My car had a flat tire, and on Sunday I went to replace it. The man behind the desk informed me that my tire was not salvageable. He then proceeded to tell me the cost of the new tire. Without asking if I wanted two tires he simply assumed I did. Apparently, when you replace a tire it helps to buy them in pairs. I guess it helps them wear at the same rate. I told him I only wanted one tire. He obliged me; he didn't pressure me to buy two tires. However, this transaction had my head spinning the whole day. I had one flat tire, and three workable tires. It did not make sense to me to buy two new tires. First, I am not loaded with cash. Second, it seems wasteful to replace a workable tire. Third, there are children starving in Africa. In recent month I have become all too aware of how American culture has made me materialistic. What some Americans call common sense (buying two tires) homeless Africans call murder.
1 comment:
I know exactly what you mean. It's true--we have built a culture on too much of everything!
Jason and I were watching a Jim Gaffigan DVD last night and he was doing his bit about how do you explain what an appetizer is to starving people. "Well that's the food we eat before we eat the food. No, dessert's the food we eat after we eat the food." Kinda the same thing--too much of everything!
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