This is my second dairy reflecting on president Barack Obama‘s first year in office. A moment in time to think how far we have come and where we began. Our story ended with Pandora opening the jar and setting loose the evils of the world.
Pandora looked thwarts the heavens and asked Lord Zeus for forgiveness. Enjoying the suffering of mankind lord Zeus said: "You mortals need to understand what it means to be obedient. That your lives mean nothing to me. That you live to serve the Gods. That is you purpose in life. The reason for your existence". Pandora begged Zeus, explaining to him that without mankind no one will be here to pray to the Gods and to bring them offerings. Zeus looked at Pandora and said:"In the jar the last and most dangerous evil is contained. I want you to release Hope into the world. Without it mankind will not be able to battle the other evils". Pandora not wanting to upset Lord Zeus agreed and released Hope into the world.
The Ancient Greeks understood why hope was the greatest of all evils. Zeus knew that Hope was the believe in a certain outcome, a feeling that what is truly desired can be achieved. But when that believe in a certain outcome is not fulfilled, mankind would end up in despair. In Human, All Too Human, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued that "Zeus did not want man to throw his life away, no matter how much the other evils might torment him, but rather to go on letting himself be tormented anew".
In the days of Pandora people needed to explain there every day misfortunes through unseen deities. The story of Pandora’s Jar is but a distant memory in today’s world. But we must ask ourselves have we abandoned the Gods of ancient Greece? These days we may no long call them Zeus, Hera or Prometheus, but AIG, Bank of America and Exxon Mobil. We sacrifice our children for the illusion of security. We sacrifice our dignity for the illusion of safety. We sacrifice our time for the illusion of wealth and prosperity.
In the 2008 presidential race, a dwindling middle class the Pandora’s of the world were offered Hoped to help combat the struggles (evils) in their daily lives. They were offered Change.... To be continued.............