As Deborah made us dinner last night, I read to her from a day-old Daily News. “New York’s Hometown Paper,” it calls itself, full of trash and fluff and so-called human interest stories. Instead of a piece about the high school football hero, you get stories about Derek Jeter, but it’s essentially the same thing. I read a story about how losing weight rejuvenates your sex drive. I only got half way through it before I stopped. “I can’t believe they devoted a half page to this story.” I said.
“What do you expect?” said Deborah. “New York’s hometown paper, remember? Don’t act so surprised.”
“Okay, okay. You’re right.”
I flipped through the pages looking for another story to share, and came upon one about Madonna.
“Ugh. Madonna is such a clown,” I said. “This ought to be good.”
The story was about Madonna’s new found morality, titled: Denouncing Sin? Who is that girl?.
“People are going to go to hell of they don’t turn from their wicked behavior,” it quotes her as saying. Then goes on:
Despite her many homes, the former Material Girl says she has renounced “the material world. The physical world. The world of illusion, that we think is real. We live for it, we’re enslaved by it. And it will ultimately be our undoing.”
Good for you, Madonna, I’m glad you’re finally waking up. Now why don’t you take all of those ill-gained millions and toss ‘em out the window? Renouncing the material world is more than just a quote in the paper, you know. It takes commitment. But you’re a strong woman, I know you can do it.
I’m reminded of the Galstonbury/Live 8 rant from Wreckless Eric’s website. I meant to link it a long time ago, but I never did.
The cause is a worthy one but the intention to ‘Make Poverty History’ is utterly naive. It’s about as realistic a possibility as smashing capitalism. Capitalism is at the root of third world poverty. Poverty is a necessary side effect of capitalism – the accumulation of wealth and the creation of an underclass. Without poverty there can be no wealth.
A leading botanist recently claimed that if every nation on earth lived as well as America and Great Britain it would take three planets to sustain us. So there’s the answer, and try telling this to Chris Martin, Bono, Sting, Madonna and co – let’s Make Wealth History.
–Wreckless Eric
