The Art of Forgetting

We seem to be have difficulties with our memories, both personal and historical, these days. This malady goes across borders. No matter if it is in North America or Hong Kong/China. It is too easy to do, forgetting. If we can forget what we have just done or we, collectively, were doing in recent memories, we can then easily look down upon and laugh at others who are doing those same things. We, in North America, like to show our concern for the world by expressing great anger over the fast increasing pollution problem in countries like China and India. We conveniently forget that they are just following our examples. Here in the West Coast, for example, the once overabundant salmon rivers were dammed into extinction. And in the East, the largest collection of fresh water on earth was polluted into grounds for toxic fishes and burning rivers. The only reason that the environment improved a little here is because the polluting industries failed and that slowed the pollution. As these industries failed, the production as well as the pollution was exported to countries like China and India. The products are then shipped to feed our consumption. We as buyers demand ever lower prices and in turn the producers overseas are pressed to lower production costs. If we remember all these, we cannot feel superior or even righteous since we are really the true cause of the pollutions overseas. We can feel honestly better about ourselves when we show the countries who are following our footsteps and feeding our desires that not only our past examples are bad but a better and more prosperous alternative is possible. But then, we may have to pay more to feed our consuming addictions and sell less oil. Well, it is always easier to forget than to actually do something that may require short term sacrifices. So, maybe we are not really forgetting but choosing to act forgetful. If that is what we are doing, I, for one, am ashamed.