I'm always insecure to join some deeper discussions, since I can't express myself good in English. But sometimes we have to make a try, specially when I see good people trying to make good so awkward...
It looks like Pierre is just trying to be our social conciousness and we should be glad about that. As a socialist, myself, I'm glad that you are trying to show us all political implications on being wealthy. I solidarize with you on all that, but you must be aware to not behave like the guy who came to a dinner talking about the hunger in world.
Why operate on guilty?
It reminds me a Luis Bu?uel's movie (Via Lactea) where a priest is trying to stop children to laugh saying: How can you be happy if Jesus died in cross for you?!?... Wow, man, that's deep! I should commit suicide for feeling good with myself.
Pierre-Yves, remember that you're are not the only person here with that concerns. I must believe that all of our brothers here are sensible to social issues. But we're not here to push each others to scaffold. Is ease to tease any Alembic owner to feel bad about having a thousand dollars Bass, but what's the point?
How do you feel about having such Bass collection? How many people you could have saved with all this Series you have? I've had to wait 25 years to save enough money to buy a second hand Rogue... Should I see you as a bourgeois responsible for world's pain?
My parents were tortured because they were comunists and fought against reactionary dictatorship in Brazil and I've always got mad when met someone trying to makes me feel bad about having a car or banc account. I'm not wealthy at all, but in Brazil you are taken as rich just for having a 1000cc car or for having studied on good schools (in some places, you are enough fortunate just for being citzien). As professional musician I've been playing with people who came from slum and you almost have to excuse yourself just for not being poor (or black)... Sorry man, I don't get that bs.
May be it should be more pratical (to not say, polite) to start some threads about all that non-alembic related issues as global warming and famines around the world, instead of hijacking some other guy's thread. You could gather our simpathy and solidarity best. Do you wish to help people? Good! Make something and invite us to give a hand...
But I can't see your political strategy (or wisdom) on getting in a forum like that spreading irony on your fellows. We can argue for days on how much each of us are responsible or related to other's misery... Or we can join ourselves to make some difference. Anyway, I don't think this particular thread is the right spot, don't you think?
We all support your concerns, but you could try to enhance the way you put it. Start some thread on this subject and I will try to take part. I suggest start with how today europe's wealth were built on slavery in americas or on exploring third world. Or how Switzerland suported illegal business around the world with your bank sistem... We should be concerned more on how the sistem works and not with each individual take part on that (well, we can, but this is not a true sollution). I can't think that I will solve problems pointing my finger upon someone who have a fancy car or feeding one single hungry person in the street. Making things that particular doesn't helps.
But, again, thanks for caring. This is what makes us human beings (just remember that we are, too).
