The Cost of Blindness

The Cost of Blindness

By John Kazerooni

Once upon a time, in a forgotten corner of the world, there lived a man of immense wealth. He was cunning in business—rootless in values, relentless in pursuit. To him, success was a game of deception, and cheating was not shameful but a badge of brilliance. He prided himself on being the ultimate dealmaker, never hesitating to bend the truth, betray partners, or ruin competitors if it meant closing a deal.

His love for wealth was cold, and so was everything he built. His grand estate was filled with gold—not just as ornamentation, but as obsession. Furniture, utensils, walls, even the threads of his garments shimmered with the lifeless gleam of gold. To him, gold was not a symbol of value—it was the essence of life.

As time passed, his wealth only grew. People, mesmerized by his fortune, began to revere him. They envied his success, ignored his treachery, and praised his rise. In their eyes, he had unlocked a secret, and they hoped to benefit from his magic.

One day, the people of the region gathered. “This man,” they said, “knows how to get rich. Let us make him our king. Perhaps he can make us rich too.” And so, blinded by gold and hope, they crowned him King Gold.

But King Gold was not content. His kingdom did not satisfy his hunger—it only widened it. His first act as ruler was to seize all properties in the region. But land was not enough. He claimed the people too. “I am the chosen one,” he declared. “I speak for the heavens.”

Under his reign, the rich were plundered, the poor crushed. He spared no one. Those who questioned him were silenced. Those who worshipped him were rewarded—regardless of their crimes. Justice became a tool, bent to his will. Law became a mask, worn only when convenient.

Farms, factories, schools—all fell under his control. Free thought disappeared. Dissent was labeled betrayal. Hope decayed. And the people, once citizens, became slaves.

King Gold ruled without mercy and without consequence. His followers, like shadows, enabled his tyranny. His crimes were ignored. His cruelty, normalized. The region, once vibrant with life and labor, sank into silence and despair.

But one day, that silence cracked. The people, long oppressed, gathered again—this time not in adoration, but in resolve. They had tasted the fruit of blind loyalty and found it rotten. Together, they rose to reclaim their dignity. They tore down the throne they had built with their own hands.

And in the ashes of a broken kingdom, a hard truth remained:

When a society worships power over principle, wealth over wisdom, and pride over compassion, it builds its own chains.

And when it opens its eyes, only unity can set it free.

Lingering Questions

What drives a society to worship success, even when it comes at the cost of others’ suffering?

Can the pursuit of wealth coexist with integrity, and how do we recognize when that balance is lost?

Why do people so often surrender power to those who promise riches, even at the cost of their freedom?

At what point does loyalty become blindness, and ambition become oppression?

How can communities protect themselves from repeating the same mistakes under new names?

What does it truly mean to be rich—in gold, or in values?

Is it ever too late to wake up and take back what was freely given away?

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