[Wat maak ‘n mens as jy iets reeds ‘n honderd keer gesê het, maar dit nog ‘n keer wil noem, miskien met een of twee addisionele opmerkings? Jy skryf dit in ‘n ander taal. Die ander rede hoekom ek hierdie stuk in Engels geskryf het, is omdat “onkundige lyfeiene” nie so lekker beledigend klink soos “ignorant serf” nie.]

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To make the statement that “Money is important” is the same as to say “It’s cold” when you’re standing stark naked in two feet of snow in subzero temperatures. Saying “It’s cold” in the latter case  is not inaccurate. That, however, is not the point. It is an absurd understatement, like the one regarding money, that disregards the severity of the actual situation.

The final challenge that confronts us in the modern industrialised world is not to earn enough money, but to realise that having money is not – or rather, should not be – the most important objective in the life of a human being. Relationships with other people, community, compassion and creative pursuits are amongst the things that truly give meaning to our lives, and which make our lives worth living.

The importance of money cannot, and should not, be underestimated. But to stop at the realisation of the importance of money would be to only acknowledge half the truth. To remain caught up in the singular pursuit of money, is to be an ignorant former serf, too recently released from his servitude to know any better.

To be an ignorant serf engaged in a daily struggle for survival is one thing, though. To be financially wealthy, or to be merely in a position to afford more noble and/or creative pursuits in terms of both time and money, and to not pursue them, is to be the most pathetic class of serf imaginable. And this applies not only to “other people, you know, those really rich folks up on the hill”. It is equally valid for the average citizen who wastes his or her life away while in actual fact being capable of a life worthy of being called human.

(Sunday evening, November 3rd 2003)

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