It’s nothing new, but still worthy of a ramble…
In a long discussion with some close friends of mine earlier Wednesday evening, we covered it all. Pubic vs. Private education, racial tension, income inequality, the welfare state and many other topics. Too numerous to list.
In leaving, one topic however, remained ever so pungent it rendered me incapable of escaping its odor; and so exists this little commentary.
History teaches that the great human civilizations, who rose to titanic realms of power and influence, fell not at the hands of their enemies directly, but more-so, at chaos and decay within. Rome; the excellent example. I’m not directly comparing America and Rome, however, in many aspects there are striking similarities. And allow to restate that I am aware this is not a groundbreaking, fresh idea; however, as I dive deeper, we should get further into something a little more original and less cliche.
If you will draw your attention to overly polished marble columns and balustrades encamped by excessively golden-leafed monuments and structures of the Ancient world, you’ll get an idea of where we’re going; excessiveness and materialism.
I would argue that more citizens of this nation can recite the top 5 name brand clothiers or “fashion accessory” companies easily before the could name the first 5 presidents, the last five, or maybe even a total of five. Gucci, Prada, Dolce, Coach and Louie Vitton have replaced, in our daily lives, Washington, Lincoln, Jackson, Eisenhower and Reagan. Obviously this is an arbitrary list; however, it serves the purpose in that I think it illustrates the notion that more people can tell you about Prada than they may be able to about Lincoln. Or ask the general public about the Interstate System. Do you think the name Eisenhower will appear? Maybe.
Then ask them to whom is Katie Holmes currently married. Tom Cruise would be your overwhelming response. And the examples could go on forever…
We as a nation have lost the vigor for success and achievement as it relates to a sense of pride and duty and have replaced it with the notion of success as it relates to material gain and status.
It no longer matters how you came about your new vehicle, but that you have it. Material gain and status SHOULD be by-products of a successful life; however, not the goal of such. I completely agree that having a luxurious lifestyle is a great way to live, but that ought not be the goal.
Everyday you hear stories of so and so who spends so much time at the office, works his fingers to bone, hates his job, and its all okay because he makes “the big bucks.” We all know the story. Money can’t buy happiness. And I promise to steer clear of any more cliches, however, there is a point of gigantic importance in that certain pearl of wisdom; one I won’t need to belabor. So I’m not going to.
We have got to recalibrate our society. We must refocus on the pursuit of happiness, the satisfaction of accomplishment (and yes the trappings that follow), but also, we must not forget that the reason we exist as we do is because our forefathers had the respect for future generations to invest in the cultivation of the greatest society on Earth by working toward common goals, not working to buy a new estate or afford a spiffy suit.
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