Several months ago, I read an article about a college graduate who was still living at home, unable to find work. He was in despair because of his college loans and was forced to live with his parents. Mom and dad tsked and sympathized. Then the other details began to emerge. For example, this student had turned down jobs because they just didn't pay enough. His highest offer had been $45,000, and that was simply not worth it. After having his living supported while attending for school he wasn't paying for yet, he decided that he deserved better. I read several follow up editorials rightfully asking why this young man felt entitled to live for free in a nice, two-story home in a middle class neighborhood and turn down work. How is earning nothing better than earning a "measly" 45k per year with no experience in the field? How did the editor not realize how ridiculous it looked that their slant clearly intended to drum up pity for this man's plight? Therein lies our problem. Some people still don't get it.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies: Arthur. The lines are spoken by Sir John Gielgud, in the role of Hobson the butler.
"Please remove your helmet." Smack smack. "You spoiled little bastard." Smack. "So you feel unloved. Welcome to the world, Arthur, everyone is unloved." Smack. "And incidentally, I love you."
We all need a wake up call now and then. This one is long overdue. We are spoiled little bastards. Normally, I try to refrain from mixing Dudley Moore with Ben Stein in polite company. The one time I saw Ben Stein in person, he said something that has stuck with me ever since. "We have people living below our poverty line who have air conditioning, a TV set in every room, guaranteed emergency medical care and a cell phone," he said. He is right. Make no mistake, I'm not saying that minimum wage is acceptable, or that the tax system is right or fair. I'm saying as a nation, most of us take a lot of luxuries for granted. We have bought the fairy tale that our standard of living will continue through no real effort or sacrifice on our part. We somehow trick ourselves into forgetting what poverty looks like. How can we complain about our health care system when tuberculosis, starvation and dying from a simple infection are still a threat for millions? Our law prevents an emergency room from turning anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay. Compare that to Zimbabwe and tell me we have the short end of any stick.
We do have problems in our nation that have to be dealt with, and now. One of them needs to be our perspective. Our gift of a free education should empower us to be smarter than this. Due to the economy, some of us are learning how to make choices, budget, go without and work harder for the first time ever. In the long run, that's not a bad thing. As a culture, it may be our salvation. We've been spoiled children long enough. Now it is time to live like the rest of the world and take ownership of our problems, regardless of whether we feel they are fair, or of the solution looks a little too much like work. I think we are finally waking up and shaking off the stupor that let us fall into this trap. It's about time we recognize our assets and put our energy into what matters.
And incidentally, I love you.
Bon
There are always folks who are going to game the system, and folks who are going to be victimized by the big fat cats. By and large, America's had it good.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, greed and instant gratification are our country's problems. The funny part is we care more about going after the single mother of 4 buying Pepsi with food stamps than we do going after banks stealing people's homes.
There's something wrong with that, too.
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ReplyDeleteWhoops. Don't drink and read blogs, is the lesson here. I emailed the rant in its entirety. I look forward to regretting this in the morning.
ReplyDeleteLowkey +8
Who's been a spoiled child long enough? Somehow I missed out.
ReplyDelete"Our law prevents an emergency room from turning anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay."
ReplyDeleteThen you can plunge into bankruptcy from the bill you run up. I don't live in Zimbabwe, I live in America where things are fucked up now and getting worse every day.
Sorry, JoyfulA. I wasn't clear there. I was referring to the general attitude I read in the media regarding tough times, and our society as a whole. There are obviously exceptions to the rule, I do understand that.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: you live to pay your bill, that is the point I was trying to make. It may not be convenient or perfect, that is a great example of the unreasonable expectations I was referring to. Between bankruptcy and death, which would you choose? We should be grateful for having that choice, it is not even an option for millions. Don't even get me started on the level of health care we enjoy.
Life may not come on a silver platter. But the fact is, we still have it darned good as a country. If we can adjust our focus and cut the clutter off our imagined list of woes, we could accomplish so much more, and make changes where it matters. But it has to start with seeing our blessings for what they are. Our freedoms and blessings are gifts, not guarantees.
I talk to people every day who swear they would just die if they did not have air conditioning, or would have no idea how to feed themselves if the grocery stores stopped providing food. An estimated 1.5 million children die every year in the rest of the world because they can't drink clean water, free of poisons or fecal matter. There is a percentage of the world that lives where you poop in the streets like an animal, and people die of diarrhea or a simple infection. Think about that for a minute or two, and then tell me overpriced antibiotics and the Imodium AD you can get at your convenience isn't good enough.
In 100 years, we have come from a hearty nation of hard workers and innovative creators to a bunch of brats who demand that we be happy at all times, and every solution be fair and provided at no cost or inconvenience to us. It's a dangerous time to have this attitude, and it is a luxury we can't afford. One hard smack to our comfort level has sent a shudder through our country. What is going to happen when the truly bad times come to pass?
Bon here seems like a fine intelligent woman.
ReplyDeleteWhy are posting in this dump full of liberal idiots when it's clear you disagree with everything Zandar has ever written?
You're clearly smarter than that, and smarter than him.
Why waste your time here?