SALIGIA, the Latin mnemonic device for the 7 deadly sins: Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth, no longer represents recognized vices, but is now expected from your average, upper-middle class bureaucrat. This congenital defect as a human race is slowly devouring any hope of survival.

Wrath, or extreme anger, has replaced animosity with movements; racism, sexism, and religious intolerance have transformed from the denouncement of hatred to the consummation of exclusivity. We channel our hatred through new avenues based on defending our own ideals through the disparagement of others. By indoctrinating our children with these incantations of hatred we are instructing our youth to fight over themselves and to fight less for everyone as a whole. If we are preoccupied with ourselves, a truly selfless nirvana will never be reached.

Greed, an intense desire, fuels this flame. We are obsessed with more and concerned for less. We fight over scraps to fill our pockets. Success, as currently defined by our society, is filled with lavish houses, fancy cars, and gaudy clothing. Success for one is detriment for others; if we live on the same plane, tipping the scale in our favor makes it more difficult for everyone else. How is having more a selfless pursuit?

Pride, pleasure derived from personal accomplishments, is all we have. A person without pride is but a name without a body. We brag, inflate our egos, and recycle empty conversation.  Pride is the measure of a person’s worth veiled elegantly by status and money. Everyone pretends to be humble when questioned, but a true person’s humbleness speaks for itself.

Lust, a strong sexual desire, is the backbone of selfhood. Sexual prowess and ability to attract the desired sex is a desirable trait. Everyone lusts, and for some, being desired is enough. We abhor anything more. Lust and power are exploitative precursors to manipulation; a god-like ability to coerce and puppeteer others is never in the best interest of the subject.

Envy, the lacking of superiority, stems from greed and pride. Jealousy is only satisfied temporarily when our appetite for more is satisfied. How does wanting what others have express charity?

Gluttony, habitual greed, is the incessant urge for that which we aspire to. We want money…we contest for money. We want power…we demand authority. We are so quick to condemn overweight people for their inability to control their cravings just because it is easily observed. How about the politicians and business owners who seek power by undermining and manipulating a system designed for equality?

There is always an exception to the rule. The one sin that is actively enforced throughout society is sloth. The society we live in demands nothing less than a 40-hour work week. We attempt to elicit sympathy for working 60 hours of work, as if it were an admirable trait. Since when has being a slave for profit been desirous?

The power and message of these Christian tenets are slowly losing their influence. Our perpetual behavior and open disregard for others, more pervasive than ever, demonstrates this fact. We go to extremes to project ourselves as holy, infallible saints. If it’s not expressed verbally, we lie to ourselves every night before we go to sleep. I’ll change tomorrow.

How is war in Israel just? How is the usurpation of Ukraine’s sovereignty fair? Why are celebrities exalted? Why are civilians being killed in their own streets? We must protect those who seek our refuge. We need to do better than this. We can achieve greater. Although we are off track, these are still goals that we must strive to recognize and embody.

We all know what is good and what is bad. We share this common language, and in the back of our heads, we are blessed with the ability to understand what is right, and what is ethical. We must embody a constant, extreme desire for equality; wanting to fairly recognize all people as important. We must take pride in our selflessness; to give and receive gracefully and for one another. We must be intolerant to discrimination and injustice; extend our arms to protect and serve all.