Some thoughts on pragmatism and how it is employed in secular and Buddhist contexts.

Dhamma Talk Buddhism and Pragmatism

The Rich are Murderers
by Peter Capofreddi
3-26-2108

Invocation from Pope Gregory I:

"In vain do they think themselves innocent who appropriate to their own use alone those goods which God gave in common; by not giving to others that which they themselves receive, they become homicides and murderers, inasmuch as in keeping for themselves those things which would alleviate the sufferings of the poor, we may say that every day they cause the death of as many persons as they might have fed and did not."




Stop drooling when you see wealth.
Let tears flow instead of saliva.
Start thinking of starving children. 

How can you be so awed
By mansions and jewels 
That you fail to see
The eyes 
Of starving children
Vanity and opulence 
Might have fed
And did not?

In an experiment
At a Stockholm University
Students played roles:
Prisoner and guard.
Prisoners 
Quickly learned
To love guards.

We idolize those 
Who have power
Over us.

They have us captive.
They must be worthy
Of this honor.

Otherwise
We would be compelled
To confess
Tyrants
Rule us
For their benefit
Not ours.

We don't despise captivity.
We love the captor
That's how we make
Captivity bearable.

It's disgusting,
Cowardly and servile.
We love and idolize murderers.

Now I will give you
Some practical advice.

Stop loving your captors!

Stop admiring your owners!

Stop obeying your murderers!

Stop being a sycophant.
Confront the rich 
For their immorality.

Stop being a coward.
Confront the rich
For their selfishness.

Call them out
For the murderers
They are.

I am in earshot
Of the rich
And fail
To call them 
Murderers
Then 
I am a coward
I am a sycophant.

Why do you participate
In the sham 
Where rich tyrants 
Compete
To decide
Which tyrant 
Will administer
Tomorrow's tyranny?

Why do you report
Drooling
Every Monday,
Sycophant,
Eager to obey
To get your handout?

Stop obeying the rich.
The rich are murderers.
They don't deserve your respect.
They don't deserve your obedience.

They show us films 
With happy eyes
And jeweled faces.

They spend billions
Making films
Films that teach us
To be indifferent
To frightened eyes
And sad faces
To eyes
Of starving children
And faces
Of children
The bombs of the rich
Kill daily.

They spend billions
Making films
To glorify
The lives of murderers.

They spend billions
Making films
To glorify
Murder.

Stop idolizing the rich.
The rich are murderers.

Stop watching the films
That teach you to admire
Murderers.

Stop Admiring Murderers

You may imagine the conquest of life by money has left no space unspared. I assure you this is false. There is a part of your mind, soul and spirit that that takes the side of the least and lowest, and refuses to be seduced by the allure of the rich, great and powerful. Keep that part of your soul alive, my brothers and sisters. It is the real you.

Keep The Rebel Soul Alive

Righteous indignation against injustice is noble, courageous, kind, good and right.

Opportunists who accommodate themselves to corruption and try to profit from injustice will jeer at you when they see you fighting for what's right. Don't let them confuse and discourage you.

Opportunists will say, "Aw, life is not fair, poor snowflake." They are trying to make it seem as if your passion for justice is childish, cowardly and selfish. Don't let this confuse you. Your passion for justice is mature, brave and generous. Your passion for justice leads you to critically examine the system in power. Their opportunism leads them to credulously accept whatever powerful people say and ask no questions. Who is the mature one? You combat injustice. They have their heads up the asses of power. Who is the courageous one? You care about the victims of injustice. They care only about themselves. Who is the generous one? Tell them to fuck off. You are better than them.

When you talk about the injustice of the new feudal order, opportunists will say, "You're just envious." Don't let them confuse you. If you want all the poor and oppressed people in the world get a fair deal, that is not envy. Fighting for justice for the poor and oppressed is one of the most generous and courageous acts a human being can undertake. Heroes, prophets and martyrs from Amos to Martin Luther King Jr. set the tradition for you. If the opportunists didn't have their heads so far up the asses of capital, they might have actually read a book, and learned this. Opportunists have such a petty outlook on life, they can't even conceive of an altruistic motive. When they see oppression, opportunists want to be oppressors. They can't even imagine anyone wanting to live in a world without oppression. They are the ones who are full of envy and greed, even as they accuse you of these things. Tell them to fuck off. You are better than them.

Righteous indignation against injustice is noble, courageous, generous, kind, good and right. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Peter Carson

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