I’d like to expand on an incredibly stupid statement made on Facebook: “Work hard and you can achieve greatness!!” So just what the hell is that, greatness? Well, to hear many Americans tell it these days, it’s owning three or four homes and having more money than you could spend in several life times. Why is it that we always look to billionaire sociopaths as models of success? And more importantly, why is it that success and ‘greatness’ always have to be centered around acquiring the most toys?
Don’t get me wrong, I think most everyone likes to indulge every now and then. We’d all go nuts if we didn’t, I think. Spice of life and such. But what about those who have overcome a lot to get to where they are, despite not having a whole lot to their name besides the clothing on their backs?
That’s how it is for a lot of people. I can tell you from experience that people with disabilities have to work like hell just to get through the day sometimes, often with nothing to show for it. Or you have the people who do the grunt work who advocate for people with disabilities or better conditions in general, the kind of work that never goes undone yet does so much for so many. Ask any teacher and that point will be easily demonstrated. And yet these people are maligned day in and day out by people who associate success with excess.
And unfortunately for those who like to preach again and again about success and greatness and bitch about people who work for a living (while working themselves), they will never reach that greatness they crave.
So if you ask me, perhaps we ought to re-examine what exactly defines success, because as you can see looking at guys like Donald Trump, it sure as hell isn’t excess. I know I couldn’t care less about that.
See you around,
Homer