What matters most

The question of what matters most is a difficult one to answer. How does one choose between one's values, family and friends, not to mention the precious things gathered over a lifetime. Some things are more expensive than others. However, in some cases, even the easily available can be deemed precious due to memories associated with it.

But today's post is not about what matters most or rather should matter most. Far from it. I'm afraid I am still searching for an answer. My post, rant if you will, has just one objective: to reflect on what has actually mattered to us in the past - not as individuals, but as a group.

A question that I'm forced to reflect on after I received this text message from a friend:

90 people get swine flu and the whole world wants to wear surgical masks. 20 million people have AIDS and yet, no one is keen to wear a condom.

Before you all jump to question the accuracy of the numbers, let me disown them here and now. I make no claim to the numerical / statistical accuracy of these. I'd rather just focus on these two contrasting images and try to reconcile them.

Or lets take another example: In cricket, the first testicular guard was reportedly used in 1871. The first helmet was used only in 1971, a full hundred years later.

Granted, my viewpoint may be labeled narrow and the number of examples given are far too few. but my submission is that these simply highlight the fact that we value passing on our genes to the next generation as more important than self preservation, even though our genes may be corrupted by viruses and the resulting progeny would be short lived . . .

20/8 EDIT:

. . . Or may be I am simply trying to look for a common thread where none exists.

But at some level, I believe that as a species, our evolutionary objective has always been survival. To survive (as a species) means to just do two things:
1 - eat
2 - mate

In the competitive environment that we live in, where not all of us have access to resources or mates, we are forced to adapt. We do what we can to attract more of both of these. Some work their butts off, others go to school, still others steal. And I blog.

Perhaps then, it is not the precious or priceless artifact, it is not the person and it most certainly is not the money which matters most. It would not even our values (a level above the tangible). The answer is perhaps more basic.

Interesting, no?

PS: I shall keep updating this post as I reflect more. Comments are welcome