Abishai100
VIP Member
- Sep 22, 2013
- 4,957
- 250
- 85
This is a capitalism-parable inspired by the controversial The Satanic Verses.
However, I'm not making any direct reference/allusion to Rushdie's work here...
Signing off,
====
A gorgeous Middle Eastern belly-dancer named Malli was very skilled at her art and was widely-considered to be the finest belly-dancer performing in Las Vegas casinos. Malli had worked in Vegas for about four years as a stage belly-dancer for various casino/hotel entertainment programs. She was popular but depressed, since she realized she'd never be anything more than a mere 'entertainer.' So one day, Malli made a deal with the Devil. She asked the Devil to make her belly-dancing hypnotically beautiful (so patrons would be transfixed by her art!). The Devil granted Malli's unusual wish, and soon, Malli became known as the 'Vegas Siren' (using her incredible newfound hypnotic belly-dancing to literally become a 'lounge legend'). Malli was now satisfied, because she believed she had real 'vaudevillian credibility.' However, Malli now belonged to the Devil, so she actually looked rather...evil.
After some time, Malli was invited for a special performance of the hit hand-to-hand combat and labyrinth contest game show American Gladiators. At the show, Malli suited up as one of the female 'gladiators' and had to contend with a gorgeous airline stewardess who was very physically fit in a special padded jousting contest on a podium. As Malli contended with the stewardess with great passion during the 'fight,' she realized she had lost something integral now that she sold her soul to the Devil to become a hypnotizing belly-dancer. Malli was no longer an 'innocent woman' and it showed. Her fight with the airline stewardess on American Gladiators was somewhat lacklustre and she easily lost to the stewardess (feeling a bit emotionally drained at this point!). Malli returned to Vegas worried and depressed, fearing she had compromised her Muslim beliefs/faith so she'd become a 'Vegas lounge celebrity' (if only temporarily). Malli wondered if she'd ever be able to watch an episode of American Gladiators on TV with a straight face!
GOD: I feel sorry for Malli...
SATAN: Don't express pity; Malli got her one wish.
GOD: True; she became a 'hypnotic' belly-dancer in Vegas.
SATAN: Celebrity and fame are so alluring...
GOD: Perhaps fame is the real 'tragedy/sin' of capitalism.
SATAN: Yes, communism doesn't really create 'celebrities.'
GOD: No; there are only dictators and a sea of obedient citizenry.
SATAN: That's why major communist states crumbled; claustrophobia.
GOD: Well, capitalism in America has generated its own problems.
SATAN: Yes...fame-related hyperventilation!
GOD: Wow. Who'd think the American Dream would lead to Malli's tragedy?
SATAN: Yes, Malli is now very depressed about American Gladiators.
GOD: Malli sacrificed her humility so she'd feel more like an 'artist.'
SATAN: It's perfectly understandable; consumers are unforgiving about aspirations.
GOD: Yes, they only want to see satisfying luxuries and results.
SATAN: That's the signature of consumerism-culture --- gratification.
GOD: There is little room for pity in a 'gratification society.'
SATAN: I will reason with Malli and offer her a more comforting 'Luciferian deal.'
GOD: Well, in some ways (arguably), Luciferianism is much more 'digestible'
SATAN: Malli will feel less regret about wanting to become a celebrity.
GOD: It's a shame that the American Dream can lead to forms of vanity.
SATAN: Will we remember Malli as a basic harlot (of Babylon)?
GOD: No; I think she'll be likened more to a 'risky gambler.'
SATAN: Perhaps capitalism can generate forms of 'negotiation'...
====
However, I'm not making any direct reference/allusion to Rushdie's work here...
Signing off,
====
A gorgeous Middle Eastern belly-dancer named Malli was very skilled at her art and was widely-considered to be the finest belly-dancer performing in Las Vegas casinos. Malli had worked in Vegas for about four years as a stage belly-dancer for various casino/hotel entertainment programs. She was popular but depressed, since she realized she'd never be anything more than a mere 'entertainer.' So one day, Malli made a deal with the Devil. She asked the Devil to make her belly-dancing hypnotically beautiful (so patrons would be transfixed by her art!). The Devil granted Malli's unusual wish, and soon, Malli became known as the 'Vegas Siren' (using her incredible newfound hypnotic belly-dancing to literally become a 'lounge legend'). Malli was now satisfied, because she believed she had real 'vaudevillian credibility.' However, Malli now belonged to the Devil, so she actually looked rather...evil.
After some time, Malli was invited for a special performance of the hit hand-to-hand combat and labyrinth contest game show American Gladiators. At the show, Malli suited up as one of the female 'gladiators' and had to contend with a gorgeous airline stewardess who was very physically fit in a special padded jousting contest on a podium. As Malli contended with the stewardess with great passion during the 'fight,' she realized she had lost something integral now that she sold her soul to the Devil to become a hypnotizing belly-dancer. Malli was no longer an 'innocent woman' and it showed. Her fight with the airline stewardess on American Gladiators was somewhat lacklustre and she easily lost to the stewardess (feeling a bit emotionally drained at this point!). Malli returned to Vegas worried and depressed, fearing she had compromised her Muslim beliefs/faith so she'd become a 'Vegas lounge celebrity' (if only temporarily). Malli wondered if she'd ever be able to watch an episode of American Gladiators on TV with a straight face!
GOD: I feel sorry for Malli...
SATAN: Don't express pity; Malli got her one wish.
GOD: True; she became a 'hypnotic' belly-dancer in Vegas.
SATAN: Celebrity and fame are so alluring...
GOD: Perhaps fame is the real 'tragedy/sin' of capitalism.
SATAN: Yes, communism doesn't really create 'celebrities.'
GOD: No; there are only dictators and a sea of obedient citizenry.
SATAN: That's why major communist states crumbled; claustrophobia.
GOD: Well, capitalism in America has generated its own problems.
SATAN: Yes...fame-related hyperventilation!
GOD: Wow. Who'd think the American Dream would lead to Malli's tragedy?
SATAN: Yes, Malli is now very depressed about American Gladiators.
GOD: Malli sacrificed her humility so she'd feel more like an 'artist.'
SATAN: It's perfectly understandable; consumers are unforgiving about aspirations.
GOD: Yes, they only want to see satisfying luxuries and results.
SATAN: That's the signature of consumerism-culture --- gratification.
GOD: There is little room for pity in a 'gratification society.'
SATAN: I will reason with Malli and offer her a more comforting 'Luciferian deal.'
GOD: Well, in some ways (arguably), Luciferianism is much more 'digestible'
SATAN: Malli will feel less regret about wanting to become a celebrity.
GOD: It's a shame that the American Dream can lead to forms of vanity.
SATAN: Will we remember Malli as a basic harlot (of Babylon)?
GOD: No; I think she'll be likened more to a 'risky gambler.'
SATAN: Perhaps capitalism can generate forms of 'negotiation'...
====
