.  I think John Sherck is right.  We don't want to know, or we don't want to change our selfish lifestyles.  I also heard for the first time in more than 50 years (it might have been more, I don't know, and I don't know where I heard this) China has surpassed the United States as the largest consumer of natural resources because of the industrial revolution they are now experiencing. 

Lets look a little closer at what we don't want to face.  We get almost 25% of our foreign imported oil from the Persian Gulf Nations.  Check out this nifty chart from where we import our oil.  Now look at the map of the Sunni and Shiite religions and which countries they are concentrated in.

The comment I heard on CNN was about the funding of the different factions fighting in Iraq.  Much of the funding isn't directly from the governments of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, etc.  It is from the people of those countries who are giving varying amounts to the Sunni or Shia fighters that they want to see "win".  Like betting on your favorite team.

Let's say Abdul operates a lunch truck and caters to the men working in the oil fields of Saudi Arabia (or Iran).  He's making a mint selling tabbouleh and felafel's to the workers.  Then he sends a hundred bucks(convert to rial or riyal) to cousin Mohammad in Iraq.  Cousin Mohammad needs a new gun, some ammo, and a rocket launcher to fight the puppet government and those pesky occupying Americans (Mohammad's version of reality).  He kills several American soldiers with his new rocket launcher that he was able to purchase using the money cousin Abdul made from the oil workers who were paid with money from the sale of oil to the American oil company who was able to buy and had to supply the oil because I (and several hundred million others) purchased a tank full of gas. 

I am purchasing these tank fulls of gas to run me to the grocery store, work, movies, restaurants, sight seeing, or just to drive around to kill some time, simply because I CAN.

I'm living in my insulated world doing what I always do without giving a thought or a care about how my lifestyle is contributing to the life or death of my co-worker's soldier son.  Or, the death of the planet.  Or, my expanding waistline.  

So while I call for our soldiers to be brought home from Iraq to save them from being killed, I think I'll try to be a little more aware of how I'm funding their and my demise.  I'll cut down on unnecessary trips.  I'll consider a hybrid car.  I'll turn my nose up at the next McMansion.  I'll shop locally.  I'll walk more.  I'll start backing my mouth with my money.

Fill 'er up anyone?

tags: principles  ideals  war  conservation  money  iraq  america  selfish  

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