We are a capitalistic society and, being so, we must live under the influence of all decisions being financially motivated. We were raised with these goals. Here in the States, we have a habit of wealth and an expectation that we deserve a great deal at every turn of our lives. In fact the lust for wealth has curated precious few people with actual money. There are a few who have ALL the wealth, if not in their wallets they are tied closely to the pockets of those who have more than their fair share. Though it is not commonly considered, money is not the only valuable in our lives. Power is the value underneath the money and while power is most commonly viewed as the financial wealth in our society, it is not the only power. In fact we give money power daily when there are many other empowerment exchanges to involve ourselves in. As capitalism teeters on the brink of its own destruction, we are going to have to choose if money or personal values are our north star. If we want both capitalism and integrity, we are going to have to put what little money we do have into the pockets of like minded businesses and policy makers who are unencumbered by sleeping with those who simply can not care. This greed we are witnessing is how capitalism grows impotent and digs its own grave.
With the familiar territory being greed and no obvious consequence for ill gotten gains, devaluing money as empowering would be the smartest way forward. With that concept being so foreign (if not inconceivable), it is not expected that this transition of values is going to be easy.
Albert Einstein stated:
"I am absolutely convinced that no wealth in the world can help humanity forward, even in the hands of the most devoted worker in this cause. The example of great and pure individuals is the only thing that can lead us to noble thoughts and deeds. ... Can anyone imagine Moses, Jesus, or Gandhi armed with the moneybags of Carnegie?"
So, we have this poem/statement from Hafiz. Thank you for listening.
https://pixabay.com/music/world-kolkata-in-the-distance-16558/
Music: How many songs are there about money? I can think of dozens! This one I had set aside awhile back thinking I would use it in one of these posts. I think what I like about it is how wonderfully dreadful it is in the deadpan delivery. Our situation with exchange is becoming obsolete. This is the bottom of the barrel we are experiencing here, folks. The Flying Lizards singing their plea, straight up, for Money. Written by Barrett Strong in the late 1950's it has been covered by many including the Beatles. In this version, not only is there no money, there is no integrity or care about how to get it and the song exudes a kind of exasperation that may people must feel when caught in a construct designed to under sell and render them stupid.
The original post in this series of poems by Hafiz (including an addendum regarding the authenticity of these poems) can be found here. Also, my thoughts on this series a year into these poems, HERE.
The Gift: Poems by Hafiz and translated by Daniel Ladinsky can be purchased here.
My book can be purchased HERE. E-book HERE. The Season Two blogcasts with audio excerpts from my book begin HERE: in Behind The Lines. This reading of the book excerpts in a mixed media format is Season Two of this blog. These recorded excerpts are outside the chronological order in which the book was written. Podcasts with audio only beginning with episode 22 can be found HERE.