I am a materialist. I believe in materialism. I advocate for materialism. I practice what I preach. Actually, I don't preach materialism but I live as a materialist. First of all what is a materialist? What is materialism? Merriam Webster dictionary defines materialism in the following:

1 a: a theory that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter b: a doctrine that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress c: a doctrine that economic or social change is materially caused - compare historical materialism

2: a preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual things. www.m-c.com

I am not a materialist in the first sense but in the sense number 2. Actually, even number 2 is a stretch for me. I am more inclined to have more than I need. I have more shoes than I can wear at once. Same goes for briefs, shirts, jackets, socks. I can also say that goes true for a day. I can change all day long and not finishing wearing everything I own. It would just bore me. Then there are my tools. I am not a tool hog like some men, but I have some tools that I've never used. Someday I will use them.

The point is we are more materialistic than we like to think. Actually we are more materialistic than we would like our neighbors to be. In North America, we certainly own more good than our counterparts in South America for instance. Then we realize what a tragedy our lives are because we have no hope of catching to the Gates. Ever. Well maybe if Mr. Gates got some of kind of religion that compelled him to give all away. I wonder if he knows abut the Jains and their religion?

Materialism is what is wrong with the human race. It is what causes climate changes as the manifestation of global warming displays. Materialism that compels us to own the bigger house and a better car. It is what fills the landfills of the world. I know a dump in a small community. Most people in North America have never seen a dump or a landfill as they are now known.

I've been to that dump a few times. Each time it has grown. There are new things in that dump all the time. "New" being relative. Once upon a time all the contents of the dump were raw material. Then they went through a factory and became a new shiny product. Then the consumer, (you) brought it. IT was something to be proud to own. Then over the years it lost it's luster, especially in your eye. Finally, badly broken (or not) it ended in the dump. It was an object of material desire.

It probably had a very useful function. It probably even broke beyond repair. It probably became so obsolete that it would cost more to repair than replace. Material is not so straight forward. You can be a little bit materialistic and never know it.

Learn more about this author, Jobie Weetaluktuk.
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