Here’s a rarity. Two .plan posts in one day. Conversation will do that to you. On to replying to Barry latest Blog entry on his website:
In my last .plan entry, I supported Barry’s decision to do what he must to achieve inner peace. I did, however, take exception to his views on the working world. To get caught up, take a peak at .plan archives for April 2002. In Barry’s last Blog entry, he rebutted. Here’s what he had to say:
I guess Chris Bellini has given his 2 cents on my comment in april 14ths charade blog. He seemed to have more of a problem with my comments on society at large. I think he felt that I was attacking his way of life. He feels guilty. Living large while ppl die in the streets around the world. Im not saying we all have to be Mother Theresa..but im saying I do. This is not about my problems with the way YOU live chris its to do with my own ideas of whats right and wrong.
Geez. And he almost used my full name. If he would’ve referred to me as “Christopher”…ack. Ok, what seems to have been gentle conversation has escalated. My bad? I dunno. I’m not one to argue, debate or talk much for that matter. I’m a geek. Geeks don’t talk, they just make stuff work. So I’m at an disadvantage but I’ll try. Should I feel that Barry was attacking my way of life? Yes, I should because he was. Does Mother Theresa attack other people’s way of life? I dunno. Anyway, I want to assure everyone that I am not living large. I have a $26,000 loan to pay back (Dena has two American loans to repay with Canadian funds). We live in a modest apartment and just bought our first new car ever in September (2002 Pontiac Sunfire sedan). Technically, we’re financing it since we can’t afford to pay for it in full up-front. Most of our clothes are several years old. We eat a lot of rice (plain) and drink plenty of water. We don’t “party” (and our alcohol tolerances have lowered significantly because of this). I drink domestic beer; no fancy stuff for me. We’ve worked hard for what we have an will continue to do so. We don’t plan on quitting our jobs to be like Mother Theresa, and I don’t think this makes us bad people. Nothing has ever been handed to us. We work hard and do our part as humans. We recycle, give to charity, donate and we don’t use products that were tested on animals. I believe in karma or some variation of it. Hell, I’ll swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid running over a squirrel that’s crossing the road (yes, I’ve done this before…unscathed so far). Do I feel guilty about my way of life? Not at all. Should I? I don’t believe so. Dena and I make an honest living and we share whenever possible.
So do I still support Barry’s decision? Of course. What I think shouldn’t and doesn’t matter anyway. I just don’t like being made out to be a money-hungry millionaire who snubs the less fortunate. Wow, is that notion waaaaay off.
