FEATURED COLUMNIST
A Christmas Carol Revisited
I
n December of 1843, just 178 short years ago, Charles Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol.’ It’s been made into countless movies, abridged, interpreted and modified. However, it is often overlooked that one of the main tenets of the book is about business, and especially how the developing economic principle of Capitalism was affecting everyday people at the time. This was one of the first novels written for the general public that characterized the haves (business owners) vs. the havenots (workers). Likely, we’re all very familiar with the repentance and reclamation of Scrooge after being visited by 4 spirits: The ghost of Christmas Past, the ghost of Christmas Present, the ghost of Christmas Future, and the 4th spirit (actually the first to visit) was Jacob Marley, Ebenezer Scrooge’s former business partner. A Christmas Carol is an illustration of how two young capitalists (Marley & Scrooge) joined forces to take over a business and in doing so, put Scrooge’s prior employer, mentor and subsequent competitor Fezziwig — out of business. It all seemed the logical progression of success, being able to leverage one’s strength in order to outcompete in the marketplace to eliminate competitors. Besides, Fezziwig and his wife were very simple ol’ school folks, who too frequently put the joys and welfare of their employees above their own need for more profits. In fact, the Fezziwigs were known for their employee Christmas parties, where gifts, music, food, drinks, appreciation, singing and dancing among all attending was known throughout the entire city. But as the story developed, it became clear that the way Scrooge defined being a good and smart business person had some drawbacks. Scrooge lost the love of his life in exchange for the love of money from business. Scrooge overworked his clerk Bob Cratchit — the father of Tiny Tim who was in need of medical care beyond what the family could afford. Think of how we sometimes manage our businesses — tightening our profit margins, hiring qualified people for the
By Ron Kustek
amount we choose to pay them, because we also have to provide for our own families … just as every one of our employees must do. So let’s revisit one of the most overlooked parts of ‘A Christmas Carol’ which Dicken’s foreshadowed in his preface that he “endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season or with me.” As a refresher, Jacob Marley died alone, without any family or other friends, leaving everything he had to Scrooge. Marley’s only earthly friend was Scrooge, so Marley arranged for Scrooge to be visited by 3 spirits, in hopes that Scrooge would better understand how to be a better person in both life and business. Jacob Marley’s ghost confronted Ebenezer Scrooge late on Christmas Eve, and the exchange between the two former successful business partners was one of the most poignant scenes in literature and in film: “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” faulted Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself. “Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” It held up its chain at arm’s length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again. “At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down….” So, to all of us workers, employers and community members, let’s all endeavor to embrace the teachings of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and truly make a reality Tiny Tim’s request of fairness and understanding, when he simply said, ‘God Bless Us, Everyone.’ n ••• Ron Kustek is a former senior executive at The Coca-Cola Company and small business entrepreneur currently teaching at Cabrillo College.Reach him at rokustek@cabreillo.edu
Year in Review
ACROSS
1. Coalition of countries 5. King trump-er, sometimes 8. Cuckoo bird 11. ____ weevil 12. Smelting waste 13. Kitchen-wear 15. Coke or Pepsi 16. Check-in via text, email, etc. 17. Settler transport 18. *2021 Super Bowl winner, two words 20. Before long, to Shakespeare 21. Jeopardy 22. Auction action 23. Puts down
26. Coroner’s performance 30. Band booking 31. Snicket of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” 34. Stravinsky’s “The ____ of Spring” 35. Mine passages 37. *Build Back Better ____ 38. Eucharist plate 39. Table hill 40. Good review 42. “Tit for ____” 43. Buck feature, pl. 45. *First female VP 47. Evergreen creeper 48. It goes with gin, according to Snoop Dogg 50. Mongolian desert 52. *COVID-19, e.g. 55. Poison ivy or Poison oak
56. International Civil Aviation Org. 57. Distinctive smell 59. House coat 60. Asian cuisine food thickener 61. Pelvic parts 62. Gallery display 63. Self-proclaimed greatest boxer 64. Count on 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10. Wayside stop 12. Thinly spread 13. Look forward to 14. *____ Papers, leaked offshore account information 19. Banana refuse, pl. 22. Exchange for money 23. Old World lizard 24. *January 20th honoree 25. Anti-elderly one DOWN 26. Those not in favor “Monty Python” 27. Pita, alt. sp. broadcaster 28. Take without asking Rioter’s take 29. Gossiper, Yiddish Cantina pot 32. *Perseverance landing Fasteners or holders spot Cover story 33. Edible tuber *Suez ____, too tight 36. *Kabul’s organization for Ever Given in power Like custard 38. *The Nobel ____ Prize Mythological ship was awarded to Ressa “High” time and Muratov
40. Snoop around 41. Snowmobile brand 44. Give the boot 46. *”Stronger” by Cindy McCain, e.g. 48. Southwestern hut 49. Sushi restaurant staple 50. ____ gum, food additive 51. Leave out 52. Home to the Leaning Tower 53. Not in use 54. One in mattress 55. Spot for a facial 58. *Actor Liotta, star in “The Many Saints of Newark”
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Answers on 31 »
www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / December 15th 2021 / 25
