Throughout history, humans have striven to enhance their powers, and to accomplish individual and collective distinguished status in society. With the evolution of civilisations, prestige was no longer something that one earned through brute force but was valued on the basis of intellectual capabilities, and class status. It was either inherited or earned through open competition. Money, manner, self-conduct, character and rank have always been the instruments to promote special social existence. Thus Social status can either be achieved or ascribed, yet it matters to people, always have been, and always will. But survival, growth and development of societies have consistently been dependent on the intellect and character of the people rather than money. When I talk of strong character, I mean the pro social thoughts, values and behavior. Development of good habits and virtues, integrity and honour. Dignified Role models and historical heroes, helping one to make choices in life. To co-exist with fellow living beings in a manner that distinguishes, still brings harmony, love and respect from the surroundings.
But with the passage of time, human character deterioration has been witnessed. In the past fifty years the decline has been steep, catering to individualistic excess and ignoring collective necessities has become the pattern. The social and cultural attitude towards the concept of superiority and highly regarded dignitaries has changed drastically. Intellectual elitist were replaced with wealthy nonpareil. Money has always been one of the scales to measure someone’s precedence, but it was only one of them, not the absolute one. Lately it seemed that the enlightenment seeking world got replaced with people suffering from intellectual disability. Greed for resources has taken over the need to evolve as better humans. Trading ethics for worldly possessions has become a norm. Though Pakistan is one of the countries that suffer from impotent character disease the most, USA proved to be no different after electing their current President. The epidemic is worldwide.
The well-off are distinguished from the common folks, and the desire to make sure it’s obvious enough, the money has to be flaunted around through expensive cars, wearing labels outside the clothes, making oneself a walking advertisement for a certain brand, just as to nail down that you can afford it (facebook is a huge help in this regard). Additional holiday homes, possessing forbidden items, extravagant functions and designer accessories are all but status seeking behavior. A famous sociologist and economist Thrstien Veblen, so fittingly stated “wealth or power must be put in evidence for esteem is awarded only on evidence.” In Malaysia Indonesia and China fake braces in teens and Starbucks coffee (not for its taste or quality but for its comparatively higher prices) are the new trending status signal. Mobile phones have been added to the list of items with high perceived status indicators. Such items continue to enjoy high prices because it’s the high value that makes them so desirable. The point of buying certain items is not to see ourselves with them rather for others to see us with them. . If ‘in your face’ display of money wasn’t enough, the trend to have a life, being excruciatingly busy, with unproductive practices has become another mark of supercilious. Nothing subtle is ever enough, to showcase one’s ability to fit in a certain social group, or in other words NOT belonging to the masses.
The ostentatious bling of money and the audacity to flaunt it has a rotting effect on the conscious. Censes might give a number of people but, humans can hardly be found. Holding on to the roots yet growing taller is not a philosophical notion but a very realistic belief on which life should be based on. Future generation should be taught to revive the idea of loving life, exploring it through knowledge, contentment, self-awareness, priding in history, striving for a better future, instead of raising spoilt manner less brats, who start parading extravagance at the age of four.
Cultural heritage and social behavior of the society have a strong impact on the individual development. Family and educational institutes are the primary source that helps building a person’s character, but the education sector too is suffering from extreme commercialization. The institute that were supposed to help students in developing moral thinking, building ideal habits and bring positive social changes in the society, are now falling in the category of status representative items. The power of educational institutes can be gauged by the fact that, Aligarh University produced a generation that changed the course of history of the Sub Continent, through their ideas.
The materialistic society has taken a toll on the mental health of the general public, behavioral problems, lying, stealing, peer pressures, anxiety and depression are common. Tangible enhancement in life makes the economic growth extremely important and is striping away humanity from humans. Jaded and snooty attitudes, lack of ethical and moral values and mindless desire to be regarded as superiors depicts a sad situation. A mentally cultured society is the one, that does not regards a rich person with a big car, a snobbish attitude as someone distinguished but a dignified person with intellect, who performs his obligations to the fullest no matter what economic class he falls in. The petty and frivolous attitude needs to be replaced with `cultivated, well-mannered, ethical and righteous approach. Prestige comes from virtues, it seems now that such a theory belongs in a utopian world, but I hope, wishing for such a world is not a lost cause. Aiming to see possibilities in the shades of grey rather than deciding on 1black or white.
The writer is Opinion-Editorial Head at Daily Times Lahore, tweets@ erum_yawar and can be reached at [email protected]