What's Your Currency?
I thought (incorrectly) that Winston Churchill once said that "everyone is a whore, it is only the price that is in question". I can't find the exact quote, so perhaps Winston Churchill only said those words in my head.
A few days ago I asked a friend what their currency would be. They responded that they "would pay any price for silence" and asked me what my price/currency would be. Being more of a skipping stone than a sinking rock, I was unsure. The question made me think about what is most important to me in broader terms than people and possessions. I have decided my currency is peace. Peace is defined by Merriam-Webster as: 1 : a state of tranquility or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom 2 : freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions 3 : harmony in personal relations 4 a : a state or period of mutual concord between governments b : a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity. I am exceptionally good at wartime strategy, but I have developed those skills in order to avoid or end conflict as soon as possible. I dislike disturbance, loud noises, and unrest. To me contentment is calm.
What is your currency?
A few days ago I asked a friend what their currency would be. They responded that they "would pay any price for silence" and asked me what my price/currency would be. Being more of a skipping stone than a sinking rock, I was unsure. The question made me think about what is most important to me in broader terms than people and possessions. I have decided my currency is peace. Peace is defined by Merriam-Webster as: 1 : a state of tranquility or quiet: as a : freedom from civil disturbance b : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom 2 : freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions 3 : harmony in personal relations 4 a : a state or period of mutual concord between governments b : a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity. I am exceptionally good at wartime strategy, but I have developed those skills in order to avoid or end conflict as soon as possible. I dislike disturbance, loud noises, and unrest. To me contentment is calm.
What is your currency?
posted by Anomie-Atlanta at Thursday, September 21, 2006
14 Comments:
I have to agree with your friend who said "Silence." I'll take the scorn of my neighbors over a chatty acquaintance any day, and a guillotine over a dentist's drill.
I'm interested in your answer. I think a lot of people get good at the art of whatever they would like to avoid. In my work I'm infamous for hating process and much sought after when process is needed.
Wow, that is pretty thought-provoking. I think I would have to say a combination of peace and silence.
I feel like I can handle crises that arise - but I agree, the handling is to get it resolved and out of the way as quickly as absolutely possible.
That is a good question. For me, it might be security. I don't mean the sort that Bush would refer to in his next State of the Union or anything, but I would love to feel secure personally, professionally, financially, physically, mentally. You get my point.
I think that you are referring to a joke, involving Winston Churchill:
Winston Churchill is at a dinner party and he is speaking with a Duchess
Churchill: Madam would you sleep with me for a million pounds?
Duchess: Of course Prime Minister
Churchill: Duchess, would you sleep with me for a hundred pounds?
Duchess: Mr.Churchill, what do you think I am?
Churchill: We have established that, my dear, now we are just trying to establish a price...
or something like that.
My currency is my soul
I got the Get busy living, Get Busy Dying from
"The Shawshank Redemption"
For me, I think it would be peace among trees, maybe in the mountains. Just the green of the leaves, the blue of the sky, the rustle of the leaves. Oh, and an R.E.M. song in the background.
My favorite story about Churchill involves him smashed at a party. A woman came up to him and said, "Sir, you're drunk"
And he said, "And you're ugly. But I'll be sober in the morning."
I'd say that my currency is freedom. Real freedom, from anyone who would restrain someone from doing anything that doesn't harm another person.
James: that in turn reminds me of Dylan: "he who isn't busy being born is busy dying."
I think James' comment illustrates quite clearly that something is amiss here. Rather than naming their price, everyone here is naming their innermost desire.
This is somewhat akin to a prostitute asking for world peace from a trick. As lovely and selfless as that would be (now there's a hooker with a heart of gold), there just aren't many John's who could follow through and pay up.
Churchill's "price" is relative to the demand. If someone offered you silence or peace for tying their shoe, you'd most certainly take it. If they required you to kill your entire family, I am sure you would reconsider.
Sorry, I'm in an argumentative mood today.
What I'd give to see William Shatner read Churchill's Memoirs, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender;
That would be golden.
Hmmmm. I think I have to second kapgar's answer, it encapsulates how I feel. Especially security in terms of my body, not having illness or suffering from a life altering accident, that resonates the most with me. Give me that and I give you anything you want.
I've been thinking about it and apart from bags of money, my currency would be security as Kapgar and Sebastien said.
My currency is the way I live my life, what I offer to other people and what I receive in return. I believe what you send out there comes back in some way. Some times you pay high prices for one worthless thing, other times something priceless is acquired for free. Or for a touch or a smile... It's all about what you have to spend. We're all richer than we know and poorer than we need to be. It's that simple to me.
When you feel completely spent, you need only reach inside for your reserves. You've obviously read my favorite quote by Lester Bangs?
security awaits us all.
I think Mike Scott hit it on the head. I'm pretty sure that the question should be about what you would TRADE or barter for something else - i.e. currency - not what you want.
Given that, not sure what I'm willing to trade for. Maybe my sick sense or humor or my off-beat, odd musical sensibilities. If I could scream a Howlin' Wolf song for a day's groceries, I would gladly do it.
Mike, how much silence?
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