Why if you cant beat the elites, it may be a good idea to join them

When I talk about elitism – we may have to entertain the idea this may well be a broad idea. Contrary to populist belief this has little to do with one’s social standing or even the largese of their bank account or for that matter whether they preside over important affairs. If anything elitism is simply an attitude. But what renders this state of being particularly noxious is the impression that it is benign, normal and even generally accepted – if you believe for instance you are immune from this state of mind. Then I say, you have simply not invested either the time or effort to discover the breadth of this word beyond it’s dictionary meaning – as when we talk about elitism in this scale. It may very well apply to most people who none of us would possibly label as elites – the man who believes he sees the world clearest and regards the views of others are merely technicalities, is in every sense an elite – the politician who believes the only way to perpetuate the idea of progress is by keeping to the tried and tested yellow brick road thus denying all other fields of possibilities is in every sense an elite. Even the blogger who believes in the idea, since he has managed to garner a cachet of readers and takes pride in the belief he has the right to deny others a voice is in a sense an elite.

And this should lead us to only one question: how do we shoot a poison arrow that puts to sleep this attitude? It’s conceivable the idea may reside in the idea that life is not merely binary, but multi faceted – one is not merely switched on or off, scholar or cookie cutter, functional or dysfunctional, against you or for you, engaged or autistic or for that matter successful or unsuccessful. It is only when we dedicate ourselves to crafting a worldview that truly belongs to us and no other – in so far as we can call it our own – that we will finally realize elitism is not too handsome a thing.

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“I have never had a high regard for Western expatriates in Singapore or for that matter anywhere else. From what I see, they only seem to clump together with their own kind creating either little America, Britian or whatever enclave in their host countries. Worst of all they all seem to be congenital complainers, the water doesn’t taste right etc. Some even throw money as if it grows on trees, screw around openly with the local women and get so pissed that they end up making a mockery of themselves. And they wonder why no one wants them. Well let me tell you all this, that is well and fine in a city state like Singapore. But pull that same stunt in a plantation where the nearest police post is at least a hundred miles away and I guarantee you that, you will end up in a citrus smelling pine box. No I have no illusions whatsoever on this topic of shooting dead the ugly Singaporean, he must be chained and buried in some dungeon – he must be obliterated, we must maintain a high level of discipline when it comes to these matters and assimilate as fast as we can into the local community, build bridges, schools and whatever it takes to foster goodwill – these things are crucial, strategic and a precondition as we have learnt from our game – if we are to successfully further our economic agenda – discipline must be maintained!”

Vollaraine 2011

Excerpt of conversation recently at a secret dinner held in the Planters Club – intercepted by the deep space scientific vessel – KDD Nariobi – The Brotherhood Press 2011