Pawns

Sun 14th June 09, 1.30pm

In this chess match called Life most of us are mere pawns, making up the numbers and having little influence on the outcome of the game.  If we're lucky we get our moment of glory by taking out an opposing piece, usually sacrificed in the next move.  We have little control over where we can move; basically cannon fodder for the more important pieces.

Until recently we pawns have been happy with our lot, doffing our caps reverently to the king, knowing our place and being comfortable in it.  With the advent of advanced capitalism we're now expected to aspire to being kings.  We're bombarded daily with adverts telling us "impossible is nothing" (buy more shoes) or to "be all you can be" (buy more razor blades).

It's no wonder our average level of happiness has plummeted since the 1950's, despite enjoying unprecedented comfort, convenience and security - a pandemic of "affluenza", as British psychologist Oliver James calls it.

Most of us pawns own everything we need to be content.  But contented pawns don't spend money, so an entire industry exists to brainwash us into being dissatisfied. 

"Miserable wretched pawn!  Why can't you be like the glamorous king - HE has a beautiful queen because HE wears a flash watch.  Don't tell me your pathetic, cheap watch tells the same time - look again:  King owns expensive watch, has attractive woman, therefore ...?"  

After being told this a hundred times the pawn decides his life will be incomplete without that expensive watch, so works extra hard until he saves up the money to buy the expensive watch.  But once it's on his wrist it does exactly the same job as his old watch, and he isn't any more attractive to women.  They lied!

But what can a lowly pawn do about it?  Nothing much except be aware of the smoke and mirrors and not be taken in it.  Being content with what you have is revenge in itself. 

You can't move sideways or choose not to play the game, but at least you can be proud that you're playing your part, however small;  after all the pawn makes the first move.  And at the end of the game the pawn and the king both get put in the same box.