Conflict of Wishes
This world was never meant to be perfect. But, does the imperfections have to mirror the broken state our world is currently in? Is growth directly proportional to the suffering and pain we endured or the obstacles we overcome?
Now, a perfect world is relative. To a cancer patient on his deathbed, a perfect world may the one where his sickness disappears and he's whole again. To a child on the street with nothing to eat, a perfect world may come in a load of bread to cater to his hunger. To everyone going through a problem at a particular time, a perfect world may be an immediate solution to that problem. But when that problem gets solved, will everything be perfect? No more problems?
In the last decade or so, there has been an increasing flurry of Africans heading to Europe and North America. Here, anyone that secures a visa out of the country is celebrated, even if the person is heading to another poor country. The idea is that it can never get worse than being here and whoever leaves already escaped poverty. Are the ones out there really free of all affliction?
Let's gauge the idea of a perfect world once again. Scientists have proved time and again that the world is where it is now due to evolution. Different human species have inhabited the earth and gone extinct because of survival and evolution. There was a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth and it was just one big jungle. Now, humans call the shot while other species follow. Is it reasonable to imagine perfection to come from an imperfect entity?
Hey, I know the idea of a perfect world is a dream we all wish could come true. A better world will be one without poverty or illnesses or racism or classism. It will be one where everyone stands equal and it is still achievable. However, in a world where everything is in supply, will growth still be important? The short answer is yes.
When you listen to stories of people that made it to the top, a lot of it is littered with the pain and suffering they endured to get what they want. They talked about how they stayed hungry for days, trekked long distance to school or did odd jobs just to get by. A perfect world without without hunger or illnesses would've eliminated that. But, how about a scientist who spent decades in the lab to perfect his research? How about a master pianist who practiced till his fingers bleed so as to master a song? These ones are not afflicted by hunger or illnesses. Will they need to gain mastery in a perfect world?
One of the things I learnt in Economics class is that human wants are insatiable. If a human wants a house, once he gets it, he will want a new car. And once he gets a car, he'll probably wants something else, maybe to be the richest in the land. As humans, we always have a gap to fill, a gap that can only be filled by consistent growth and evolution. I've seen people who has what I want yet they declare themselves to be happy. They'd tell you they're bored despite having all the good things of life. The fact is they've achieved most on their way and don't know where else to go. That creates a gap that needed filling. Some even fall into depression because of lack of nothing.
In the end, a perfect world is not sustainable. The world thrives on entropy, chaos, and transformations. Growth is inevitable, either in a world with no lack or the one that breaks the back.
