Ruby Slippers Will Solve All My Problems

I’ve always prided myself on having self-control and economy. However, after being laid off I’ve decided it was just a lie.  I can’t remember the last time I wore out a pair of shoes, typically I donate them to Good Will just because the style has gone out of fashion. I’d never bought generic food brands until last month, and I can honestly say my want of stuff is greater than I ever realized, and I’m not only one. In the story At The Auction Of The Ruby Slippers written by Salman Rushdie the stuff that we desire, takes the shape of Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz.  The slippers are so enticing. They’re shinny red and filled with nostalgia from everyone’s childhood. The limited number in existence makes them ever so covetable. “We believe they can make us invulnerable to witches; because of their powers of reverse metamorphosis, their affirmation of a lost state of normalcy in which we have almost ceased to believe and to which the slippers promise us we can return.” (East, West, Page 92) If I just had those darn Ruby Red Slippers all my problems would be solved. Sound familiar? This is the power of stuff. Stuff we don’t’ need, and yet it still consumes us.

Once the Auction of the Ruby Slippers begins Movie Stars, Memorabilia Junkies, The Destitute, everyone in-between and of course our narrator are drawn to the power of  them. Each is hoping to find something in the shallow image of owning of the slippers. The Auction house only bars the priests everyone else is welcome “ Anyone’s cash is as good as any else’s” (East, West, Page 93). Orphans, Untouchables, Dignitaries, the Auctioneers don’t care who places a bid. Even though the slippers are out of reach financially for almost eight five percent of those in attendance they still struggle to win the prize. This applies to everyday life as well. Mercedes Benz, Tiffany’s, and many other luxury good brands are just as guilty as the auctioneers. They no longer care which tax bracket you fall into. Marketing campaigns now convince the middle and lower classes that these frivolous items are an everyday necessity. This is why households across the country have an average credit card debit of $9,000 dollars.  We’ve been conditioned to believe that happiness comes in little turquoise boxes. It’s now stuff that will raise your serotonin levels. Forget family, financial security, and self esteem, it’s been tossed from the shelves and replaced with the unrealistic image of a plastic life.

It’s not just the Ruby Slippers; everything is for sale, “The Taj Mahal, the Statue of Liberty, the Alps, the Sphinx” (East, West, Page 98) even family titles.  Nothing is sacred. We’ve become nonsensical in our quest for stuff. Annie Leonard the creator of The Story of Stuff would cringe at reading this story. The lack of self-control, knowledge, and abuse and mistrust of power is sickening. We’ve become so consumed with image that we've robbed countries of resources, lost our souls, created mountains of garbage, and forgot what true happiness means.   In the end it may cost us our planet.  Who’s to blame, the corporations, government, ourselves? Annie Leonard believes it’s mainly the corporations and government, but I think it’s only fair to take part of the blame. We no longer teach our children delayed gratification, or even basic financial skills. We buy love instead of creating it with words and emotion and care more about impressing someone rather than gaining their respect. It’s true that commercials and ads have encouraged these negative behaviors, but in the end it’s you and I swiping the card, making the final choice. So by allowing ourselves to be taken in we’re also too blame.

So what’s the solution? Can a serious recession reshape the way America thinks about spending? After the market rebounds will we look at Coach purses and iphones the same? Could losing our homes and security finally teach us that stuff is just stuff and then release us from it’s hold.  Will the next auction of the Ruby Slippers be canceled due to lack of interest?  One can only hope that change is in the cards, because our happiness and planet are depending on it.

To view Annie Leonard’s film click here:    http://www.storyofstuff.com/