Monday, March 23, 2009

# 253 – Let Them Eat Cake

Let Them Eat Cake (03-23-09)

Back in the latter part of the eighteenth century, France was ruled by Louis XVI and his wife, an Austrian import, named Marie Antoinette. Let us just say that she was not well received by the populace, who already just about had it with the aristocracy and the monarchy in particular. And the arrival of a foreign model fresh off the assembly line didn’t make matters any better. Marie was extravagant almost beyond belief and the press of that era painted her with words that even the media of today would balk at when talking about a public figure, as difficult as that might be to believe. France was in a pretty bad situation financially and Marie was the cause of it all, or at least that is what they made her out to be. She was even dubbed with the sobriquet of “Madame Deficit.”

There were widespread famines and shortages throughout the reign of her husband, Louis and things were not looking good. It is reported that one day, upon being informed that the populace was suffering greatly due to the shortage of bread, she replied with the now famous phrase, “Then let them eat cake.”

Now, it is questionable as to whether or not she actually said such a thing, but from the very beginning of his reign, Louis was painted as incompetent and somewhat naïve. Adding Marie to the mix, with her excesses just made it easier for the average citizen to believe when the country was in turmoil, recession and on the brink of revolution.

Fast forward to the twenty first century. You, yes you, are Marie Antoinette. I know, I know, most of you just aren’t pretty enough, but some of the gals are. Hopefully, in the current economy, you are a little more reserved in your spending. When it’s someone else’s money, it is somehow easier to be extravagant. Now, unlike the real Marie, you have a desire to satisfy the populace and yourself at the same time. And, again, unlike her, you may be regretting the excesses of a winter of food and frolic. With the warmer weather coming, you will be ready for wearing less clothing and exposing a little more flesh. You will be rummaging through the closets and drawers to pull out those bathing suits, short sleeved tops and shorts. And, when you go out among the crowd, what will your subjects, your public, be expected to feast upon? Will you present them with a meal that is gross and unpalatable? Will that extra flesh be a little more than they can handle? Or, will you give them something more pleasing to the palate, and a little easier on the eyes? It’s time to put in the extra effort; to get to work. Marie neglected her job and lost her head over it. Will you? Oh, make no mistake, you can be arrogant and say “let them eat cake.” But, will it be pound cake or beefcake?

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Copyright 2004-2009 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.

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