Slavery to Money
The cause of all suffering is desire – The Buddha
Devotion to acquiring fantastic ends without the development of corresponding means of arrival at same has been the undoing of many a person. Like the Osirian ritual, this drama unfolds around the globe eternally. Same story, different faces:
- Desire to obtain something immediately.
- Inability to get it NOW.
- Perception that society owes something to the desire-laden.
- Reckless determination to pursue the object outside of societal bounds.
- Death of innocent people trying to live by society’s rules.
The righteous man would stop this train and say enough but the untrained one living for the id doesn’t grasp the saliency, which like Edgar Allan Poe’s purloined letter, is right before his eyes. Where’s Booker T. Washingon to lift the veil of ignorance when you need him?
Slaves to Money
In relationship to the previous post, two individuals have been arrested for not only heeding the siren songs of fast money (there’s no such thing) and ill-gotten gain (which doesn’t stay around long) but moreso for acting maliciously against society by committing murder (a forever condition) in a foiled attempt to cover their tracks.
Yes, lurking behind these disgusting heroics was the eternal love of money, a dream which again has unfolded to nightmare proportions for these two who saw a “better way” in Wagarville. Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads about a big pot of gold at Harris Cash Grocery. Well, they may’ve made away with a couple of hundred dollars at most. One unimaginative fellow allegedly tried to buy a Greyhound ticket to get away. Mama can’t help these posterboys of arrested development now nor should she even bother trying except to pray for their souls.
Armchair Quarterbacking
I’m going to wager that these individuals loved easy money so much because of too many BET videos, too many Philly blunts, and too few of these things:
- Marketable skillsets that would’ve attracted real paychecks instead of unreal paybacks.
- Associations with people who work (sometimes, they know people who hire).
- Memberships in church, hunting clubs and/or fight clubs to channel their aggressive impulsives.
Granted, the county of my origin does not provide ample opportunity for self-improvement for the masses relative to the rest of the state but guess what? Many of us for generations untold have chosen to pack our bags and leave. We find a niche in the world for ourselves and although the task of living isn’t easy in this day and age, establish homes and enjoy this transient thing called life without harming others.
Prayers for the Righteous
Lest I sound haughty and disconnected like those fleeing their roots by sole virtue of their pricey educations, I’d like to share that I have suffered fatherlessness, job loss and other current lamentations. However, being clothed in my right mind, I’ve retained the values taught to me by folks long gone on Fields Road, a dirt road in Lower Alabama. These American values didn’t stop with us, they are still shared by people too numerous to name from hill and vale to ward and borough. We are the citizens of a great nation who’ve decided that since we value freedom, do not, could not and will not allow ourselves to… become slaves to money this Christmas.
