We got it from Star Trek, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or of the one.”
We also got it from public schools, news reports, other TV shows and movies, and just about anywhere else we turned. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”
I had a dream last night. I was sitting alone on one of two park benches pushed together, next to what were the center arm rests. I could see grass behind me, in front was a wide sidewalk that I was using for people watching. A broad multi-lane road was crowded with vehicles just past the sidewalk.
A pleasant looking fellow sat down right next to me. Anticipating a conversational attempt I turned toward him, but he was obviously, purposely, ignoring me. He took a heavy coat he was carrying and shoved it between us Still not looking at me, he pushed harder as a couple of his pleasant looking friends came up and greeted him. He kept pushing with the coat. It was now obvious he had a planned meeting at the benches and he wanted me to leave. It was just me against a growing number of them.
He obviously believed “the needs of my many friends outweigh whatever you alone are doing here, no matter how long you’ve been doing it. We will take what you have”
I started to awaken. Just as you would, I spent several minutes still in a wakening dream imaging proper responses. Swearing at him was a first reaction. Throwing the coat on the ground, or taking it to sit on since it was “offered” were other thoughts. He had declared war, I was ready. I was there first. He had not been polite but rude, and I had a right to keep sitting there.
Then my mind paused. I could fight this battle and have it consume the rest of my day with angry thoughts of self-righteousness. I could also go and explore the beauties of a promised park behind me and let these idiots have their way. I would not be helping the next people to encounter them, but they would have the same choices I had. Instead of ruining my day I could choose to discover beauty not yet known.
An easy choice, it was time to wander off and indulge myself in pleasures. I could thank the Neanderthals, but I doubt they would have understood why I was now excited to leave them.
It’s the same thing you are now experiencing in your homeland. The crowd has decided to move in on your life and push you into a corner. “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” You can fight for your rights. You can disparage unjust laws they are pushing against you to make you surrender to their will. You can swear and rant and argue. You won’t win. Instead, like in my dream scene where I could have spent the day in anger and perhaps in a physical battle, you can mal-spend your whole life in a similar ulcer building war.
Or you can go explore a beautiful world and find a place that fits you. You don’t really want to sit next to a crowded and nosy street when there is a green and beautiful park to visit. Just turn and walk away. You will instantly be forgotten by that greedy pack of hostility, and you may find individuals you can relate to. People that understand the better things in life.
If one person is wrong to steal, threaten, bully, and coerce, how can it become a proper action just by his gathering a few friends or voters to do it with him?
The needs of the one can only be rightly weighed by the one. If he or she finds others willing to support without aggression, so much the better. We each own ourselves. It’s time to leave the aggravating many that wrongly assume numbers and a ballot box are determiners of truth. They are pushing, you can leave to find your own truth. Escape mounting trivialities to enjoy your own definition of beauty.
Consider the needs of the one, or if you have a family, the needs of the few.
Abundant life is waiting.
Bill Freeman