TOWERS
There is a new tower in Chicago. An elegant luxury hotel imperiously looking down upon our Magnificent Mile. Bursting at its architectural seams with slender beauty and self-conscious importance. Rooms that are luxurious, views that are majestic, and amenities that are boundless. Why they even offer guests wide- ranging choices of everything from imported cheese and chocolates to world-class chefs and menus.
But while the celebrated Trump tower -- a dedication and deification of modern material bravado -- there nestles a remarkably different kind of venue just a few miles outside the city. It is the Amish community in Arthur, Illinois. To travel from Trump to Amish takes about two geographic hours and two hundred light years.
Each venue a splendid representation of its own particular perceptions of the world and the way we can live in it. Trump Tower is a reflection of today's more expansive and powerful America; Arthur is a reflection of yesterday's more insular and modest America. One can't help wonder what it would be like for someone from Arthur to spend a weekend in Trump Tower. Even more, one wonders what it would be like for Donald Trump to spend a weekend in Arthur...
BRIDGES
They say bridges are a metaphor for life. Some should be crossed. Others should be burned.
While wondering, one wonders if they are also a metaphor for the generations. The young see the bridge from one side...the elders from the opposite side. One looks ahead and imagines what it will be like to reach the far end. The other looks back and imagines what it was like to have stood on the first end.
Looking down from Trump Tower, guests can see Chicago's famous Michigan Avenue Bridge. Does it look like a metaphor from there...?
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I would imagine that the people who use this Hotel, are not happy as such. Oh they may enjoy the luxury, and the style, including having their own chefs, but what do they do 'afterwards' ? Once you have experienced this, what is left ?
ReplyDeleteThe Amish community, on the other hand, enjoy their life everyday, and are happy with what they have. They will never wish for that something else. I know who will be happier!
I have seen documentaries about those Arabs Princes, who are spending billions on building new islands, with super hotels, and each building is a 'work of art', and which will never be built again, [even in America], not only because of their costs, but because though they may look dramatic, they are not for ordinary humans. Who wants to live in a luxury flat anyway, costing millions to rent, and yet subject to Arabic Laws, were you could land up getting flogged for having a whisky..[though I doubt they would do this to any Americans or Russians that may decide and can afford, to live there]. Yet, the ordinary people, the simple and poor Arabs that live in the deserts away from the sea, with the new islands, will never be able to share in these 'wonders', for the oil wealth is all held by one family, though a very large one.
The rich people who will live there, can only eat one meal at a time, and no doubt spend a great deal of time thinking about getting more money, [so that they can keep up with their neighbours], and their last resting place, may be made out of marble, with gold lettering on it, and have a nice view of the new islands, and fantastic blue sea, and golden sands, but they will still be...dead! And as far as I know, you cannot take it with you.....
Alfred ~ Another instance in which I have to assume the experiences of a long lifetime are what help you write these little wisdoms. I couldn't have thought this way at 20 or 30 or even 40. But now approaching 80, everything you say rings true.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be nice if the old could save the young some time and hardship learning these realities on their own? But we just weren't made that why. So be it...