The "greatest discontent" in modern society is so impressive because it is expressed so loudly and by so many people. In fact, everyone today is saying that he is not satisfied. And no one hesitates to tell it. But, when you have listened to them, and have compared what each and every one of them have got to say, you can usually sum it up in these few words; I want something better! I want something more!
Things used to be different. To begin with, before those "greatest social, political, and individual achievements" were made, most of our great grandfathers were not complaining. That was not because they had nothing to complain; it was because they were in no position to complain at all. Peasants did not complain because they labored in the fields that were owned by other people. And they "thanked" these people for allowing them to work there and keeping to themselves part of the crops they reaped. Workers did not complain, for largely the same reason. Both these peasants and workers took it for granted that they were hungry and had little to wear in the winter. And, when they got enough to feed and clothe their children, they were overjoyed. And they called themselves "fortunate," remembering so many of their brothers and sisters who had died of hunger or cold. And they thanked God for the very "life" that so many things (natural disasters, wars, etc. could have taken a-way.
Our ancestors did complain sometimes. Then it was usually when their lives were threatened. And their complaints usually took the form of appeal. They appealed to some powerful person or organ when the unjust police were arresting and torturing them for nothing. When their lives were spared owing to such appealing, they became extremely satisfied and shouted " Long live the King. " They begged mercy from landowners, who were planning to take 80 percent of the crops. When they were allowed to keep 30 percent, they got satisfied, because their children would not die that winter.
Due to the many social and political changes from reformations and revolutions, led by great individuals, things are what they are now. Every so often we remember these, calling them the "greatest social, political, and individual achievements. " But more often we complain. We complain that we should have got larger houses , higher wages, and cheaper energy. We complain that our water from pipes smells somewhat (forgetting that our great grandfathers never had such water to complain about; they fetched water from rivers 2 miles from their homes, taking unclean water for granted). We complain that the air in our cities are "dirty" (never dreaming that our great grandfathers lived next-door to cows and chickens, breathing air mixed up with animal waste materials). Thus we all complain, forgetting or ignorant about what has enabled us to complain so loudly and on such equal terms.
To sum up, when modern people complain, every and each one of us, it is usually a matter of life quality, in sharp contrast to what the matter was when some of our great grandfathers some of the times complained: a matter of life and death. And this great change has resulted from those " greatest social, political, and individual achievements. " What a great progress this contrast represents? The dead alone know!