Taking

Taking to give. Taking to profit. Taking to live. Taking to disinherit. Taking to improve. Taking to feed.

Each of these has different connotation created by what comes after. Some of these actions we allow and some we do not. I am not sure why that is. Do we allow these things when we can understand or approve the result? You would think the simple fact of “taking” makes it not allowable. The government takes money, but they give us roads and other services. I take an apple from a tree, but I need to feed and nourish my own body. I’m allowed to take a life if my own is in danger. So perhaps we only allow things when we don’t feel cheated. When the value exchanged is not equal. If I cut down an entire tree, to only eat a few apples, we would say that shouldn’t be allowed. If someone robs me of my wallet, I get nothing in return and this is not allowed.  

How do we way monetary value versus humanitarian, symbolic, or cultural value. They aren’t equal systems. If we say money should always come last, will our cities ever grow? Will we ever see the city of light? I don’t know how to universally say who should win. Maybe it is just to say that money doesn’t always win.

“We live in cities you'll never see onscreen
Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run things
Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams
And you know we're on each other's team”

Team by Lorde