Throughout time immortal, the average man has made fun of
those who have been sequestered in their ivory towers, far removed from the realities
of life. While shaking their fist in rage at those isolated inhabitants of
these high and lofty places, they speak in curses of the influence these elite
have over the lives of those less fortunate.
Yet, these common men don’t understand the great price those
elite have paid to have the right to hide themselves from the vagrancies of
daily life. They’ve worked long and hard to reach such a lofty place in life,
one in which they can impose their view on the world, instead of having the
world impose itself upon them.
The ivory tower is something like a marshal’s baton to these
intellects. It is their symbol of status, importance and loftiness. It is as if
the climb up the stairs to their tower is raising them up, far above the humdrum
life of mortal man.
Oh, to be one of those in the ivory towers of the world. Many
look with longing, desiring the opportunity to be the one who attains to its
heights; not realizing that they would be just as much a disaster as one of the
elite, as those who are there. Yet, they never make it, lacking either the wit
or wisdom, or more likely the perseverance to push on to those great heights of
attainment. They, like many others are doomed to be one of the common people.
What those poor, directionless souls don’t realize is that
there are an unlimited number of ivory towers available in the world. Yes, one
only has to construct their own ivory tower, not try and take over one that
already exists. The vast majority of the ivory towers don’t’ have anything to
do with politics or government; no, they have to do with academia, invention
and ideas. Those are the ones who have true influence in the world; not the
hapless fools in politics.
Ah, but if the common man were to realize his own potential
to attain his own ivory tower, where would those who currently inhabit those
high and lofty places go? When the world looks like a forest of ivory towers,
how could they still maintain their isolation and detachment? The ivory tower
would no longer be a place of attainment and seclusion, but nothing more than a
humble hovel, so like everyone else’s.
Perhaps it is better that the Joe Sixpack doesn’t realize his
own potential. Perhaps it is better for him to wallow in his ignorance, shaking
his fist and ranting at those who have built their tower of isolation. Perhaps
he is happier that way; happier to complain, than to attain. Perhaps.
Note to the reader: This was inspired by my own office. When
I was a manufacturing engineer, we used to complain about the design engineers,
who were locked away in their ivory tower. Well, I now have my own. My house is
of ivory colored brick, with a tower in the corner. My office is in the second
floor of that tower. The irony of it makes me smile.
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