This Political cartoon is by David Fitzsimmons in the Arizona Daily Star. This brings the question: Where has American’s soul gone?
The soul according to dictionary.com is "the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action
in humans...The emotional part of human nature." Consumption and capitalism in present America is as follows, gain as much as possible through whatever means possible. This man, depicted as a downtrodden Uncle Sam, who is surrounded by garbage and the word ism, is asking where the Capital from Capitalism went. Capitalism, which initially created for the good of the nation, has turned to individualism, in which people are to get the most they can. This shift in what capitalism has become has left the American soul battered and weak. In "Affluenza" by Jodn De Graaf, David Wann, and Thomas Naylor, this description of America is given, "The more Americans fill their lives with things, the more they tell psychiatrists, pastors, friends and family members that they feel 'empty' inside” (pg 74).
American culture has been grown and cultivated by business leaders, marketers, etc to fill all voids, negative, and positive feelings with material things. When you’re feeling sad get that tub of ice cream out, when your happy go out for ice cream, when you’re feeling "empty" fill it with cars. We have been programmed to cope with things by buying more, and this is exactly what corporations want because it means more sales for them. But at what expense does this come? I contend that the expense is our soul. Our soul is weakened by the fact that we try to hide our emotions through material possessions that really cannot satisfy us. Instead of spending time with family and friends, building wholesome relationships, we go buy the latest commodity. Throughout all of "Affluenza" but especially pages 63-71, the authors elaborate on how corporate consumption leads to a dividing effect not only of money in the neighborhoods but also of the occupants of the community. This has caused all Americans not to be citizens that care about their fellow American, but consumers who are in constant competition with all other consumers. And this is where we lose our soul, our "emotional part of human nature," and the bible is quoted on page 74, "What profit would it bring a person,… (Matthew 16:26), were that person to gain the whole world, but lose his soul."
This is exactly what has occurred in present day America. The cut throat nature of Capitalism and modern consumption has led to a nation of consumers who distrust the person next to them. Our emotional part of life is now attributed to a material thing, a certain feeling causes us to craze a certain food, or go out and buy something to "feel better." America has lost a sense of community and togetherness that it possessed less than 100 years ago. Is it possible to get it back? I don’t know if this is possible unless people stopped trying to gain as much as possible no matter the consequence of others, and relive their obligations as a citizen to their fellow citizens. What other changes would have to be done for the American soul to be revived and reinstated instead of "' a spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society, a tumor of the soul'" (pg 74) which it seems to be in now. Many Americans have become like Uncle Sam in the cartoon, feeling empty and lost because of capitalism that focuses on the individual aspect of getting what is yours. This is like a plague that attacks our soul. Is there a way to "save our souls" to get back to a place where the entire point of life is not to gain more but to enjoy life, friends, and family.
We really are living in a material world and need to get back to a more scaled back way of living and rediscover what really matters in life. An example of consumerism in our generation could be evidenced by the long lines of people waiting to buy the iphone 4s. Is it really so necessary for us to have the newest model of something that we wait in line for it like starving people in a bread line? Thomas Walsh 01
ReplyDeleteHi Josh,
ReplyDeleteYour blog was very informative and I agree with many of your points. One of the first quotes to grasp my attention was from Afluenza, "...The more Americans fill their lives with things, the more they tell psychiatrists, pastors, friends and family members that they feel 'empty' inside” (pg 74). This statement is reality for many as I too can admit being guilty of it. I can recall the original route that I would take when I became disappointed or upset over something. I talk to a family member or friend and stress to them “…I need to go to the mall, buy something, and I’ll feel better.” Sometimes I would not even call anyone, instead…just get in the car and drive to the mall. I felt that I could take my mind off of everything if I just purchased something from my favorite store. Many of these purchases were based on impulses and were only a form of temporary happiness. I may have left feeling just a little bit better, but I learned that just having someone “there” would have distracted my impulses and prevented me from wanting to buy. The “good” feeling after buying something wore after quickly and soon the emptiness came back. I felt the need to buy something else, even if it was an iced-coffee. Many people turn to food when they are upset in belief that it will comfort them. I believe that a shopper buying a new outfit feels they fulfill their need of comfort. Alcohol and drug-users are “comforted” in their own way by deciding to purchase their stuff that makes them feel better. Once the “consuming” is over…we find ourselves at square one and still empty. I think it is important to realize when to stop and what we really need to do instead of consuming. It is true what Josh stated, “…our emotional part of life is now attributed to a material thing, a certain feeling causes us to craze a certain food, or go out and buy something to "feel better." I think we need to regain our sense of “community” and togetherness. I do feel that we place a high importance of having the “best things in life” such as fancy cars, big houses, and other items. These items do not make us who are. It is what is on the inside that matters and to simply enjoy life with your family and friends. I feel much has changed over the last few decades and we need to gain back our love and appreciation. In my opinion, it is the “little things that matter most” and that is quality time with friends and family. How often do you knock on your neighbor’s door to talk a walk around the block? Instead many Americans are not looking to spend time with their neighbor, but to compete with them. I think if this continues we will end up unhappy and alone.
Donna
I that you brought up some very good points about how the culture of consumption has diminished our capacity to be fully human. I agree that what separates from the animal kingdom is our conscious sentience. One can argue that the clouding or interference “stuff” causes in our soul or awareness is directly related to the commercial bombardment we are under day in and day out. It is also interesting that the authors of Affluenza chose a sacred text to highlight the fact that our possessions are actually obstacles in terms of realizing “higher” truths. And in a very generic sense those higher truths are our connectedness. We are physically, mentally and spiritually connected to each other, the environment and the soul. In another sacred text, Bhavagad Gita, we are reminded that, “To those who are free from desire and wrath, who are wont to exert themselves, whose thought is controlled and have conquered it-the beatitude of the [Soul] is close at hand.” (Sri Ramanuja Gita Bhasya 5.26) The noteworthy point is we have to first get our thoughts under control. Then we can reign in our desires; act cautiously once we have regained a sense of direction which in the context of your blog is a reconnection with our communal and personal Soul. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI think it would be difficult to try to get back to a lifestyle of simplicity, one in which we concentrate on fulfilling our needs and not our wants. One in which we thinking act on a communal level rather than on a personal or familial level. Too many powerful people make too much money for the system to right itself. We have to first reach what Malcolm Gladwell describes as a tipping point where things will be so out of balance that there would be a dramatic shift in the status quo.
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt the American soul has been lost within the midst of consumption and the technology that is available to people. I agree that it is a constant competition between consumers and this has therefore impacted the mends within community. People are constantly trying to move up in status and are unable to serve community duties. I believe that the country we live in has shifted even more so to the classic style of a “dog eat dog” kind of culture which is sad. The fact that America has turned into such a competitive culture that someone isn’t even willing to help out a fellow American is absolutely where we have lost our soul as a culture. We have lost all sense of community in this country. We have our own automobiles in which we drive alone to work every day instead of jumping on a train with other Americans. All the technology that has been innovated into our culture has stripped the whole culture of its soul and the only way that it can be taken back is if people are willing to make sacrifices, which I can’t see happening with the mindset of our country.
ReplyDeleteRobbie McLarney
Section 01
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSee? This is why I don't like ice-cream.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is a sense of individual gain that is increasingly present. I also agree that there is a lack or trust within our society. We have become so consumed by protecting what we own that we have become suspicious of our neighbors. Does anyone remember a time when we didn't have to lock our doors? Me neither, but my grandmother can recall a time like that. At first consumption was a form of liberation allowing us to work hard and purchase what we want. Now we are so engulfed by this concept that our "things" have taken over our souls. The psychological aspect of consumption is slowly destroying our civilization and giving us the illusion that we are becoming more advanced. In reality, we are becoming more solitary and our concern is only within the tight-knit circles we trust, if that.
Melissa Tampan Section 01
Consumerism has always been in our history. If we have money, we are able to buy food, shelter and supplies that we really need. Before we were all born if you stole a loaf of bread, you were sent to jail and possibly executed. People who did that were hungry and they were punished because they did not have any money. Material possessions are bestsellers because you could be the talk of the town if you owned something so cool. I don’t know what the future holds for us with the economy the way it is and “Occupy Wall Street protests” going on around the world. All I know is that my family is doing our part not to end up jobless.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Rizzo section 80
You ask, "Where has America's soul gone?" and mention that capitalism has been replaced by an individualism that has "left the American battered and weak." If we look at Occupy Wall Street from a consumerist perspective, we might recognize it not so much as an attempt at economic equality, but as a search for Self in a society where people care less about each other and more about their smart phones.
ReplyDelete