What´s wrong with the world we live in?

The title was what the movie I watched on Saturday promised to explain so we were intrigued and watched it - specially since they promised the answer as well! That was a tall order I thought.


The movie was called "I am" as that was one of the answers to the question the filmmaker made to a lot of people "what´s wrong with the world today?". Basically most of us are the problem, the way we live is not sustainable, we take more than we need, we have a society here in the west based on greed. It is not nice.

Coming from the little safe world of Scandinavia where everybody have it more or less OK and there is not so much poverty it is a bit of a change moving to America where you see the differences much more. It looks like a poor third world country in some areas and then you have extreme riches and massive houses not far away. It is also in a way accepted that this is the way it is, I have noticed that I am starting to get used to seeing only black and latinos taking the bus and walking by the highway while all the white people drive their massive cars to their fenced in gated communities where everything is picture perfect Stepford wifey style houses and gardens.

The movie talks about what motivates us and what makes us happy - a question that I have been thinking a lot about lately - as I now feel pretty much on the top of the Maslows pyramid of needs. I have achieved everything I want in life so far and are able to develop further myself in what I am interested in, studying, languages, travelling while taking care of my little daughter. Despite of this I don´t walk around in exhilarating happiness with bounce in my step everyday. I am even skinny by nature so that would in most women's worlds apparently be the sole way to happiness and no more sorrows whatsoever. Don´t get me wrong, I am not unhappy, I am just at the stage of "happy ever after" and - what now? I am not done, and still have desires and wants.

The guy in the film did the American dream, got successful in the movie industry and earned a lot of money and bought big houses and expensive cars. But still felt there were something missing with the meaning of life. So he set out to find it by asking different scientists, writers and famous people about this.

One main thing the movie states is that we don't become more happy by having more money or things once the basic needs are covered.

Image from web

Have you heard Eddie Vedder? Good one this song:

Eddie Vedder - Society Lyrics www.lyricstime.com/eddie-vedder-society-lyrics... - Oversett denne siden

Oh, it's a mystery to me. We have a greed with which we have agreed. And you think you have to want more than you need. Until you have it all you won't be free ...

Then they talk about in the film that the essential nature of humans is actually both to cooperate and to compete, not only what Darwin is known for mainly "the survival of the fittest" - I think that is very highly focus on that here in America. You have to be the best at what you do. I heard a Norwegian that lived in New York reacted on a mom that shouted to her kid running and playing in the park "don´t be a follower - be a leader!" To a kid that is playing! To a Norwegian that is very weird way of behaving, in Norway we don´t even have grades in school until they are around 13 to avoid having this competitiveness in school.

We have it in our nature that we get elevated and our body reacts with good feelings when we help others and feel compassion, all the strong feelings that can come from a major event like September 11 actually affects electronic equipment that generates numbers automatically! Sounds weird but their point was that we send out signals with our body that affect others around us - I can understand that when it comes to attraction etc at least.

They say in the movie (in a slightly Hippie way) that everything is connected, we affect each other with our actions, our attitudes, and if we want to change the world we of course have to start with ourselves and if many enough do the little things it actually affects the society around us.

"The sea is only drops of water that have come together." 

- Desmond Tutu


This song was also played in the movie - a new favourite:

There ain't no reason things are this way.
Its how they always been and they intend to stay.
I can't explain why we live this way, we do it everyday.

Preachers on the podium speakin' to saints..
Paupers on the sidewalk beggin' for change,
Old ladies laughing from the fire escape, cursing my name.
I got a basket full of lemons and they all taste the same,
A window and a pigeon with a broken wing,
You can spend your whole life workin' for something
Just to have it taken away.
People walk around pushing back their debts,
Wearing pay checks like necklaces and bracelets,
Talking 'bout nothing, not thinking 'bout death,
Every little heartbeat, every little breath.
People walk a tight rope on a razors edge
Carrying their hurt and hatred and weapons.
It could be a bomb or a bullet or a pen
Or a thought or a word or a sentence.

There Ain't no reason things are this way.
It's how they always been and they intend to stay
I don't know why I say the things I say, but I say them anyway.
But love will come set me free
Love will come set me free,I do believe
Love will come set me free, I know it will
Love will come set me free, yes.

Prison walls still standing tall,
Some things never change at all.

Keep on buildin' prisons, gonna fill them all,
Keep on buildin' bombs, gonna drop them all.
The wind blows wild and I may move,
The politicians lie and I am not fooled.
You don't need no reason or a three piece suit to argue the truth.
The air on my skin and the world under my toes,
Slavery stitched into the fabric of my clothes,
Chaos and commotion wherever I go, love I try to follow.

Love will come set me free
Love will come set me free, I do believe
Love will come set me free, I know it will
Love will come set me free, yes.

There ain't no reason things are this way
It's how they always been and they intend to stay
I can't explain why we live this way, we do it everyday.

You Tube video med Brett Dennen


So - the film was thought provoking in a way - we all know this stuff, but it is nice to be reminded, it is a bit cheesy love & peace like, but still OK to watch.

I will try to remind myself that I don´t have to want more than I need, that the way I act matters, even the small things, and that we need to be good to each other and work against what is wrong and towards what is right for everybody - which ultimately will benefit ourselves.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Gandhi 

One final thoguht - if people were not so poor here in America you wouldn´t have to be so afraid of your family and property and wouldn't need so much guns and fences..