I Suffer Therefore I Am

In the West today, suffering has become a new sacred cow.  Once a common feature of the human condition, it is now a special trait you can use to impress your contemporaries.  It provides you with a borrowed identity, transforming you into an exceptional being who can show off on the public stage at little cost. Everyone flaunts their certificate of affliction, positioning themselves above their peers. Even those who are well-off and powerful seek to find a place in the aristocracy of the margin