...: Marsh Chatter
The Weight of a Pyramid
What is the weight of a pyramid you ask? Well some might say it doesn't matter, as it seems to be a stable structure, what with its high point centered over a wide base. Alas, it is not.
Is capitalism & other societal structures a pyramid?
Yes! The few sell to the many, who must buy from the few, who must employ the many who work for the few. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
Society grants access to a few to stand above the many, yet the few slowly succumb to excesses atop the many and they come tumbling down, only to be replaced by another. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
Is fanatical religion a pyramid?
Yes! The few are held up for worship by the many, who offer what they have in materials to the few, who build temples for the many, who gather to worship the few. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
Is modern society a pyramid?
The ghettos of life release a few to grow out of the masses, yet those same masses cry out to those few that they must remember where they came from and lend a hand to pull another up from the masses. Yet those same masses drag on them saying they have joined the establishment or became an Uncle Tom or they only got there because of whom they knew. Without continual support from the masses, the few come tumbling down. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
Is politics a pyramid?
Yes! The few are “elected” by the many, who expect a lot from the few, who live off the many. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
Food?
Even our recommended foods take on a pyramidal form. The many, are the foods we should eat the most; the few are the foods we should eat the least. Unfortunately, the few are the foods we prefer to eat, while the many are the foods we eat “if we must”. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
"Hierarchy of Needs"
Abraham Mazlow defined a pyramid he called the “Hierarchy of Needs”. This pyramid is arranged from physiological needs – food, for example – to Safety – housing, for example – to Belonging – family & friends, for example – to Esteem Needs – ownership of property, for example – to Self-Actualization at the top. Self-actualization enables one to self-explore and take actions separate from each of the other levels of the Hierarchy of Needs. If you are struggling to feed yourself or get medical attention – you cannot be self-actualized.
As with any climb to the top, achieving Self-Actualization is a struggle, however it takes much longer to reach the top, than the tumble to the bottom. A point that Hurricaine Katrina has shown us so clearly. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
Foundations
The base of a pyramid is the many, which hold up the few. The structure may tumble, but that foundation is easy to shore up. The struggle to regain the heights is the challenge which each person, or country, or section of society, must continually undertake. Time passes. Cycle repeats.
Why does this ancient structure so define our life?
So... what is the weight of a pyramid
I guess that depends on your position in that pyramid.
Or does it?
Is the weight on your shoulders pushing you down...?
OR
Is it attached to your feet dragging you back...?
Originally written in 2005, as a writing exercise.