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Vice
or Virtue?
When
it comes to the evolution of morality, we have to keep watch what
direction things are ehading. Our moral outlook changes over time. Dancing
was once considered the work of the devil. The same with women wearing
make-up. In a few generations, or even a few short years, a long recognized
"vice" can be looked upon as a "virtue"—and vice
versa.
In recent years greed has
been publically embraced as a virtue by some of our finest economic sages,
who tutor those interested on its benefits.
Not true? Read the books—or even just
their titles! Listen to successful people brag about their strategies,
and how their number one concern is profit and winning. Discover what
business leaders are looking for in the managers they hire, what personal
traits they find important. Check out some of our media-proclaimed heroes.
The bottom-line has become a catchphrase goal that glorifies profit above
all else—and we grudgingly accept that as a truism. Maximizing profits
is the main reason for outsourcing jobs to foreign countries and hiring
illegal immigrants.
The transformation was hardly subtle, although
surreptitiously promoted by carefully avoiding the use of the word "greed,"
which still harbors negative connotations (mostly thanks to perreniel
presentations of Ebenezer Scrooge). All the other components are intact,
such as realigning our priorities so that profit becomes the sole determiner.
Don't forget the "cleverness" of back-stabbing competition.
The systematic dulling of human compassion. Turning our backs on our neighbors'
suffering.
And then there are those pedestaled-anomalies
who have become models for us all: people so wealthy they have no need
for further profit, but hungrily grab what they can anyway, hoarding riches
just for the pleasure of hoarding them.
President Kennedy, in his inaugural
address, gave us this now familiar refrain: "Ask not what your country
can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Nice patriotic
sentiment. We haven't heard its like in many years. Our latest bottom-line
denies its patriotic spirit: "Ask not what you can do for others;
just take what you can by any means possible."
Greed has become so acceptable that many
of us openly and proudly proclaim it, while still avoiding the word itself.
What do our religious and philosophical
roots tell us?
While most do not begrudge and even encourage
honest labor and meaningful profit, they are leary of wealth and the moral
trappings that come along with it.
Jesus
attacked wealth in no uncertain terms, saying such things as a camel has
more chance passing through the eye of a needle than a rich person entering
the kingdom of heaven. He called the poor blessed, not the rich, and drove
greedy money-changers from the temple. The recent trend of some Christian
leaders to ignore this teaching for their own profit makes their conservative
leanings somewhat suspect.
We do not have to believe in Jesus to see,
quite plainly, that the selfishness that accompanies greed deters or even
negates our concern for other people, for the community, for the world.
It influences politicians to work against the betterment of the people
they represent. First you have causes and corporations greedily demanding
whatever, followed by politicians eager to take their money and advocate
for their cause. Regular citizens just can't compete. In fact, much of
the money they get for their re-elections goes to negative advertiing
that turns people away in digust.
Seeds For Thought does not encourage
greed, no matter what your
political affiliation. We recognize compassion, love of neighbor, respect
for the world, hope for the future, and a strong desire for peace. We
ask for you to use your words and influences to plant seeds among the
people that you know. Embrace good causes. Make a difference.
Most of all, we want you to
think for yourself. Don't be afraid to judge the values that bombard us
everywhere we turn, and lead us to undercut our own morality.
In my opinion, greed is a top priority.
