Talking recently with the popular young female rapper Lil’ Kim, I asked about love in her life, and she responded: “Love. What’s that? I have not known any love.” Abandoned by parents who physically abused her, she had no way to understand love, but she did understand material survival by any means necessary. Her attitudes about love were cynical. Her focus in life was on attaining more money and fame. Listening to her, I realized that it is easier for a talented individual to move from rags to riches in our society than it is for them to know love. We use the satisfaction of material longing
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