I recall hearing a talk back in 1999 during a public speaking and debate class that bemoaned the materialism of the modern world. I wish I could recall the speech in its entirety, but unfortunately my memory only retains pieces of the argument. What I do recall are repeated references to Mother Teresa, praising her life of poverty, charity and renouncement of material comforts. Now, we didn't have to give away all our things and live in a one-room shack with nothing but the clothes on our back, the speaker assured us, but we ought to reconsider how much wealth and posessions mean to us.