A nation that had reached the pinnacle of civilization - with its art pushing the boundaries, with the world looking on adoringly, in admiration and also with barely contained jealousy. A nation that attracted the best from across the world. Fed by the inflow of the best, becoming better, bolder. Until they felt uninvincible.
Where did they go wrong? When did high street start having empty blocks of plate glass windows. Windows that look forlorn and touch a part of you that makes you want to look away. To not be reminded of suffering and pain.
When did its children start becoming lazy and indolent? When did they decide that they wanted to strut around dressed in emulation of their heroes - confusing success with the visible signs of it! When did learning stop? When did they start becoming a nation of whiners? When did they start adopting hopelessness as their credo instead of hope?
As I walk around what is arguably the greatest city of our times, I can hear it sighing. The rot is spreading even to the inner city centers. Illussions do not create wealth. Nor does a ponzi scheme. Albania or America- is there really much of a difference? When will the world wake up and return to a work ethic rooted in morality - one that bade you to do your best. Not for the sake of your annual bonus, but for satisfaction. If you did do well, then you would reap the dividends.
When did fund managers the world over start engaging in stock rigging to inflate NAVs to attract hapless investors because their bonuses depended not on long term performance, but on annual assets under management! And when did school kids start dealing in drugs or engage in shop lifting as a matter of course? Can the world really take more of this?
Seeking oblivion in the arms of your sub-culture's cure for world weariness - hair in an artfully careless style, hanging around in cafes and browsing stores to carefully assemble an ensemble that would make you no more noticeable than any one else in the dimly lit confines of a club with pumping, pulsating sound; throwing back shots in between breaks from the dancing...when will you weary of that?
Memories of another time...treading down a path that is barely visible, hopping from foothold to foothold down a steep cliff, sitting down on a rock at the bottom, watching the waves crash down below. Feeling entirely at peace. Cut loose from the moorings of the world. A brief interlude from beach hopping and 2 hour lunches.
Speeding down a straight highway, gliding in and out of traffic with Tiesto playing. The world slips away with each passing mile. I can see, out of the corner of my eyes, her toes perched daintily on the dashboard .
An hour long 6-block detour caused by my lousy map reading, I can feel her fury and her misery in the cold. Tissue out, holding it to her nose for her to blow without taking her hands out of her coat.
Emerging back into this teeming cesspool of humanity. Where I feel envy and hostility are the dominant emotions between people. Unhappy souls. I wonder how anyone can like this city! If my sister likes it, we are definitely different.
ubregeek, the
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