commentaries

Spoken like a true Academic. Sorry to say, I just made my last donation to SJU.

You're right, Annette. Both you and your dad held a series of good jobs created by other people. But when you put your own sweat and tears into creating YOUR OWN BUSINESS, come back to me again and convince me "you didn't build it".

Some, but not all, of the money the government spends, it more than recoups in future tax revenues.

Even the strongest Obama critic recognizes that this is the land of opportunity. And it didn't become that by chance.

As a young divorced mother of three at 30 with no job skills, I too got a "hand up" for two years. My ex's child support was less than the county's AFDC amount for a family of four. I enrolled in college to obtain training, worked part time, got scholarships & paid internships, and was able to do so only because of a small monthly benefit. We were also sustained those two years with medical coverage and food stamps. This two years of help enabled me to go on to a life-sustaining career. I've been wholly self-supporting since and this was 35 years ago. Those who judge people getting temporary help are short-sighted and condescending. My brief period on "welfare" enabled me to become a fully-contributing member of society and rear my children. Every one of us has or will need government help at some time during our lives and to categorize half the population as "not taking responsibility for their lives" or "playing victim" is outrageous and false. Air Force Guy - I am with you.

A beautiful testimony to the concept of "we are all in this together" which prevailed up until the Reagan years and which has since been seriously eroded. Very well said Ms Atkins. Thanks.

The author's story focuses on a few questions that are part of what is called a "Privilege Walk", an oft-used equity training exercise for educators. Everyone stands roughly in the middle of a gym or cafeteria. The leader asks questions such as "Did your parents graduate from high school?" or "Are you male?" With each yes answer, you move a step forward. With each no answer, you move a step back. After 20 such prompts, things get a little uncomfortable. It is a powerful exhibition of the advantages people have had, or lacked, in life. It is especially powerful in a diverse group of people because it exposes our differences in a very visible and often surprising way. Some people were born on second base, but they didn't hit a double. This is a way to teach about how that occurs. We all stand on the shoulders of those who nurtured us.

Years ago I owned a successful Health Care Clinic. I worked hard and expanded the patient base and did my best to treat my patients (customers) well. So, I suppose you could say I built that business. But I did not build the building the clinic was housed in. I did not build the parking lot. I did not build the roads to the clinic. I paid for advertising, but I did not craft the ads to ensure they would be as effective as possible. I purchased the equipment necessary to run the business, but I did not build the equipment and did not have the capacity to test that equipment and ensure its quality. I had employees that performed many of the tasks that I did not have time to perform. Simply put, I could NEVER have done it all by myself. Nobody can! Unless, of course, your business is capable of earning they money without customers.

"But when you put your own sweat and tears into creating YOUR OWN BUSINESS, come back to me again and convince me 'you didn't build it'."********** And when you build a business without workers in your employ or buying your goods or services then I'll believe that you did in fact build it on your own. Bottom line your sweat and tears will add up to nothing without a community of support in one fashion or another.

I am confused once again. Of course parents strive so their children will have an easier time. Of course all business depends on roads and a fair legal system.........So what conclusion is to be drawn? Sure I'd rather build a business as a white child of rich parents in a fully-functioning society.......SOOOOO what am I missing???? davehoug@comcast.net