It was great seeing you and Kristy last night. Makes me sad that we don’t see more of you guys.
You make some interesting points. I’m glad that you wrote about this because these same thoughts have run through my mind as well. You defiantly have been given many talents that we are lucky enough to see when you drum, grace us with your kind presence or make our bellies hurt with laughter. However, I think determination and passion really goes a long way but you need to add opportunity and privilege to the equation. I feel like there are lots of people in this world who work their asses off and don’t get too far in life (wealth, family, friends, acclaim etc). And there are also those who are born with great disadvantages like meth babies or children with major health issues. Sometimes these obstacles can be overcome with help or determination, but sometimes not.
Our forefathers wrote that “All Men Are Created Equal” but they forgot about women, slaves, and non-land owners. And I think that inequality still exists today. The biggest prejudice I see that is against poor people. Why is it most Americans think that rich people somehow deserve their wealth because they are seen as more determined, have better judgment, and are overall better human beings? Poor people are then viewed as bad money managers, or even worse… lazy. People often forget that equality/success has lots to do with your health, education, and opportunity.
I think back to living in the trailer park in Milford, Maine. It wasn’t a nice trailer park by any means. The roads were pitted with pot holes since they weren’t paved, we lived right next the railroad tracks, and all of the homes were single-wides. Although I lived there, I was one of the richest and privileged kids in my school. My family was able to afford new clothes at the start of school and fresh new school supplies. Other kids wore hand-me-downs. My mom went back to collage during this time and my dad was a high school graduate. These things set us apart from the other residents. I look back now with more discerning adult eyes and my thoughts go to a little boy who was afraid of the cops. I thought it was funny as a kid, and we would tease him. But in his life cops were a huge threat. I wouldn’t doubt his mom was a druggie and was abusive toward him. His life was pretty shitty and yet he was still scared of someone taking him away from the one home he knew. Without some sort of intervention (read “opportunity”) this kid had little chance of become something different.
When we moved to Oregon my life changed. The culture changed. I was surrounded by successful children who excelled in school and sports. These kids were children of Intel workers and were given opportunities that the kids in Milford were not given. They traveled and had a different perspective of the world. This world was built for them. They were privileged.
Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is what we should try to do in this world is offer EVERYONE the opportunity for better. With quality healthcare and education free to all I think we can help bridge the gaps of inequality. I agree with Gandhi who said "A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable". And to assume everyone is equally capable of achieving greatness is to brush off our responsibility to help others. I think Americans can be better humanitarians not only to other nations but also our neighbors at home. There’s just too much hurt in this world to not promote equal opportunity.
You make some interesting points. I’m glad that you wrote about this because these same thoughts have run through my mind as well. You defiantly have been given many talents that we are lucky enough to see when you drum, grace us with your kind presence or make our bellies hurt with laughter. However, I think determination and passion really goes a long way but you need to add opportunity and privilege to the equation. I feel like there are lots of people in this world who work their asses off and don’t get too far in life (wealth, family, friends, acclaim etc). And there are also those who are born with great disadvantages like meth babies or children with major health issues. Sometimes these obstacles can be overcome with help or determination, but sometimes not.
Our forefathers wrote that “All Men Are Created Equal” but they forgot about women, slaves, and non-land owners. And I think that inequality still exists today. The biggest prejudice I see that is against poor people. Why is it most Americans think that rich people somehow deserve their wealth because they are seen as more determined, have better judgment, and are overall better human beings? Poor people are then viewed as bad money managers, or even worse… lazy. People often forget that equality/success has lots to do with your health, education, and opportunity.
I think back to living in the trailer park in Milford, Maine. It wasn’t a nice trailer park by any means. The roads were pitted with pot holes since they weren’t paved, we lived right next the railroad tracks, and all of the homes were single-wides. Although I lived there, I was one of the richest and privileged kids in my school. My family was able to afford new clothes at the start of school and fresh new school supplies. Other kids wore hand-me-downs. My mom went back to collage during this time and my dad was a high school graduate. These things set us apart from the other residents. I look back now with more discerning adult eyes and my thoughts go to a little boy who was afraid of the cops. I thought it was funny as a kid, and we would tease him. But in his life cops were a huge threat. I wouldn’t doubt his mom was a druggie and was abusive toward him. His life was pretty shitty and yet he was still scared of someone taking him away from the one home he knew. Without some sort of intervention (read “opportunity”) this kid had little chance of become something different.
When we moved to Oregon my life changed. The culture changed. I was surrounded by successful children who excelled in school and sports. These kids were children of Intel workers and were given opportunities that the kids in Milford were not given. They traveled and had a different perspective of the world. This world was built for them. They were privileged.
Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is what we should try to do in this world is offer EVERYONE the opportunity for better. With quality healthcare and education free to all I think we can help bridge the gaps of inequality. I agree with Gandhi who said "A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable". And to assume everyone is equally capable of achieving greatness is to brush off our responsibility to help others. I think Americans can be better humanitarians not only to other nations but also our neighbors at home. There’s just too much hurt in this world to not promote equal opportunity.
Ok, this post won't be as long as the previous one, which I almost read the entirety, and would have succeeded if I wasn't already burned out by reading your blog, but....
I think that luck plays into this whole thing, as I don't actually think that George Foreman can actually read, so he'd have to luck out with a phone call or a personal meeting.
I also think the interesting thing about the whole thing is how success is rated. I get the feeling from our few conversations that have much depth that you'd like to go for broke with things, because being musician is hard and you don't have a slip of paper from a college that qualifies you for better jobs. But you're one of my favorite people to hang out with, I think you are a talented musician, story-teller and have a great sense of humor to go along with being a great guy, so you're at least as successful as the two-headed freakshow who retires at 21, except people would actually like you.
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I think that luck plays into this whole thing, as I don't actually think that George Foreman can actually read, so he'd have to luck out with a phone call or a personal meeting.
I also think the interesting thing about the whole thing is how success is rated. I get the feeling from our few conversations that have much depth that you'd like to go for broke with things, because being musician is hard and you don't have a slip of paper from a college that qualifies you for better jobs. But you're one of my favorite people to hang out with, I think you are a talented musician, story-teller and have a great sense of humor to go along with being a great guy, so you're at least as successful as the two-headed freakshow who retires at 21, except people would actually like you.
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