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Dec. 12, 2009 Going to extremes in behavior has ruined the lives of countles people , or at least caused much grief . If more people avoided this kind of destructive life it could make the world a much better and happier place . That's because they have failed to live a life of moderation ; they either do too much of something or too little . As an old saying goes , "Always try to find a happy medium ". Many great philosophers and religious teachers have counseled living a life of moderation , in ancient Greece and Asia for example , such as the Buddha , Lao Tzu and Greek philosophers . To take an obvious example , many people with eating disorders have failed to use moderation , and terribly destructive lifestyles involving Bulimia and Anorexia result from this , ranging from gross overeating to near starvation . But if you eat a sensible , moderate diet , not overeating or eating too little , you can enjoy good food and don't have to worry about occaisionally eating sweets and other tasty things , because these won't harm you . There's no need to worry about dieting if you eat moderately . It's the same with drinking alcohol ; in moderation it won't hurt you at all , but if you overdo it , it can lead to a life of alcoholism . Just think how much money could be saved in medical costs to the government if more people lived a life of moderation ; it would be billions of dollars . You can do virtually anything to excess , and that is not good for you . Religious fanatics are individuals who have gone to extremes in their religious beliefs , and want to impose their dogma and social agenda on others at all costs , even to the extent of flying jet planes into the World Trade Center , or shooting doctors who perform abortions . So it's not religion per se that's a bad thing , but extremism and intolerance . Some atheists have also gone in the opposite direction and tried to interfere with the religious observances of others , and that is not right either . If all the followers of different religions would just live and let live , and all countries allowed religious freedom , religion would not be a problem . Nor would officially atheist communist governments have persecuted so many people for their religious beliefs .
What those ancient sages of Asia said is as true today as it was ages ago .
A former free lance French hornist who has performed with numerous orchestras, opera companies, concert bands and chamber music ensembles. Also a former substitute music teacher at varous public schools. Has served as music critic for student newspapers at Queens college and Hofstra university and currently involved in music appreciation programs for people with diabilities and the elderly and infirm. Has performed in Italwy, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa.
Classical music blog The Horn, at blogiversity.org. Discusses all aspects of classical music, orchestral, operatic, chamber music etc, music history, theory, current events, composers, conductors, instrumentalists, singers etc, and much more.
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