I recently was gifted with a book by Michael Wex called; Born to Kvetch.  In order to understand what follows you have to understand enough Yiddish to know what “to Kvetch” means.  In thinking about the introduction and first few illustrative examples of classic kvetching, I decided that what I have been writing all these years in THINKING ALLOWED is simply just kvetching.  I complain a lot about things no one can do anything about.

For example:  I am for world peace and a simple world government for all nations and peoples.  In other words, I am for a Utopia.  This is simply not enough. I am for a specific utopian institution or condition under special circumstances that change as the circumstances change.  In other words, again, I am for an Alternatopia where “perfect” things cannot remain that way for times change and, of course, I complain about that. So, I ask for “Eternatopia” that is satisfactory for the few at the top of the food chain, to change so we, at the bottom, can get some of the good things available at impossible prices for us poor folk.

In other words, whatever we have would not be enough and that is what I write about.  To kvetch is not the question.  Not to kvetch is a cause to look closely at someone who is perfectly satisfied with the world as it is even if he isn’t anywhere near the top.  I suppose that most people are satisfied with their lot in life as if that is what must be and you get used to it and don’t complain (kvetch).  You complain when a kvetcher stirs you up; except that his kvetching becomes annoying and you try to escape the unstopping energy from one who is born to kvetch.

I try my best to find solutions rather than to complain about conditions.  I find it is easier to complain than to advocate some tough love or harsh punishment.  I try to love everybody but you and I know that this is impossible.  Theresa, the nun in the Calcutta slum, was one of a kind.  It was hard for her to get followers and resources to make things better there.  In reports of her writings she showed anger that God did not supply immediate gratification.

I knew as a kid that immediate gratification had to be awaited until someone above me said, now.  As I grew older and could grant gratification of any kind I sort of delayed for waiting grew character – or so I believed.  I still think in opposite terms about wanting something now (and kvetching about it) and supporting delay for hearing constant kvetching can wear you down.

I will probably continue to kvetch about things that I think need change.