This was soo well written. I tip my hat as well. We have a saying in Kenya that loosely translates to: No matter how big your bed is, you can only sleep in one spot". Never understood the billionaire mentality instead of being the tide that raises all boats.
Simply Brilliant Article! I doff my hat to you my dear Lady 🤠
The only thing I might add is that I don't necessarily blame the billionaires for how things are. I blame the masses as their greed for wanting to be like those billionaires is the great invisible shackle being used to control them through their own consent
How else can just about a thousand people get away with this evil when they are surrounded by 8 billion people they are exploiting if not by the consent of those 8 billion people?
The current breed of humans deserves to be used in this manner, if not, we would have long since put an end to this debauchery
Humans disgust me I swear. Both billionaires and the poor, they are the same deep down when you strip them to their core
You are right to a degree, particularly in regards to Western populations. They ogle celebrtiy and the wealty like Greek Gods. If we actually looked at the Forbes rich list, could we actually any single one of them who did not get their wealth from some exploitation in some way??
However, I think you have been a tad harsh to a lot of people. In a lot of the world, people are not that concerned about hoarding wealth, they are happy with their lot as long as they are comfortable and can provide for their families. I know I've said it a lot, but it is because I have travelled to these places the most and lived among them, but apart from Muslims in the West, I've never met any who want even to be millionaires. When my more wealthy family members make money, rather than buy fancy cars etc, they give it to whoever needs it. I mentioned in another post I wrote - responding to a comment - that I have fallen on the hardest of times yet not had to earn a penny: my family and community provide for my every need. They wouldn't do this is they had the mentality of greed and wanting to be rich. Rather than liking my company and treating me with love, they would see me as a burden. They never have treated me this way and actually tell me to come visit more so they can give me gifts and feed me! This is the mentality of community, which the neoliberal West has done so well to destroy.
The other thing is, those who do stand up to this depravity have found themselves facing the most breathtakingly brutal and perverse violence. The Palestinians, the Iraqis, the Syrians, the Sudanese, so many in South America and Asia standing against neoliberal buyouts of their natural resources and land for Western neoliberal profit-hoarding etc. These people are actually murdered for their peaceful protests (which is actually arguably the next step in how the West have treated their own peaceful protestors of late, particularly the violence shown to US college students. We are slipping into a worldwide hell-hole far quicker than we thinkg) I don't at all think it is that they want the world to get away with evil; I think they've been the brunt of such evil for so long, been oppressed, tortured, had their families murdered, that many people in these countries feel hopeless and in despair. Despite this, they still try and fight back - we see it everywhere; look at Pakistan, Bangladesh etc
Regarding the West though, you are 100% right. You know when you go to suprmarkets, children's magazines are no longer full of hobbies and comedy. They are about how to become 'influencers' and create a following on YouTube. I'm not joking...the Empire starts them young!
I also noticed a huge difference between the way my family in South America and the Dutch families trat each other. My family in Argentina always helped me, even when I didn't ask, there's no question, if you need help, they are there for you. But the Dutch, oh, no, they are so miser, even with their own children, they will let you be homeless in the street instead of helping you. Because you have to learn your lesson, you, bad boy! The lack of solidarity and emphaty is jaw dropping. If this is the result of years of neo liberal politics, I tremble for my country, of what will become of it with this idiot Millei Trump lover at the helm. I hope he will not destroy its heart.
And that your last paragraph is indeed a scary development for reals. They are actually being blatant in their programming of their young ones now and I hope to God the rest of the world doesn't copy this sickness. It's more than evil especially as it targets young defenseless minds
Yeah, I might have been too harsh on the general populace but right on mark on the Western people as you point out. Seems my rage at them spilled over to the rest 😅
And yeah, people not yet touched by capitalism seem not to be bitten off the same venom as the others in their love for money and materialism , but why is it that invariably, almost all humans exposed to capitalism becomes enamored by it and then models their lives and society by it? (There have been some exceptions like Buddhists et all, Islam and the Native Americans but that has to do with the teachings of their culture being directly opposed to the material mindset)
It makes me wonder why humans natural inclination is to follow down the path of evil without cultural ideologies in place in them that are strongly opposed to the bite of capitalism and evil? (This is a broader philosophical view from what we were talking about but I'd like your thoughts on it if you don't mind?)
It's a really good point and I think it is the destruction of God in the minds of men.
Maybe believing in a Higher, Metaphysical Being and a reward and better life without the struggles on earth, keeps people focussed on the life to come rather than the here and now? This gets rid of materialism.
Neoliberalism's god is money. It is not a promise of a next life, nor metaphysical, but completely confined to the earth
Damn.. I've always said the current crop of modern humans god is money and their goddess is sex. And here you are thinking exactly the same, quite uncanny
To your earlier points, this now leads me to ask why humans always want a reward for being good. Either by some Metaphysical Being in the afterlife or by society in the here and now.. what happened to just being good for it's own sake?
Because being good and nice in the current world has no benefit but leaves you exploited and subject to oppression.
There is not tangible reason to being 'good' for the sake of it.
Also 'good' without objective religion and Gof makes it subjective and at the determination of the individual, who is often directed by the society they are in - and this subjective opinion changes.
For instance, suicide, the killing of the foetus in the womb, euthanasia were all considered bad - they are killing.
However, now all of these things are considered 'good'. It's a massive political shift based on subjectivity alone.
Note I say, objective God. Even when there are religious doctrines, the way people interpret them may still be subjective and so without objective religion, subjectivity can still affect individual believers' actions, though they feel they are following a established rule. (I hope that makes sense!)
And yeah, the societal pressures to conform and tread the easier path of apathy and badness/evil is humongous in this current corrupt world we are living in. Almost like they know they have corrupted their souls to get to whatever position they occupy and so they want every other humans to also corrupt their souls before they are allowed to enjoy "comfort" and peace. It's a self fulfilling prophesy of evil
And then if one wants to speak of an "Objective God" then that would have been the answer but where do we find that Objective God? All religions claim to be the objective God and who is to say which is truly objective or not for on what authority will that person/being stand on? It's a rabbit hole the deeper one digs I feel 😅
So that's why I prefer being a Moralist and being good for it's own sake, especially when it is tough or radical to CHOOSE to be good despite the external pressures one will inevitably come against when one wants to do the right thing in this evil infested world 🌎
There doesn't seem to be any shortage of muiti millionaire Muslim Saudis etc, also acting with impunity, think about what happened to the journalist, murdered in the Saudi embassy. So whilst I share your desire for change, I see no evidence that things would be better in an Islamic society.
They represent 0.0001% billionaires. The comparison of the gulf countries particularly Saudi is a massive overreach and they don't represent even the minority of Muslims, forget about the majority.
I don't personally consider Saudi an Islamic state, not many of the Khaleeji countries. For example, their laws are thoroughly racist and for that alone they can't be Islamic. They are neoliberal states and many of their populations idolise the West. They are the only people I have seen from the Arab world who continue to go to Starbucks and Macdonald's. In fact, on a visit to Jordan, every Starbucks and Macdonald's was empty apart from Saudi tourists.
But you have hit the nail on the head. These Gulf nation states were created by the West (good 'ole Britain!) and so they inherited that mindset. The Gulf countries were enticed by wealth in exchange for the actual de facto control of their oil by Western powers (that's why there are so many US military bases). This has ripped traditional Islamic values and instead replaced it with unabashed and uncontrolled neoliberalism. The projects conceived by Saudi Arabia and the 'development' of the UAE alone show that these are states that believe in a Jannah, but want the Jannah on Earth.
It's interesting actually, because the Qur'an itself has verses for such people - those preferring the material and rather than defending the nation, and making excuses not to join the army because they were too considered with their possessions. You will always find people like this in every community, every religions, evry town, every village. Even in Gaza there were reports of a minority of Palestinians exploiting their own brothers during a genocide and causing food prices to soar. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gazas-police-force-kill-gang-members-accused-stealing-humanitarian-aid?utm_source=chatgpt.com
But just because this happens, doesn't mean these people are a majority or the norm, though I agree, the actions of such destructive minorities do frequently have huge and disproportionate effects on everyone else - whether by act or ommission.
But yes it's the same critique I have for western Muslims. We are stuck in wanting to be rich, like everyone around us. The Gulf states are the same.
But they are an extreme minority. The Muslim world is huge and Gulf Arabs are not the majority, and they certainly don't represent the majority, many of whom are among the poorest on earth. The majority of Muslims are even Arab - Asia is the biggest population of Muslims.
Billionaires and those who have hoarded wealth - much due to the methods I have mentioned - have not done so due to islamic principles just because they call themselves Muslim.
Exactly!!! They are SO narcissistic that they think people genuinely want to be them and have their lives. But this again is largely western propaganda, the American dream PR etc.
I have been to places in the world where people live modestly but can afford their lives and so are happy and content.
I asked one such one young man in the East, at his stall, if he'd like to live in England. 'What for?' he said. 'I live in beauty and I live like a king.' He was young and so happy with his life and loved in such beautiful surroundings. And though he was not rich he considered himself living like a King: because he had it all.
So different to the people in neoliberal countries who are never satisfied and always want more.
A lot of the East may still be dazzled and brainwashed by Western propaganda of a 'superior' life but many, many people are smelling the BS. Young people in Asia who have actually secured visas for themselves to work in the West have decided not to go. In the main, want to marry someone from their home countries because they appreciate the shared values that they find the West doesn't have.
There is no envy from them. They want to be left alone and in peace, but the West keeps interfering in their lives and leaves them in pieces .
This was soo well written. I tip my hat as well. We have a saying in Kenya that loosely translates to: No matter how big your bed is, you can only sleep in one spot". Never understood the billionaire mentality instead of being the tide that raises all boats.
Great piece Aya!
Then, being a billionaire is a disease
Simply Brilliant Article! I doff my hat to you my dear Lady 🤠
The only thing I might add is that I don't necessarily blame the billionaires for how things are. I blame the masses as their greed for wanting to be like those billionaires is the great invisible shackle being used to control them through their own consent
How else can just about a thousand people get away with this evil when they are surrounded by 8 billion people they are exploiting if not by the consent of those 8 billion people?
The current breed of humans deserves to be used in this manner, if not, we would have long since put an end to this debauchery
Humans disgust me I swear. Both billionaires and the poor, they are the same deep down when you strip them to their core
You are right to a degree, particularly in regards to Western populations. They ogle celebrtiy and the wealty like Greek Gods. If we actually looked at the Forbes rich list, could we actually any single one of them who did not get their wealth from some exploitation in some way??
However, I think you have been a tad harsh to a lot of people. In a lot of the world, people are not that concerned about hoarding wealth, they are happy with their lot as long as they are comfortable and can provide for their families. I know I've said it a lot, but it is because I have travelled to these places the most and lived among them, but apart from Muslims in the West, I've never met any who want even to be millionaires. When my more wealthy family members make money, rather than buy fancy cars etc, they give it to whoever needs it. I mentioned in another post I wrote - responding to a comment - that I have fallen on the hardest of times yet not had to earn a penny: my family and community provide for my every need. They wouldn't do this is they had the mentality of greed and wanting to be rich. Rather than liking my company and treating me with love, they would see me as a burden. They never have treated me this way and actually tell me to come visit more so they can give me gifts and feed me! This is the mentality of community, which the neoliberal West has done so well to destroy.
The other thing is, those who do stand up to this depravity have found themselves facing the most breathtakingly brutal and perverse violence. The Palestinians, the Iraqis, the Syrians, the Sudanese, so many in South America and Asia standing against neoliberal buyouts of their natural resources and land for Western neoliberal profit-hoarding etc. These people are actually murdered for their peaceful protests (which is actually arguably the next step in how the West have treated their own peaceful protestors of late, particularly the violence shown to US college students. We are slipping into a worldwide hell-hole far quicker than we thinkg) I don't at all think it is that they want the world to get away with evil; I think they've been the brunt of such evil for so long, been oppressed, tortured, had their families murdered, that many people in these countries feel hopeless and in despair. Despite this, they still try and fight back - we see it everywhere; look at Pakistan, Bangladesh etc
Regarding the West though, you are 100% right. You know when you go to suprmarkets, children's magazines are no longer full of hobbies and comedy. They are about how to become 'influencers' and create a following on YouTube. I'm not joking...the Empire starts them young!
I also noticed a huge difference between the way my family in South America and the Dutch families trat each other. My family in Argentina always helped me, even when I didn't ask, there's no question, if you need help, they are there for you. But the Dutch, oh, no, they are so miser, even with their own children, they will let you be homeless in the street instead of helping you. Because you have to learn your lesson, you, bad boy! The lack of solidarity and emphaty is jaw dropping. If this is the result of years of neo liberal politics, I tremble for my country, of what will become of it with this idiot Millei Trump lover at the helm. I hope he will not destroy its heart.
And that your last paragraph is indeed a scary development for reals. They are actually being blatant in their programming of their young ones now and I hope to God the rest of the world doesn't copy this sickness. It's more than evil especially as it targets young defenseless minds
Yeah, I might have been too harsh on the general populace but right on mark on the Western people as you point out. Seems my rage at them spilled over to the rest 😅
And yeah, people not yet touched by capitalism seem not to be bitten off the same venom as the others in their love for money and materialism , but why is it that invariably, almost all humans exposed to capitalism becomes enamored by it and then models their lives and society by it? (There have been some exceptions like Buddhists et all, Islam and the Native Americans but that has to do with the teachings of their culture being directly opposed to the material mindset)
It makes me wonder why humans natural inclination is to follow down the path of evil without cultural ideologies in place in them that are strongly opposed to the bite of capitalism and evil? (This is a broader philosophical view from what we were talking about but I'd like your thoughts on it if you don't mind?)
It's a really good point and I think it is the destruction of God in the minds of men.
Maybe believing in a Higher, Metaphysical Being and a reward and better life without the struggles on earth, keeps people focussed on the life to come rather than the here and now? This gets rid of materialism.
Neoliberalism's god is money. It is not a promise of a next life, nor metaphysical, but completely confined to the earth
Damn.. I've always said the current crop of modern humans god is money and their goddess is sex. And here you are thinking exactly the same, quite uncanny
To your earlier points, this now leads me to ask why humans always want a reward for being good. Either by some Metaphysical Being in the afterlife or by society in the here and now.. what happened to just being good for it's own sake?
Because being good and nice in the current world has no benefit but leaves you exploited and subject to oppression.
There is not tangible reason to being 'good' for the sake of it.
Also 'good' without objective religion and Gof makes it subjective and at the determination of the individual, who is often directed by the society they are in - and this subjective opinion changes.
For instance, suicide, the killing of the foetus in the womb, euthanasia were all considered bad - they are killing.
However, now all of these things are considered 'good'. It's a massive political shift based on subjectivity alone.
Note I say, objective God. Even when there are religious doctrines, the way people interpret them may still be subjective and so without objective religion, subjectivity can still affect individual believers' actions, though they feel they are following a established rule. (I hope that makes sense!)
It does make sense Aya, very much so 👍🏼
And yeah, the societal pressures to conform and tread the easier path of apathy and badness/evil is humongous in this current corrupt world we are living in. Almost like they know they have corrupted their souls to get to whatever position they occupy and so they want every other humans to also corrupt their souls before they are allowed to enjoy "comfort" and peace. It's a self fulfilling prophesy of evil
And then if one wants to speak of an "Objective God" then that would have been the answer but where do we find that Objective God? All religions claim to be the objective God and who is to say which is truly objective or not for on what authority will that person/being stand on? It's a rabbit hole the deeper one digs I feel 😅
So that's why I prefer being a Moralist and being good for it's own sake, especially when it is tough or radical to CHOOSE to be good despite the external pressures one will inevitably come against when one wants to do the right thing in this evil infested world 🌎
There doesn't seem to be any shortage of muiti millionaire Muslim Saudis etc, also acting with impunity, think about what happened to the journalist, murdered in the Saudi embassy. So whilst I share your desire for change, I see no evidence that things would be better in an Islamic society.
0.5% of the world's millionaires are Muslims
They represent 0.0001% billionaires. The comparison of the gulf countries particularly Saudi is a massive overreach and they don't represent even the minority of Muslims, forget about the majority.
I don't personally consider Saudi an Islamic state, not many of the Khaleeji countries. For example, their laws are thoroughly racist and for that alone they can't be Islamic. They are neoliberal states and many of their populations idolise the West. They are the only people I have seen from the Arab world who continue to go to Starbucks and Macdonald's. In fact, on a visit to Jordan, every Starbucks and Macdonald's was empty apart from Saudi tourists.
But you have hit the nail on the head. These Gulf nation states were created by the West (good 'ole Britain!) and so they inherited that mindset. The Gulf countries were enticed by wealth in exchange for the actual de facto control of their oil by Western powers (that's why there are so many US military bases). This has ripped traditional Islamic values and instead replaced it with unabashed and uncontrolled neoliberalism. The projects conceived by Saudi Arabia and the 'development' of the UAE alone show that these are states that believe in a Jannah, but want the Jannah on Earth.
It's interesting actually, because the Qur'an itself has verses for such people - those preferring the material and rather than defending the nation, and making excuses not to join the army because they were too considered with their possessions. You will always find people like this in every community, every religions, evry town, every village. Even in Gaza there were reports of a minority of Palestinians exploiting their own brothers during a genocide and causing food prices to soar. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gazas-police-force-kill-gang-members-accused-stealing-humanitarian-aid?utm_source=chatgpt.com
But just because this happens, doesn't mean these people are a majority or the norm, though I agree, the actions of such destructive minorities do frequently have huge and disproportionate effects on everyone else - whether by act or ommission.
But yes it's the same critique I have for western Muslims. We are stuck in wanting to be rich, like everyone around us. The Gulf states are the same.
But they are an extreme minority. The Muslim world is huge and Gulf Arabs are not the majority, and they certainly don't represent the majority, many of whom are among the poorest on earth. The majority of Muslims are even Arab - Asia is the biggest population of Muslims.
Billionaires and those who have hoarded wealth - much due to the methods I have mentioned - have not done so due to islamic principles just because they call themselves Muslim.
Exactly!!! They are SO narcissistic that they think people genuinely want to be them and have their lives. But this again is largely western propaganda, the American dream PR etc.
I have been to places in the world where people live modestly but can afford their lives and so are happy and content.
I asked one such one young man in the East, at his stall, if he'd like to live in England. 'What for?' he said. 'I live in beauty and I live like a king.' He was young and so happy with his life and loved in such beautiful surroundings. And though he was not rich he considered himself living like a King: because he had it all.
So different to the people in neoliberal countries who are never satisfied and always want more.
A lot of the East may still be dazzled and brainwashed by Western propaganda of a 'superior' life but many, many people are smelling the BS. Young people in Asia who have actually secured visas for themselves to work in the West have decided not to go. In the main, want to marry someone from their home countries because they appreciate the shared values that they find the West doesn't have.
There is no envy from them. They want to be left alone and in peace, but the West keeps interfering in their lives and leaves them in pieces .