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September 24, 2007
And While We're Having This Hop Down Memory Lane...
I glanced at one of the comments from the Salon.com article era, and my response. Most of you wouldn't have read it because it was buried deep in comments, so here it is, if you feel like reading:
Curious asks:
So, what do you plan to do with this supposedly extended lifespan of yours, other than enjoy sexual pleasure? Are you working to make the world better, or is this an exercise in selfish self-control that only the wealthy (and those with time on their hands) can afford? What do you do in your daily life that will make this purported "extra time", if you actually achieve it, worth it? Why, when justifying this choice, do you and your compatriots talk about "having fun" instead of using the time to work at effecting positive changes in the world? Is a 125-year life of pleasure better than a 75-year life of duty and selflessness? Why are no CR people using their time to work in Third World countries, fighting against poverty and disease? I'm genuinely curious of your thoughts on this.
And I answered:
Well, I'm a union organizer. I've dedicated my entire adult life (eleven years) to helping workers get power on the job and improve the standard of living for themselves and their families. I've helped people get health insurance for their same-sex partners, helped nurses get protection from being fired for speaking up for the quality of patient care, and secured decent pensions for workers who spend their entire lives caring for others and then had to retire into poverty. Those are just a few highlights.
I plan to keep doing more of the same. When I first started CR, a large part of my motivation was the belief that to see the change to a country that is more fair, just, and economically equitable, I'd have to live a very long time. Things are improving, but it's a long road. My CR practice helps me work the 80+ hour weeks that I have to work to help workers make the improvements they need on their jobs.
I have spent the last eleven years fighting the capitalist system that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. I plan to keep on doing that, and it's going to take awhile.
Here's what I don't get: why does this commenter, and many other naysayers, including this pundit on salon.com, assume that those of us who are doing CR are doing nothing worthwhile with our lives?
I am not one of those people who sits comfortably in an ivory tower thinking about the problems of our world. I spent my twenties, while my friends were either making tons of money as corporate lawyers or having fun "finding themselves" in all sorts of exotic places, working. Working to help the working class in America get some power and improve their lives. Working day and night, weekdays and weekends, holidays and all, to make sure that health care workers had a voice on their jobs. And I continue to this day. I don't take summer vacations, I don't get to be home for dinner most nights, I don't get weekends off, all because I care more about changing the political economy of this country than I care about leading a "normal" middle class life. So no, I am not leading a life of idleness and vegetable chopping.
Because I do CR, I have more energy, more mental focus, and more general health. That makes me better at my work. I take fewer sick days. I require less health care. I need no medications. I am at very low risk for the diseases that disable and kill most Americans. My footprint on the world is lighter than that of someone who eats all her or she can possibly consume.
But what if I didn't do something particularly selfless or useful? What if, for example, I were a professional poker player? Would you prefer that I eat more and land in the ICU at age 65? That doesn't make any sense. Do those of us who actively choose not to destroy our health have to justify this with good works? Can't it just be enough that we don't choose to overconsume?
The commenter describes CR as a "selfish exercise in self-control." Now why is that? What is selfish about self control? Are we supposed to infer that eating more is less selfish? To me, it seems that eating more than one's body needs is quite selfish indeed, for not only are you consuming food resources, you are also setting yourself to consumer more scarce health care resources a few years down the road.
I refer to the pleasure of sex because I think it's something my readers can relate to. The sublime pleasure of watching a worker's face when she realizes that due to this union contract, for the first time, she will have health insurance for her partner's children, is definitely worth living for. But most of my readers have not experienced the joy of union organizing, and most of my readers have experienced the joy of sex. I pick my analogies based on what I think will be most widely understood. However, I've written about my work enough times that I'm surprised that long term readers don't remember.
The real question should be: why does anyone think that his or her life is so lacking in value that it is worth trading a few years of life and health for a cheeseburger?
I believe that every human being has intrinsic worth. I believe that health care should be for all, and that quality food, not just what the food industry finds it cheap and convenient to market to us, should be available to all. To me, every pre-mature death caused by the diseases of obesity is a tragedy. And every moment wasted in body-hatred and obesity induced disability is a loss to all of humanity, not just to those who suffer most directly. There are many things we can not control, but what we put in our mouths (unless we are in prison or disabled to the point of being dependent on the care of others) is up to us. I believe that people should have access to information that gives them the power to make choices about their health. I know, it's weird.
I believe that every life is worth living. Do you disagree?
Posted by april at September 24, 2007 8:26 PM
Comments
I'd feel utterly ridiculous if I'd surf the internet to scream out at people: "Be selfless! Be selfless! Do something valuable with your time!" It's a bit obvious, isn't it?
Your posts are inspiring and there are some changes in my life I couldn't have done without your blog, because you are so honest. I suspect Curious wouldn't have the courage to critizise you if he had to face you. Probably you really do him a favour by offering a platform for his cowardly accusations.
Marianne
Posted by: Marianne at September 25, 2007 3:01 AM
Methinks the moron who left that comment doth protest too much. Either that or their brain is rotted from lipid peroxidation and/or extended hiatus from gettin' it on. Effecting positive change in the world is useless, and some would say impossible, if one is not having fun doing it. How much good will an angry, hateful teacher do — whilst ostensibly teaching kids to read — compared to a joyful one? One of the most inspiring people I ever met was a middle-aged dishwasher named Gloria who took such honest joy and respite in her job that it still humbles me (these moments are rare, but I thank her for their presence at all).
And finally, for fuck's sake, Curious, lighten up. Remember what Bill Hicks said: The world is like a ride in an amusement park and when you choose to
go on it, you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and around and around and it has thrills and chills and it's very brightly colored and it's very loud. And it's fun — for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they begin to question — is this real? Or is this just
a ride? And other people have remembered, and they come back to us, and they say, 'Hey, don't worry, don't be afraid. Ever. Because ... this is just a ride.'"
Posted by: ashley/allswellinhell at September 25, 2007 12:08 PM
Dear Aprilita,
it really breaks my heart seeing you still not quite over the NTMag and other media horror. Please put all that behind you darling, and don't look back. It's not your problem when people don't get it or get it wrong, it's their problem. When I ran across your blog and sent you negative comments just based on one or two posts, I didn't behave responsibly since I didn't really know what you were about or what I was about. But then I read your blog, got to know you and was so glad that I did. I admire your focus on life, your dedication to your work, to your partner and to CR. You do nothing wrong so you don't need to beat yourself up because of other peoples' ignorance or stupidity or narrow sightedness.
love
zeynep
Posted by: zeynepella at September 25, 2007 3:33 PM
I agree with Zeynep April...don't let the bastards drag you down.
You are honest and you put yourself out there. You have shared some of your most personal moments in your journey and in doing so have inspired and motivated and comforted so many people, myself included. You make yourself vulnerable and of course that's going to attract commentary from small minded people who are too cowardly to do anything but react and criticize. Pay attention to everyone else. Not them.
Posted by: Stepha at September 26, 2007 5:41 AM
Hi April
You should be nominated for a peace price. I like the style of some of your recent posts, where you copy a comment someone left in an earlier post, then address it. It makes for very good reading and then one can see you answering sensibly.
Cheers,
Arturo
Posted by: Arturo at September 26, 2007 9:16 AM