Spreading The Wealth Around
“Can we all get along?” — Rodney King. — So much of the “news” fed to us by the mainstream media is depressing sensationalism, leading we the public to believe that the end truly is nigh.
“Can we all get along?” — Rodney King
So much of the “news” fed to us by the mainstream media is depressing sensationalism, leading we the public to believe that the end truly is nigh.
Along with the collapse of our economic system has come the deterioration of our society in general.
Or has the erosion of societal mores caused the disintegration of our financial system?
Have we all become too concerned with the acquisition of lucre and the trappings associated with wealth?
We seem to be realigning ourselves into a society which mirrors that of the mythical Ferengi, a race (devotees of “Star Trek” know what I’m talking about) that worships the acquisition of wealth — holding up to veneration those who gather the most stuff.
Held in highest reverence among the Ferengi are those who amass the largest cache of “property” by any means whatsoever, the more deceitful the better.
We know full well that a Ponzi scheme is, at best, illegal while, at worst, likely to lose the entire investment of participants. Yet, many among us cannot stop themselves from tossing the savings accrued over an entire lifetime of work into an abyss of empty promises, only to cry foul, that it was someone else’s fault.
Yeah, the 30-percent return may have seemed like a good investment at the time, but one only has his own greed to blame for believing the ultimate outcome would be, as Martha Stewart says, “a good thing.”
We Americans are not nearly as pragmatic as folks in other countries, possibly because virtually every other nation has been ravaged by war or alien domination of some sort. With an insistence that our own personal agenda be conciliated, we demand total instant self-gratification, and engage in obstreperous bitchification when we don’t get our way.
Even the most staunch supporters of candidate Barack Obama are selfishly — and vociferously — impatient that in a mere nine months’ time President Barack Obama has not been able to reverse or correct all the damage done to our Nation by eight years of rule under the thumb of the Dick Cheney.
The rest of the industrialized world laughs at our collective naïveté and pre-pubescent inability to work together for the greater common good.
We can’t even get folks to agree to give a couple of almighty precious dollars toward making sure healthcare is extended to everyone, or fix roads, or repair bridges, or improve our schools, or assist the elderly…
When Barack Obama, whose background is firmly rooted in a commitment to community service rather than licking the boots of big business, suggested we reach out and help each other, he was roundly disparaged by the moneyed Righties — whose whiny criticisms are bought by the dullards who, despite possessing little themselves, willingly accede to the megarich directing them to march right off the edge of Lemming Cliff.
In Chicago, within Mr. Obama’s community, one small business has turned his call for sharing into active selflessness.
Mondays are traditionally a day off for haircare and makeup artists. Last week, 30 of these hardworking professionals gave up their time and talent to bring some dignity into the lives of those less fortunate.
Free makeovers were the theme of the day at Exotic Trenz Salon, located in the heart of “Obama country” at 2605 West 79th Street.
Offering a loving hand to 100 cancer patients and homeless women, event organizer Sharon Payton said, “We are reaching out to battered women who need uplifting, a confidence boost or extreme lift.”
The daylong event was in tribute to Sharon’s mother, hair stylist and community activist Jacqueline Payton, who had succumbed to breast cancer.
A suburban Mount Prospect company, Perfect Results, donated relaxers and hair care products; packages of hair along with “Sensationnel” wigs came from as far away as New Jersey, courtesy of Hair Zone.
Nicole Rogers, a popular makeup artist, spent the day giving ladies what, in many cases, was and would be their only opportunity at a professional treatment.
One 38-year-old woman said it was the first experience in her life wearing makeup.
Along with stylings that would typically have cost $85, the guests were treated to lunch. Adding to the party atmosphere, each woman left with a bag of goodies.
The President’s concept of “spreading around the wealth” seems like a pretty good idea. In the overall scheme of things, it’s really easy for us to all get along.
Rodney King would be proud.
Shalom.
(Erstwhile Philosopher and former Educator Jerry Tenuto is a veteran who survived, somewhat emotionally intact, seven years in the U.S. Army. Despite a penchant for late-night revelry, he managed to earn BS and MA Degrees in Communications from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. On advice from a therapist, he continues to bang out his weekly “Out Of The Blue” feature in The Lone Star Iconoclast — providing much-needed catharsis. Jerry is also licensed to perform marriage ceremonies in 45 states.)
