The Trials of an American Dilettante

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

The Age of the Bureaucrat

Vying for power has always been a part of mankind. Nietzsche would say the desire for power is in man’s fundamental nature. Hedonists would say that power is the tool for bringing oneself pleasure. Whether it comes in the form of muscles, fame or money, power and control is ubiquitous and clearly runs the lives of man.

Power for man used to come in the form of brut force. A hundred thousand years ago, the strongest man got the food, the women and the respect of the tribe. Things didn’t change much after that. Thousands of years ago in Scandinavia, the Norse people believed that the greatest warriors lived forever in the halls of Valhalla to prepare for the epic battle of the Ragnarock. The Romans watched gladiators fight sometimes to the death in fantastic battles. A mere eight hundred years ago, battling bravely, without fear of death, was seen as the highest honor. Knights of Europe, warring Huns of Central Asia and Samurai of Japan all had near identical doctrine with regard to fighting. And today, for God or country, men still battle in armies or “freedom fighting/terrorist groups”.

There is a noticeable shift in the prize of fighting, though. As time went on, the rewards for being the best changed from real physical goods (food, women and other stuff) to only abstract rewards (code, national honor, favor of God). Has fighting progressed to a higher level? Not likely. In fact, the abstract rewards were there before along with the spoils of a plunder. No, the only change in the nature of fighting is that the tangible elements have been wrestled away by a new group- the bureaucrat.

Today, the tangible spoils of war are enjoyed by the bureaucrat. Bureaucrat comes from the Greek meaning power of the office. I’m using the term loosely to mean any job where power is gained using the system. Building wealth through speculation? Through consulting? Through analysis? This is only possible is a world with complex bureaucratic systems. Today, that is how the power is achieved. This is not a new concept. Many writers have discussed the transfer of “Bushido” (the warrior’s code and motivation) to the merchant class. One navigates the laws of society and the characteristics of the market to earn money and gain power. Even great fighters like, say, Jean Claude VanDamn became successful, not through fighting alone, but by having great agents who placed him in movies and handled his wealth.

Now, in America, our greatest heroes are the bureaucrats. Politicians are enshrined. People read of CEO’s life stories. The life of warrior leads to poverty while the life of bureaucrat leads to wealth.

Movies and religious doctrine have yet to catch up to reality. “Epic” battles are still fought with fists or swords. Assuming religion is true (a big assumption), it would be more probably that the grand armies of Satan and Jesus would be armed with lawyers and accountants. The warriors of Valhalla, lacking J.D.’s and not being CPA’s would be useless is in this glorious clash.

And I look at myself trapped in this system as well. I feel like I’m armed with a net and trident against men with swords and shields. Too bad it’s not really that entertaining.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Pretending to be Moral

I left Antigua, spent a couple of days at the lake of Panajachel and have moved on to Quezaltenango. Guatemala is littered with “volunteers.” Seriously, wherever you go, there is another group of people talking about how they are helping the poor Guatemalans by teaching the kids something or another. Its all under the banner of “fighting poverty with education.”

Its just a little too convenient that these volunteers have chosen a warm paradise country where they can practice their Spanish. Additionally, the people are friendly and the work is mostly involves talking and playing with children. The Westerner gets to go home and tell everyone what a great person they are by essentially going on vacation.

I’ve been to a lot of places much worse off than Guatemala, yet there are few, if any volunteers there. Its too bad Cambodians don’t speak Spanish. If only Moldova had tropical weather. Maybe India is just too dirty and far from home. The Peace Corps tries to send people off the some of the worst places, but few stay in those locations.

Seriously, I find this illusion of “volunteering” a little ridiculous. If one really wanted to help a country, the teaching would focus on instructing the twenty-somethingers in accounting and computer programming. Rather than spending the money on a plane trip, the money could easily be used to improve the country’s public schools and public utilities. Right now, all Guatemala has are private religious institutions. We know that leads to- creationists at best and terrorists at worst.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Waiting For a Parade

Yesterday, I tried to climb Agua, the huge volcano next to Antigua. I walked around seven miles to the volcano and then another two up it. Half way up, I decided it was too difficult so I turned around. Mental note- bring water next time you try to climb something large during dry season. I got back and realized I was fried. A red nose, a red neck and a red top of the forehead. Top of the forehead? I must be losing my hair worse than I thought.

I´m ready to leave Antigua, but there´s supposedly a big parade tomorrow that is not to be missed. So, I´m sticking around to see neato flaots of Jesus. With the movements of the crowd, it supposedly looks like Jesus walking and bearing the cross. It amazing how much boredom people are willing to tolerate for a litte entertainment. Whether its a movie, a play or a concert, you have to wait through a lot.

The Peace Corp called and want to interview me for some position I forgot I apllied to. Beinghere is a major barrier. Hopefully, I´ll be able to interview when I get back. Another barrier is that I completely don´t know what the position is for other than the title. I really gotta start writing shit down.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Guatemala, more entertainment in one day…

It’s amazing how often people us time as a measure of experience. People will establish that a relationship is serious by giving it in years. Professionals and employers rank expertise in years as well. Just as with space, density is a major part of time.

In one day in Guatemala, more has happened to me than in perhaps a month in the US. I’ve seen several churches that were ruined in earthquakes (this country seems to have a comparative advantage in ruining churches with earthquakes). A weird Honduran followed me to Antigua in hopes of getting money (thank God I lost him). I climbed an active volcano and then slid down pumice piles to the bottom.

It’s nice to be here, but applying to jobs and the fear that my boss try calling me looms over me. If I get some work done tomorrow and no one calls, I’ll feel pretty good about the weekend.