These Hard Times

Driving home past midnight. A little kid, around 5-6 years old by my estimate, knocks at my car window, trying to sell me flowers. A little kid. Past midnight. Trying to sell me flowers. Just my luck, I didn’t have any change to spare. The traffic light turned green, and I slowly drove away.

It was past midnight, and yet the city is still very much alive. There’s still a lot of sidewalk and street vendors around, refusing to call it a day, most probably because they have yet to break even yet. A lot of beggars still roamed the streets, gathering around cars every time the traffic light turned red. I had nothing to give. All I could do was watch them, in these hard times.

I want to make a lot of money. Who doesn’t? During this time when the whole world seems to be in recession, there’s an even greater need for it. But beyond my selfish motives, I want to earn so that I can help. Seeing many children, the disabled, the elderly, still roaming the streets at such ungodly hours breaks my heart. And when I can’t even do anything to help them, that breaks me even more.

When the rich become richer, and the poor become poorer--- that just shows how fucked up our society really is. Those who say that the poor remain poor because they are dumb and lazy are so out of touch with reality. Though some may be contented with the life they have, while some refuse to even lift a finger and just rely upon others for the maintenance of their existence, a lot of these less fortunate individuals exert a great deal of effort, but to no avail--- because society refuses to give them the luck and opportunities to turn those dreams into reality. How many farmers toil the soils for the most part of the year, with the hope that they can eventually sell their crops? And how many of those crops are spoiled, because they are ignored and disregarded? For butchers and fishermen, how much do they make? Most of them barely break even. Such little returns for huge investments has become typical. The things we imagine to give us some reprieve turn out to be disappointments.

One of my friends had something interesting to say the other day. She couldn’t understand how several “movie stars” had the gall to flaunt their fortunes in public, for all the world to see, especially during these times. I agreed with her. Although we have no business with how other people spend their money, a little sensitivity wouldn’t hurt. Would it take too much to keep those things you buy to yourself, instead of flaunting those things in national TV? What makes it even worse is the fact that some of those things are simply a waste of money. Fine, if I had that much cash, I’d probably build a nice house with all the comforts that life could bring. Okay, I guess I could buy a yacht because I love to be in the open seas, that brings me peace. But to buy a bag that costs a small fortune? One small designer bag whose value is enough to feed a few families for years? Maybe buying such expensive things give these people comfort. Maybe they don’t care if what they’re buying is impractical, maybe all they think about is the great feeling they get when they wallow in such extravagance. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to be sensitive to the feelings of others. They say they flaunt their wealth to inspire others to persevere. Really????? I’ve been around poor people during such telecasts, and believe me, that’s not the reaction they are getting. They do not inspire, they only harbor insecurities and disdain. If I bought something like that just to make myself feel good, even when majority of the people around me are barely holding on, I’d choose to keep such purchases to myself. And if I had their money, I would give so much more. Donating to charitable institutions every now and then isn’t enough. If I were them, I’d do it regularly. If I were them, I’d buy from those sidewalk vendors instead of splurging all I have at some posh mall. If I were them, I’d buy everything that those street children and old women are selling just so that they could go home. I’d give some cash and food to beggars, never mind if I may be promoting such lifestyle by encouraging their complacency, because it breaks me when I do nothing. It breaks me when I see people living like that. But hey, I’m not those rich people. That’s just me, that’s just the way I am.

A friend of mine works with a lot of these movie and TV stars, and I suddenly remembered several incidents he told me a few years ago. About how a lot of these actors and actresses are so spoiled, acting like such prima donnas, feeling as if they were royalty and everyone around them are their servants. About how they kept on demanding such useless things, about how they kept on complaining about their work. How hard it is. How tiring it is. How difficult it is. So yeah, they may not be able to sleep for one or two days. So what? The money they earn more than make up for their efforts. Two years ago, I didn’t sleep for 2-5 days, I didn’t eat anything for 1-2 days, and I only get to take baths once a week at times. All for what? To earn a measly amount of money? An amount that could barely support my own self if I was living independently? Still, I had it better than most. Let’s look at those vendors, those farmers, those fishermen… the cleaning lady, those people who sweep the streets, those people who take out the trash, let’s take a look at everyone else. Such huge efforts, such huge sacrifices, yet they earn so little. And these actors complain about the stress that they get?! I’d like to see them complain in front of our minimum wage earners, I’d bet within seconds they are going to get stabbed outright. They are so oblivious to the harsh reality around them. If they weren’t, they’d be more than thankful, and they wouldn’t dare complain. What’s so hard about acting? Is it that hard trying to look good for the camera, is it so difficult to shed a little tear? Yeah, not everyone can act, but is it really that tiring?! Compared to the work that most of our countrymen have to face each day?! So what if they don’t get to sleep sometimes, so what if they don’t get to eat for hours? What they get in return is so disproportionate to the effort they give. If they still feel the need to complain, then they could quit. Easy as that. Only then would they probably realize how great their life was back then. Now don’t give me that shit about how it’s all proportionate because they gave up their privacy. As shown by several individuals, there are ways around that. Sure, they can’t get complete privacy because they have become public figures, but there are ways to limit the information that the public has access to. And c’mon, let’s get real here. You can ask any ordinary person. If they were told they’d earn millions in exchange for their privacy, I’m willing to bet that a lot would bite the bullet with very little forethought, only beginning to deconstruct their hasty decisions after they have begun to experience wallowing in such wealth. It’s a fact that a lot of people want fame and fortune, even more so when they are combined. And let’s not forget that an overwhelming majority of these so called “stars” are there because they wanted to. Because of fame, because of fortune, or whatever. There are only very few of them who are forced to be in the limelight. If this weren’t the case, how would you explain the thousands of individuals lining up for all these different talent searches and reality shows? People are aware that such paths, if they get lucky enough, can lead to such big rewards, it leads to easy money. During these hard times, they prove to be even more attractive. I have to be thankful that I’m still better off than most. I’m thankful that I’m provided with everything that I need. I’m thankful that I can give in to extravagance every now and then. I am thankful that I am aware of the reality around me, that I am directly exposed to the plight of the majority. I am thankful that I don’t feel disconnected, I am thankful that I am able to help somehow, I am thankful that I can still somehow relate.

But then again, that’s just me.