Other addictions of the more despicable kind
Whenever we talk of addictions nowadays, we often limit our perspectives about it. We tend to minimize our understanding of its meaning and causes, its consequences and impact. We only limit them to drug addiction, alcohol addiction, tobacco addiction, or substance abuse. The government’s relentless war against this malady has become too bloody and controversial. And as a consequence, what should have been appreciated by the citizens as a very positive agenda for national cleansing, instead of welcoming a developmental intervention over a social cancer that is destroying the whole country the anti-drug crusade has become an international human rights issue. But drug addiction is not really what should worry the nation and not what our national leaders should have sleepless nights about.
Our national leaders should look at other addictions that are more damaging to our people. First is the addiction to technology that makes our life on earth less safe, less humane, and less peaceful. Instead of technology being an instrument to enhance the peoples’ quality of life, it has become the cause of the people being estranged and detached from each other. A glaring example is how communication gadgets are tearing family members apart instead of bringing them closer. Parents and children now have less and less time for personal interaction. They only send messages via Facebook, Twitter, Viber, and all other social media. Family members do not talk face-to-face anymore because they can always use the cellphone or send an e-mail. The quality of personal engagement and interactions and the frequency of person-to-person communication are becoming negligible if not nil.
There is also an addiction to instant gratification. It started with instant coffee, instant noodles, instant this and instant that. People do not want to wait anymore. They are always rushing and running. That is why some people are ready to kill each other due to road rage. They have lost their patience and the capacity to wait. Everyone wants to reach their destination ahead of all others. It seems that each day, people are running a race, a hundred-meter dash or a marathon in speed and expediency. People are offering to pay so as not to line up and respect others who are ahead. This is an addiction to perform fast and to deliver ahead of all others. This is an addiction to be recognized as better or best compared to others, an addiction to excel.
There are many addictions driven by greed or avarice, the addiction to wealth material possessions, and power and prestige. The addiction to wealth has led many to corruption and shady transactions, the addiction to money has sent some high-profile public officials to jail. But I want to zero in on a certain addiction, and that is on sex, mostly illicit and perverted sex. If I may say so, heterosexual, homosexual, or whatever kind. The young and the restless often maximize their drive for instant pleasures and gratifications through the illicit, unnatural, and insatiable use of the flesh. This often leads to HIV, AIDS, and other sexually-transmitted diseases. It also ends in adultery, concubinage and all sorts of infidelity and licentiousness that causes the shattering of marriages and the breaking up of families.
More than drugs, alcohol or tobacco, the most destructive addictions that are wrecking the nation are selfishness, greed, avarice, lust, and hedonism.
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