Beware of the vent coming on....

Okay--

You know what? I'm tired of it--really I am.

Ya--I do not agree with the "rich" protesters (although, not all of them are "rich" I'm sure) complaining that the government is not helping them out enough.

But, I'm also REALLY tired of those supposed "55%'s" or 53%'s or whatever the heck they call themselves.

When did it become okay to ASSUME that because you were LUCKY and privileged enough to grow up (for the most part) caucasian, somewhere in the middle class (usually), and supposedly "self-sufficient" (which really--NO ONE is truly self-sufficient--even from the government--cause even if you live in a mountain somewhere "off" the grid--you would not be able to live there unless EVERYONE else was living far away from you "on" the grid!!!), that they can feel empowered to try to rub other's noses in their smuggness?

I'm sure they don't mean to do this--but this is when I get annoyed.

Yes--I agree--that if you grew up privileged, and with parents who had a lot of money that you have no right to whine. But, I also agree, that if you grew up of a certain race, privileged, with food on the table, a parent who could stay home, 2 parents who worked so your family could be at the "middle class", and even at least 1 parent with some college in their back-pocket--you have no right to assume you understand what others are going through!

Assuming, for example, that because you were awarded scholarship after scholarship at the college of your choice--means that if "others only work hard and long enough, and apply, they'll get scholarships too" is ludicrious! I attended a college with a huge amount of other very good students--with very little extra funding for scholarships (or donated funding). I applied every year for scholarships. I don't think I was ever awarded ONE!!!

Assuming that, for example, because you or your parents "worked hard" that other people receiving financial assistance of any type from the government, have not, or are not working hard--is again--a bunch of bull!!!

I have met MANY people--working hard at more than one low paying job (including both my parents) to keep food on the table (my parents even prioritized to the point where basically they kept food on the table--we didn't even really have appropriate clothing--but we had food). And yet, many of these families have depended upon WIC, or Food Stamps, or heaven forbid, TANF, or SSDI---when they have needed it. Does this make them "weak"? NO--if anything--it can make them stronger!

Here's the reality I see: perhaps we should change the word from "self-sufficiency" to "monitored dependency". You see--we're all truly dependent upon each other. I mean--would home-schooling children grow up to be successful--if they were surrounded by neighbors and co-workers whom had no education at all? Likely not. Our success is dependent upon others successes. I had a house to grow up in, tuition paid (and schooling subsidized), and further higher education provided, in part or whole, because of tax payers. I've also always been a tax payer. But, I've worked with and known well far too many people in far too many circumstances to say "my experiences should be the same as yours--and if they're not--YOU did something wrong". No--instead I think "hey--if I can serve my community and help others--perhaps I can help make the world a little better for someone. And maybe, just maybe, their life can become a little better--and they can help other's lives improve as well."

(P.S. I just want to commend a friend of mine, BTW. She wrote an awesome blog entry recently about her college experience, and how it was exactly what she needed. But--she recognized, that even thought she attended a religious private college, even HER education was subsidized by member's tithing in the Church. And, she discussed how she worked hard to ensure that this investment in her future was not wasted. I was highly impressed with her blog!!!)