Wednesday, October 08, 2008 Calinao: "Everything that glitters is not gold" By Nick Prill Calinao Jr. Free and Easy
MISCONCEPTIONS are very common in this world we live in. Sometimes, things are just not what they seem to be.
The thought of wrong perceptions teased my mind as I was playing a country ballad over the airwaves of 99.9 Country FM early this week. Although a song about a love and family affair, the single "Everything that glitters is not Gold" by Dan Seals has quite a number of angles to the message it conveys.
Although the setting of the song is definitely western, music lovers across the globe could surely relate to emotional touch and message of the song.
The first misconception the song tackles is the balance between fame, money and popularity against love and the importance of a family:
"Saw your picture on a poster, in a cafe out in Phoenix
Guess you're still the sweetheart of the rodeo
As for me and little Casey, we still make the circuit
In a one horse trailer and a mobile home
And she still asks about you all the time
And I guess we never even cross your mind"
Yes it is a painful reality, when individuals exchanges or trades the warmth and unexplainable joy of living together with a family for money and fame. Look around, chances are you would find someone who left and opted to forget loved ones, daughters, sons, wives, and/or husbands for monetary gain or riches.
Unfortunately, these individuals fail to realize the true "gold" in their lives is the genuine and "glittering love" at home.
In like manner, many politicians, leaders, and appointed officials who opt to take the "road of corruption." These officials are those in power who allegedly forget or take the confidence and trust of the very people who elected them into office; or the very taxpayers responsible for their monthly paychecks.
Examples are those who allegedly pocket "hefty" amounts from the illegal numbers game "jueteng." By "hefty" my sources say some allegedly pocket amounts as much as: P200,000 a week; P450,000 a week; P187,500 a week; while there are individuals or offices who content themselves with P20,000 a week; P580,000 a month; P100,000 a month; P10,000 a month...And so forth.
Naturally, these are all allegations and nothing but hearsay until proven otherwise. In fact, these could be considered as "black propaganda" or baseless accusations.
The point however is: if in case these accusations are true then there are those who have been "blinded" by what "glitters" not realizing that for everything gained (especially ill gotten-wealth), more is lost.
Before we get carried away, let's get back to the Dan Seals country ballad:
"But oh sometimes I think about you
And the way you used to ride out
In your rhinestones and your sequins
With the sunlight on your hair
And oh the crowd will always love you
But as for me I've come to know
Everything that glitters is not gold"
As the song goes, I for one wish misguided fathers or mothers would look back and realize the importance of the simple yet incomparable joys of living together with loved ones and the family.
Similarly, I do hope "corrupt officials and leaders" would realize the value of maintaining a "golden heart of service" magnanimously exceeds any amount of "glittering riches" in the practice of public service.
Taking us back to country ballad "everything that Glitters...":
"Well old Red he's getting older, and last Saturday he stumbled
But you know I just can't bear to let him go
Little Casey she's still growing and she's started asking questions
And there's certain things a man just doesn't know
Her birthday came and you never even called
I guess we never cross your mind at all"
It does follow those neglected or taken for granted will always ask questions and demand explanations for predicaments that are never easy to expound on. As a child inquiring about a parent or about unique situations; citizens will always be inquisitive on why certain "unwarranted" things, actions, affairs, and practices continue to exist.
Well I guess the song best expresses the punch lines:
"Everybody said you'd make it big someday
And I guess that we were only in your way
But someday I'm sure your gonna know the cost
Cause for everything you win there's something lost"
I do agree at the "end of the day" concerned parties will realize that an equilibrium between gains and losses exists. For the lady in the song "Everything that Glitters is not Gold," it meant the loss of her family; for the "corrupt" it would surely boil down to the loss of integrity, credibility, and respect.
