"Enjoy Capitalism"

 

“On the last day in November, swellin' in ranks
Went to chant down the mighty IMF and World Bank
A gathering of people in peaceful assembly”

-“50k Deep”, Blue Scholars,  Bayani, 2007

Hello,

 

            The first thing that comes to my mind whenever the topic of Imperialism & Globalization is International Monetary Fund, World Bank, & the World Trade Organization. A bunch of words and acronyms that I don’t fully understand yet, but I can share what I do know… Reflecting on how the workshop went, It was pretty information heavy, but it was good info.  I caught myself in moment where it was a lot to take in a short amount of time, something that I’ve been learning being an organizer with the community is that everything isn’t going to be fun. That also goes with life.

Well anyways, The IMF-WB-WTO are some powerful forces that are in control of the wealth the world has to share.  It’s representation is dominated by western, first world countries, and I believe(correct me if I’m wrong…) the U.S. has the most representation and that eventually means decision making, & overall, POWER. When I hear globalization, I think of it as Imperialism’s most current modern day form.  More than a colonial rule, but a total hegemonic entity in which the people are hurt internally through their culture and media. Going back to the IMF-WB-WTO, this group of individuals are the lenders of money to the Third World. I’ll use myself as an example and represent the Third World. I need money for college in order that someday I can get a job and feed my family. The Third World needs money in order to have an opportunity to be industrialized and eventually rise up and become a “developing” Second World Nation.  Me and the Third World need money to get an education and get industrialized.  I turn to my financial aid for some help, I’m also lucky enough that I am able to qualify for money. A Third World Nation in Asia, Africa, or Latin America turns to the IMF-WB-WTO.  I get money from financial aid; the Third World gets money from the IMF-WB-WTO.  One problem, how am I gonna pay for my financial aid when it may take me an average of 5 years to graduate, depending if I have to commute, move out to the city, get a job, and help my family? One problem, how is the Third World gonna pay for the loans from the IMF-WB-WTO when the programs that are supposed to structurally benefit the people are only benefiting the ruling class?

            Me & the Third World are stuck in a system that doesn’t benefit us at all. I know for a fact that what I want to do in life is not what society has bred everyone to be. A worker in their assembly line to uphold their power. Being Filipino, my parents want me to be an engineer since that mentality has been conditioned in their minds since Spanish & American Colonization. To be real, it’s some good money, being an engineer, but does it equal my happiness? What is the definition of happy? The trying to be an engineer or nurse is probably  very common in the Filipino Community. Does working the system really benefit us to the fullest?  I say that there is always someone at the top exploiting the masses financially, physically, mentally, & emotionally. We may receive the “benefits” of the system through material gains (cars,houses,etc.) new status in society (feeling apart of the middle class), & basically more privileges (having time). Imperialism & Globalization are just the result of Capitalism. “The Beast.” We really are the bullet in the belly of the beast. So it gives me hope that if we do spread the knowledge, help the movement flourish, we can really damage the system, capitalism, “the beast” from within. Until then…

“Enjoy Capitalism”

One Love,

“Ian who be screamin’”