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Noblesse oblige: Difference between revisions
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The protests that are spreading through the world all point towards the greed of bankers, and the wealthy class. Even though there is a lot of stench around this grassroot movement, there is truth behind their anger. We often simplistically appropriate the amassing of money as a part of capitalism and we do not hold profit motive accountable until we get sick to stomach with the rancid smell of unfairness. | The protests that are spreading through the world all point towards the greed of bankers, and the wealthy class. Even though there is a lot of stench around this grassroot movement, there is truth behind their anger. We often simplistically appropriate the amassing of money as a part of capitalism and we do not hold profit motive accountable until we get sick to stomach with the rancid smell of unfairness. | ||
The luster of greed is felt through our innate sense of morality. I think Michael Lewis correctly points out the core problem of our Western world to be the loss of moral leadership. The French phrase | The luster of greed is felt through our innate sense of morality. I think Michael Lewis correctly points out the core problem of our Western world to be the loss of moral leadership. The French phrase ''noblesse oblige'' literally means "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noblesse_oblige nobility obliges]." According to ''Dictionnaire de l’Académie française'', it means: | ||
# Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly. | # Whoever claims to be noble must conduct himself nobly. | ||
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#* Explanation: Choi family's detached house for receiving visitors had enough room to accommodate 100 guests at a time. In those days you didn't have television or newspapers, so information spread through travelers, and travelers often stayed at a place reputed to be hospitable. Choi family became famous during the Joseon dynasty because of these travelers who were moved by the family's hospitality. Choi family was widely known as "a house that accumulates goodness" (積善之家), and that may be the secret behind the family's stability even during the time of social unrest. | #* Explanation: Choi family's detached house for receiving visitors had enough room to accommodate 100 guests at a time. In those days you didn't have television or newspapers, so information spread through travelers, and travelers often stayed at a place reputed to be hospitable. Choi family became famous during the Joseon dynasty because of these travelers who were moved by the family's hospitality. Choi family was widely known as "a house that accumulates goodness" (積善之家), and that may be the secret behind the family's stability even during the time of social unrest. | ||
#* Context: There was a major social unrest in Korea during 1860s due to populist uprisings, political corruptions, foreign powers vying for influence, and resulting social anxiety. A Robin Hood-like organization called Hwal-bin-dang was formed and they stole from almost all of yangban or wealthy households except from Choi family's. Choi family's reputation was widely known. | #* Context: There was a major social unrest in Korea during 1860s due to populist uprisings, political corruptions, foreign powers vying for influence, and resulting social anxiety. A Robin Hood-like organization called Hwal-bin-dang was formed and they stole from almost all of yangban or wealthy households except from Choi family's. Choi family's reputation was widely known. | ||
# Make sure not to have any one starve to death within 100 | # Make sure not to have any one starve to death within 100 ''ri'' from you. | ||
#: '''ri''': about 0.25 miles, so 100 ri is about 25 miles. | #: '''ri''': about 0.25 miles, so 100 ri is about 25 miles. | ||
#* Context: It is recorded that the Choi family shared about 100 seok of rice during the time of famine or barley hump (the spring austerity period), and when famine became worse they practically shared everything they had without reserve. The expenditure of rice by the Choi family was about 3,000 seok a year. 1,000 seok was for the family members (they had about 100 servants), 1,000 seok for visitors/travelers, and 1,000 seok for helping the poor. This tradition started with the first Choi, Kuk-seon Choi, of 17th century. It is said that Kuk-seon Choi, during the famine of 1971, wrote, "What good is keeping my possessions when my neighbors are dying of starvation?" and opened his grain storage to take care of his neighbors. | #* Context: It is recorded that the Choi family shared about 100 seok of rice during the time of famine or barley hump (the spring austerity period), and when famine became worse they practically shared everything they had without reserve. The expenditure of rice by the Choi family was about 3,000 seok a year. 1,000 seok was for the family members (they had about 100 servants), 1,000 seok for visitors/travelers, and 1,000 seok for helping the poor. This tradition started with the first Choi, Kuk-seon Choi, of 17th century. It is said that Kuk-seon Choi, during the famine of 1971, wrote, "What good is keeping my possessions when my neighbors are dying of starvation?" and opened his grain storage to take care of his neighbors. | ||