Just a few weeks in the past, it was robust to keep away from tales within the information media that glorified Jeff Bezos’s ascent to the richest particular person on earth. After which, only a day later, in a shocking fall from grace, “Bezos dropped to the second richest particular person as Invoice Gates reclaimed the #1 spot!“.
This annoyingly petty play-by-play commentary and glamorization of these with obscene ranges of wealth has been round for ages. Steve Forbes grew his media empire, partly, because of the draw of rank lists of the highest 500 wealthiest people. And who might neglect the jealousy-inducing attract of “Life of the Wealthy and Well-known” (age qualifying) or “MTV Cribs”?
“However don’t wait – you can also be similar to them!”. A whole phase of luxurious items in nearly each shopper market – automobiles, houses, journey, clothes, jewellery, eating places, schooling – is devoted to providing you with the chance to showcase or no less than create the phantasm of wealth.
Would Donald Trump have been elected if thousands and thousands of People weren’t swayed or impressed by his (unverified) self-professed billions?
Who can neglect this photograph? (the toy limousines and joy-less expressions obtained an under-rated quantity of play in comparison with the “working man’s” gold-plated every thing and Barron using a large and awkwardly stiff stuffed lion, in my view)
In an extra show of an unhealthy fascination with wealth, Trump then went on to hand-pick 17 cupboard members that had extra mixed wealth than 100 million People put collectively – over a 3rd of the nation – famously stating,
“In these explicit positions, I simply don’t desire a poor particular person.”
However this isn’t a “bash Trump” editorial. He’s merely a symptom of a a lot larger disturbing development. Typically talking, our nation has an unhealthy obsession with wealth and rich folks. They get extra respect, admiration, and idolization than they honestly deserve. And sadly, this represents a scarcity of character and ethical compass in who we’re.
Obscenely rich folks aren’t dangerous, by default. Just a few of them may very well totally deserve the billions they’ve amassed. However a intelligent or fortunate enterprise concept (more often than not luck performs an enormous function in funds) and the following fairness downpour that sometimes results in obscene wealth as of late shouldn’t – by itself – make anybody an idol, function mannequin, or hero.
I don’t quote the Bible usually, however certainly one of my favourite verses that has caught with me by means of the years is Mathew 19:24:
“It’s simpler for a camel to undergo the attention of a needle, than for a wealthy man to enter into the dominion of God.”
The heroes I imagine in have earned my respect and admiration for what they did – not the wealth they may have amassed.
- Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Cesar Chavez, Nelson Mandela, and different civil rights leaders are heroes as a result of they risked their lives to battle for racial, voting, and financial justice, rights, and freedoms.
- Our nation’s service women and men are heroes as a result of they selflessly threat their lives for our nation.
- Abraham Lincoln, FDR, and John F. Kennedy are heroes as a result of they took daring stances towards injustice and led our nation by means of splintered and threatening occasions.
- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are heroes as a result of they boldly went the place no particular person had gone earlier than.
- Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Jesse Owens are heroes as a result of they used their skills to battle racial discrimination and hatred they usually modified the sport.
- Ghandi, Jesus Christ, the Dali Lama, and Mom Theresa are heroes as a result of they fought tirelessly and risked their lives for peace and humanitarian causes.
And generally heroes have amassed wealth, nevertheless it’s not their wealth that makes them heroes – it’s using that wealth to make the world a greater place:
- Invoice Gates and Warren Buffett are heroes not due to their wealth or enterprise acumen, however as a result of they’ve pledged to provide away no less than 50% of their wealth for philanthropic causes, and have inspired many extra to observe the identical wealth-giving pledge.
- Elon Musk is a hero, not due to his wealth or enterprise acumen, however as a result of as a substitute of sitting on his wealth, he has put it in danger to resolve a few of humankind’s largest challenges like international warming and area exploration.
In truth, after I take into consideration the day by day folks I most admire, there may be usually an inverse correlation between my respect and admiration for the work they do and what they receives a commission. I’ve an immense quantity of respect and admiration for college lecturers, emergency responders, nurses, activists, social employees, and firefighters – all of that are dramatically underpaid for the work they do. My admiration for overpaid hedge fund managers, TV and film stars, company executives, and pop music icons is… lagging (at greatest).
What are the takeaways from this cleaning soap field?