“If capitalism were a handsome man between the ages of 29 and 35, I would marry him on the first date”
We talked about capitalism so many times during SOP 2008. We talked about how capitalism has ruined this world. Capitalism has created poverty, violence, and war. We always blame capitalism as being behind all this. Is it true?
I love capitalism. I can not imagine how I would live without it?
See, without capitalism, we can not see skinny, sexy, white skinned woman walk as a cat on the world stage of fashion. Without capitalism, we won’t be able to see great skyscraper building with high-end technology and modern architectural styles. Without capitalism, we don’t have a boss. Without capitalism, maybe there won’t be any cell phones and you can not buy good clothes. Without capitalism, you can not enjoy
You see, now, how capitalist products are the best in the world? They will give you the ultimate satisfaction. Products are guaranteed 100% made by the most excellent material. When you want fur coats, they will kill one big bear only for you. What you need to know though is your money enough to buy a bear? Today, many people spend their money for bears, whales, and of course elephants. What can man not buy today as long as you have cash? Even now you can buy an island. Right?
Well, I realize with capitalism, I have to use second hand clothes, I don’t know if the clothes are hygienic enough for me or not. Because of capitalism, I have to pay much more for medical insurance. With capitalism, people use to call me fat girl, an elephant; because capitalism makes us think that to become a beautiful girl you must have skinny, white skin and long hair. Because of capitalism, education is not free. Because of capitalism, there is much starvation in the world. With capitalism, the poor become poorer and the rich become richer. Envy leading to violence happens in the whole part of this chaotic world because one giant evil: CAPITALISM.
But you know why I still love capitalism? Capitalism made rich people give aid/help/money/food to poor people. And you know what; the rich people will think that they’ve become a good and honorable person because they already helped the oppressed people. They will think “Ouw! I’ve already done what Gandhi said that Happiness depends on what you can give, not what you can get. I’ve already given to other people; I’m the happiest person in the whole world! Gandhi would have been proud of me!” You see now, with capitalism, we worship Gandhi even more…stupid.
With capitalism you know that knowledge is pain and ignorance is bliss. As humans evolved, what happened to knowledge? Don’t you realize what people are fighting about until now is knowledge? And yet somehow knowledge made life become easier.
But yes, knowledge hurts. When people know, they become smart. When knowledge is implemented as a good thing, the results will be good too. What if people use knowledge to overcome other people? That’s what happens today. Capitalism made knowledge is an exclusive and expensive thing. Only high-class people have a good chance to get good knowledge and what happens to the lower classes? Well, for lower class people, they will think what you don’t know wont hurt you. See. As I said before, ignorance is bliss.
That’s why, with capitalism, people are controlled to love money even more; to worship money as their god. And the lower class only thinks that their poverty is a destiny that comes from God. You know the church has also become capitalist nowadays. They sell bibles to buy airplanes and boats with the reason: “Well, the Good News from God must be delivered to every person in every part of the world”. Silly isn’t it? And people will believe these Christians because they don’t have enough knowledge. I love capitalism even more because I can see how it makes people so greedy and arrogant.
Let’s try to walk in their shoes for a mile. Wow! That must be fun! To have luxury cars, an airplane, a grand house with a golf field and big swimming pool, hundreds of servants to serve, and of course you can go around the world as you like. You can stay in a nice and expensive hotel. You can buy new clothes that are exhibited on catwalks in Paris, Rio, Milan, London, Tokyo, and New York. You can be as easy as you want to be!
How does it feel? Good? No. Better than good. As Marry Poppins said “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!” Or French people will say “Superb..!”
And yet no way, you don’t want to walk in their shoes for a mile. You want to walk in their shoes forever. Right? Of course I’m right. That’s why I love capitalism.
As a capitalist, would you care about war? About conflict? Violence? NO! The point of capitalism is to get as much as you want in any way. If you have to kill to get more money and make people suffer, then do it. We get more money by making war. Why not? Other people will suffer, but not me. I’m still the king of the world, top of the list, number one!
So what’s wrong if I make war? Ouw, but people are getting aware about war because sometimes wars happen for stupid reasons. So what’s next? AHA! Why don’t I use religion as a reason to make war? So I will get more money from war! People become so innocent when religion issues arise. Religion is a good trigger to make war. Let’s make religion-based conflict! I know that Christian and Moslem have been fighting each other for a long time. So what are we waiting for? Make war between them.
Then what happens? It’s not only a conflict between Christian and Moslem but all religions too in Indonesia, India, Palestine, Israel, and all over the world. It is so easy. People use guns and expensive weapons. And sometimes you don’t realize that every morning you pay for the war by eating Kellogg’s cereal. Nice huh? That’s capitalism. Ouw! How I Love Corn Flakes!
It is so easy to make religious conflicts. Burn other religion’s holy book or make a documentary film about Moslem fundamentalist who want to kill every Christian and Jew in the world in order to fulfill the will of God. Just like what happened recently in my country when a Dutch man made a documentary film called “Fitna.” They just want to make conflict between religions. That’s genius, yet so stupid.
People nowadays must realize that no religion teaches their people to do such bad things. But when religion is used for politic power, it gets really tricky. We just can not see whether this conflict/violence/war is caused by religion or politics.
When 9/11 happened, the US reaction was tremendously foolish. Rather than solve the problem, they made war. Enough? No, it’s not enough. They treat Moslem people as terrorists. Not all terrorist are Moslem, but all Moslems are terrorists. This mind set is rooted in their heads. And yet we still see US as a big country with good democracy and who always gives high admiration to human rights etc. For me, the US is just a redneck country, arrogant, and stupid.
Yes, 9/11 has awakened people all over the world from their daydreaming. There’s something wrong with the people, with the structure, and there’s something wrong with the economic and education systems all over the world.
I remember one of the greatest Indonesian poets, Widji Thukul, who was kidnapped by the military in 1998. He said:
“When people leave while the authority gives speeches.
Beware! Maybe people feel hopeless.
When people hide and speak softly when they talk about their problems,
the authority must be aware and learn to listen carefully.
When people become afraid to protest, that means we all are in grave danger.
When people can not criticize the authority, truth is threatened.
If an idea is rejected without consideration, the voice becomes voiceless.
When people are accused of being subversives and disturbing security for criticizing authority.
Then, there’s only one word: FIGHT!”
Yes, people fight but then again they lost the war but the battle is still continuing until today. People struggle with their own way. That makes life even worth living. If there’s no struggle, life would be so meaningless and priceless.
Why do I love capitalism? It’s easy. If you want to destroy something first you have to try to love it. Know it first and then slowly destroy it. That’s what capitalism has done to our civilization. We can make changes. Another world is possible, right?
