NYT: "How to be truly free"
As we approach our own election, we're reminded of a "philosopher president"
Something about that face … José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano —Uruguayan politician, former revolutionary and farmer who served as the 40th president of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015.
Mujica has been described as "the world's humblest head of state" due to his austere lifestyle and his donation of around 90 percent of his $12,000 monthly salary to charities that benefit poor people and small entrepreneurs.
He was imprisoned for his political activities for thirteen years before he rose to presidency and helped Uruguay achieve greater stability and prosperity. (Wikipedia)
A recent global profile of Mujica by Jack Nicas of The New York Times opened with a formula for freedom and this description:
“A decade ago, the world had a brief fascination with José Mujica. He was the folksy president of Uruguay who had shunned his nation’s presidential palace to live in a tiny tin-roof home with his wife and three-legged dog.”
Mujica now calls himself a crazy, old man and thinks humanity may be doomed.
“We waste a lot of time uselessly. We can live more peacefully.
Take Uruguay. Uruguay has 3.5 million people. It imports 27 million pairs of shoes.
We make garbage and work in pain. For what?”
The man, this article and the writing are too good to do anything but offer a few tidbits to encourage you to read the whole thing. Here is the link to the unlocked article.
You’re free when you escape the law of necessity —
when you spend the time of your life on what you desire.
Humanity needs to work less, have more free time and be more grounded.
Why so much garbage? Why do you have to change your car? Change the refrigerator?
There is only one life and it ends. You have to give meaning to it.
Fight for happiness, not just for wealth.
As November 5th approaches, we have spent enormous amounts of time, energy, and money sorting out the issues and qualifications, the values and personalities. We talk about winning and losing as if it’s a sporting event or a pie-eating contest.
We are one country. The enemy isn’t Democrats, Republicans, or Independents … it’s cancer; it’s climate disasters, it’s violence of all types. The only way we win is if we come together and join forces to address the challenges ahead of us.
We need to support the candidates (in all races) that have the wisdom to lead us back together, to join our minds and hearts into action to create a future for our children and their children.
Perhaps as much as any election in our history, we need to vote for leaders who care about all of us and can help us meet the uncertainties of the future.
I enjoyed this post
I love your post today about my new hero. Thank you!! It brought back memories of living in
Costa Rica with my late husband Robert Muller (www.robertmuller.org). In our tin roof cabin, we lived simply on the hill next to the University for Peace. We were so happy and our Bench of Dreams was an inspiration to all who visited to live life for your dreams. We wrote our ideas for a better world and we ate from the garden. It was so peaceful in this demilitarized country. Thanks again..