Possession is the ownership of something, a concept that’s been long used in the western world. When the Dutch had a colony in New Amsterdam (in the days before it was renamed New York), Manhattan was bought from the Lenape in 1626. Native Americans used to have a totally different concept of ownership [see here] : you may use the land for hunting, but of course the land belongs to Great Spirit. There is no such thing as ownership in the Western sense: the right to do to it whatever you want, also called power. Red Man would ask Great Spirit before a tree had to be cut, if it is okay. White Man did not ask Great Spirit to redo to the land, but Red Man had always made sure everything he does is not harmful even if done so for 7 generations.
Power & Possession : Great Friends of Money
The right to dispose
Apparently, the modern concept of power and possession includes the right to destroy or to dispose. Example? Fuel. Ever seen a car running with an air tank at the back, to collect all exhaust gasses? Silly to even think of it. No, if you bought the fuel, you own it and of course you are going to let the engine burn it. After which, you let the exhaust into the air and you will no longer own it. Good concept, ownership. Convenient. See where it brought us.
To own or to be responsible?
The modern concept of ownership may range between a deeply rooted true hearted spiritual connection and a sort of distant investment strictly for speculation. The worst example I have seen is that of a young happy couple that worked at their horse riding school 24/7. They were so dedicated to their work, the horses and us, the horse riders. And we were happy to seen them working hard and long but loving every second of it. Until the day shop closed and it appeared there had been a moneylender – who I had never seen before – and he had other plans – a livery -with the riding school. The couple had to go. When she heard it, she cried, fell on the floor and lost her 4 months foetus instantly.
That is what ownership really is: the right to do with it and bend the world at your command. The people who are responsible , doing what’s necessary to take care of the land, the animals, the people – that doesn’t count. Owners can have totally irresponsible behaviour towards it all and that’s considered normal, or, business.
Related Friends of Money
Of course such thing would not be possible without the help of the other Friends of Money like Self Interest – the motive, Central Authority – the decision maker, Pipeline Thinking – think only of what is useful – and Mystery – the owner still thinks we have forgotten about what he did to the lovely couple.
If you insist on this way of thinking, there is not much I can do to help you. But I can offer you an alternative. Replace ownership with responsibility – and that is for the complete life cycle.
Responsibility, an important friend of colourcash
