3 minute read
There are Gangs & There are GanGs I
was thinking about culture, and I pondered why is it that Americans really like the ‘bad boy’ stories. Why are we fascinated with the “Godfather,” movies? And why do we empathize with the lead character? Do we root for the underdog just because? Well, I think not. I think that the Godfather whether it was Marlon Brando, or Robert DeNiro or Al Pacino, the character represented several things that Americans revel in. First of all, he was a self-made man who started out with the odds against him. He observed the world around him and made choices in a world that did not show him much compassion. He chose to win which included providing for his family first. Second he created a business to insure that, which was built upon family principals. He created and extended family and within that was a hierarchy that served to award everyone based on loyalty to the Godfather, principles and or the first family.
We can all appreciate that primarily because it is the basic reality of the underdog who is much of the American population. As much as we like to think of the land of opportunity and it is, there is the opposing reality of racism, and the lack of equity and equality grounded in the securing of classism that maintains the status quo for the American wealthy who of late has transcended from its initial high brow foundation. Who the rich were and how they behave and saw themselves is very different than who the rich have become. Families like the the Rockefellers, the Fords, the DuPonts, the Vanderbilts, the Carnegies, the Mellons, and the Kennedy’s, and the Hughes.
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Old money” applies to those of the upper class whose wealth separates them from lower social classes. Old money families are founded upon inherited wealth families or lineage possessing inherited wealth able to maintain their wealth over multiple generations, often referring to perceived members of the de facto aristocracy in societies that historically lack an officially established aristocratic class (such as the United States). Within this status is a culture and behavior norms. Such emerges the reference ‘the privileged.’ In the early 20th century, the upper-class were seen as more prestigious than the nouveau riche even if the nouveau riche had more wealth. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the nouveau rich flaunted their wealth by building Gilded Age mansions that emulated the palaces of European royalty, while old money was more conservative. This holds true today. However, our point today is that of the decaying mores of culture. What we really like about the Godfather is that there were rules that were grounded in respect and loyalty. Harm was never done to another just because or out of emotion. But an ‘eye for an eye’ was understood as necessary transgressions. Behaviors of the old money did not mean that ‘they didn’t do,’ but it mean that what was not acceptable was done in the dark or kept hidden and swept under the rug because it was unacceptable.
EL’ Zabar Editor-in-Chief
‘women and children’ are not included in the business of retribution. This is sacred. And yet today we read about the petty beefs between gangs that result in the murder of innocent women and children. This can be likened to Congress which is made up of two maybe three or four gangs who have thrown out the rules of engagement and have given birth to the total disregard of the truth, but first to their responsibility as elected officials.
Many are in the position for the sole purpose of joining the ‘new rich ‘and are not interested in the well-being of America or what’s good for the country. Some have taken on the demeaner of Donald Trump and have no loyalty, no rules other than self-preservation first.
We no longer have a majority of elected or appointed officials in the position to provide direction and protect the sovereignty of American democracy. Too many are chasing their own personal pursuit of power. All we must do is look at congress and now the Supreme Court and we know that we are facing trouble.
The outlandish escapades and exhibitions of the nouveau rich, of today is a far cry from the current rules of engagement today on every level.
We had gangs, we’ve always had gangs and they were notorious, but their leaders were grounded in rock solid mores like
We may not be perfect but the Constitution as written provides a solid guidelines to achieve what is close to perfection. We just have to get the Congress back in fit form. We must show them that they work for us. We will discuss ‘how,’ next week.
