Zachary Papazahariou: The Spiritual Capitalist at the Turn of the Millenium

Come to Zach's research paper on American TV Programming's Influence on Young Hindus

Another Day in the Dirt – A film in development

Dancing soldier: Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day! I’ve got a wonderful feeling – some frog is going to pay!

Somber soldier: Have you been inhaling the mustard gas again? You’ll never survive acting the fool.

Dancing soldier: A fool! A fool! Not I! I fight this war to end all wars – I fight this war that Frenchie may die!

Somber soldier: What difference if we kill French, British or any other – they’re soldiers like us. They don’t matter. It’s the kings who want this war, the powers that be - they want to flex their muscles. What do we care of borders? Who cares about some royal nephew? They just want more land, more power! If we spill our blood – so be it.

Dancing soldier: So be it? So be it! I just don’t see it! We Germans are god’s creation – we must save the world – save civilization!

Somber soldier: I tell you, you shame of our people – it’s all about money. I joined seeking adventure; to display the honor of which our ancestors would be proud. There’s no honor in this. Machine guns! Trenches! Bah! Let me look these devils in the eye, I’ll show them what a German can do!

Dancing soldier: Tweedle dum, tweedle dee – my oh my – you look Austrian to me!

Somber soldier: Our people are being betrayed I tell you! The soldier quivers - his eyes ablaze - projectiles of spittle spew from his angry mouth. There are forces – forces guided by greed – undermining our heroism! If only we could weed them out! Delouse our fatherland – then, my friend, you’d see a glorious Germany!

Dancing Soldier, no longer dancing: You know Adolph, for a corporal you have big ideas – but who could take a man with that moustache seriously?

I Fell for you – an excerpt

"Geez the wind feels good’" he thought. "It kind of wakes you right up – man if I could bottle this, no one would miss booze – Moran wouldn’t be thrilled. I might have to pay a flatfoot or two – but it’s a business expense. Maybe it’s a write off. Damn well should be. Why should I be penalized? If anything people like me should be rewarded! We take the chances – we run the risks!

I said to Evergreen, look – Amalgamated Meatballs – it’s the cat’s pajamas – should I go deep for it? Her answer, "I don’t care about cat’s pajamas, I want a raccoon coat – they’re the bee’s knees!"

Man I should have stayed back on the farm – you wanted something, you worked for it, you bought it! None of this credit crap. Pa was right – sooner or later you pay the piper. But hell Pa, I beat the bastards! I had a nice run! Stutz Bearcat to drive, nice suits on my back – no dirt under my fingernails. And I ain’t paying!

Geez you’d think they’d clean the streets once in a blue moon.

Let the bitch find some raccoon coat-wearing college boy to keep her flapping – I’m checking out!

Hey isn’t that Zac on the ledge? Com’on you chicken shit! The air is fine! Damn Greeks! He’s alright, except for that hair.

Is that Goldberg down there? Well he’s about to meet me up close and personal – if I could just aim for his yarmulke.

You know what they say, it ain’t the fall – it’s the sudden stop. . . ."

This particular chapter holds many areas of keen personal interest. Nazi expansion, American isolationism and the development of propaganda to name but a few. I feel it behooves me, however, to relate the tale of a "corporate phantom" whose veracity is well known to me. This individual’s expertise lies in two arenas - General Motors and labor relations.

During the years 1985-1992 he served as mid-echelon management for the General Motors Corporation. His primary duties were to evaluate "environments of potential resources" – translated as "would the exploitation of a given populace be worth any potential backlash?"

"This was a fairly easy determination. My superiors and I were concerned with immediate cost benefit alone – how would the fiscal quarter lay out? At the time GM was losing tens of millions in continental Europe – third world resources (primarily inexpensive labor) could easily offset expenses incurred in developed regions. Strangely enough, we sought governmental intervention in Latin America (particularly Mexico) and Asia. Regimes were more than happy for the "GM experience." Though we seldom contributed to the tax base – most government officials saw an improvement in their quality of life (hint, hint!). Eventually the citizenry would attempt to unionize and police/military actions would ensue. Our fiscal quarter would have been saved – and GM losses could be explained to our shareholders by affixing blame elsewhere. This was the sole purpose of all corporate activities – not developing markets nor peoples, but the ability to affix blame. As long as we could point the finger elsewhere – we were having a nice day."

In this chapter there is reference to the use of "strikebreakers brandishing machine guns and tear gas and using agents to infiltrate the unions and report on their activities"(195). I realize that most students find this outrageous, inconceivable. Our sociopath states, however, "We may no longer employ these tactics in Detroit (certainly not overtly) – but these methods are common in most host states who seek the good graces of multinational corporations."

Dear Sir or Madam:

I have been assigned the following thesis topic: Will American international consumerism purveyed via the internet and television programming imperil or enhance the social-spiritual freedom of the Islamic community of present day Morocco in the coming millennium?

My research will be pursued as follows: a. I will cull the works of various political-social theorists as diverse as Thomas Friedman, Hannah Arendt and Benjamin Barber; b. I will attempt to interview Moroccan muslims under the age of thirty both in person and via the internet; c. I will cheerfully adapt any insight you may impart – it may be my only recourse to the volatile yet uncompromising nature of my professor.

Thank you,

Zachary Papazahariou

"I can write no more."

Back to Syllabus

Back to Home Page