I think we all, at least most of us agree that we crave for the good life. Well, I do. And I know quite a number of people who have such cravings and don’t get me into that “How do you know?” argument. Tired of arguments! The only thing seems to be that the definition of the ‘good life’ is subjective.
A couple of weeks back after just mentioning at the rising car prices some guys were telling me about the car market in this city of ours. And it sounded like the climax of a Ludlum thriller. Believe me never did I expect for twenty-plus million birr private cars to be gracing (I’ve to be nice!) the city’s streets. Of course I’ve repeatedly seen those cars but never tried to guess their prices. I don’t know if I told you this incident which I was told as a true story. This filthy rich guy was about to buy a twenty-one million birr car. And he didn’t write bank checks or made any money transfers. What he did, so I was told, was to stash the twenty-one million birr in plastic bags, go to the seller, and claim his newest toy! Have you ever imagined millions could be so unworthy as to be stashed in plastic bags?
Anyways those guys think part of the good life was possessing the multi-million birr cars. Without those ‘toys’ their lives would be unfulfilled! What’s the idea of being an insanely rich guy if you don’t show what you’re made of? That seems to be how those minds work!
Several months back, there was this picture on the social media which really took many of us aback. The world’s richest man Bill Gates was waiting in line at a hamburger outlet! “What are these guys up to now? Do they think we’re that foolish to take that Photoshop created picture for real? There was no foul play and indeed the very person we know as Bill Gates, the richest guy on earth was the one in the photo. That was too much for us back here to swallow. The rich aren’t expected to be seen around the usual places the masses linger about let alone waiting line for a hamburger; Not in our lifetime and especially not in this part of the world.
Here seems to be a unanimous decision saying, “If you’re rich act like one, dude! No need for playacting! Here is where the real story starts around here. By the way someone once toddle me of this rich guy who was one of a kind. In his compound he has three halls prepared for receptions and other festivities. There halls, three colors. Now every time he throws some event all the halls are filled. But it doesn’t mean you just flash your invitation card in to the door and go into the hall you prefer. There are security personnel determined from tying to do so. In fact, if they think you did it deliberately you’re thrown out.
The three halls, dear readers were about class! Invitations are sent to people according to their class! Hey, I’m not talking about King somebody’s era. I’m talking about what is actually happening here and now. The well-heeled meaning the million birr guys go into hall No.1. Of course the color was revealed to me; but just acting like the unsung nice guy I let it go. Those thought to be in the vicinity of what the man of the house thought was in the middle go into the second; and those nearer to what that Fanon guy called ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ go into the last one. Not only are that; the food and drinks provided different from hall to hall. To make it clearer to you, there is no whiskey in hall No. three!
A friend recently makes trips to a house where a loved one has passed away. Not exactly a relative he claims proximity through his wife who is the nice or something of a family member. The whole mourning process takes about ten days. But my friend was not impressed at the lengths of the period but at the drama he was forced to see every night. He says dinner to the hundreds of people was brought from one five star hotel or another. Only whiskey and no beer or soft drink was allowed! I mean you could understand what heartbroken family members feel. But they’ve turned this unfortunate guys passing away into some jamboree or something! I can tell you such scenes are becoming more and more common as somehow the number of the filthy rich who want to show the world what they’re made of do whatever it takes to stay top on the ‘talk of the town’ list.
I’m not sure how justifiable such actions are in these days of severe political, social and economic difficulties. Of course some nicer souls might argue “it’s their money and they can do whatever they wanted with it;” yes; they can. But then the money doesn’t come out of nowhere. Never should we forget that “The Wretched of the Earth’ have put a lot of sweat and blood to carry those people to the places they are. Millions of people have been buying their products for exorbitant prices over the years the final product price decision always lying with the rich business people. And don’t tell us they can do whatever they want to do. No they can’t! There are social norms that should be respected whether rich or poor. Yes, many of the rich feel they can kick dust into the faces of the innocent and get away with it. This is not about rights. This is about the failure certain sections of the system who repeatedly fail to fulfill the responsibility entrusted upon them.
No, no one has the right, earthly or otherwise to kick dust in our faces!
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 29 MAY 2022