Monday November 7, 2016 10:54 PM
Clinton wins! Trump loses! This will be the headline on Wednesday morning. The media as a whole will be a big winner after a race featuring two polarizing candidates who have increased viewership of all things political. Unfortunately, the real winner is the amorphous mass of politicians and governmental bureaucrats. Likewise, the bureaucratic and entrenched wing of corporate America is right on the heels of the politicians in terms of status-quo-driven, always-protected success. Wealthy self-serving "haves" will make money no matter who sits in the Oval Office. It doesn't make a difference. Whether you are part of the Democratic or Republican machinery, you face a short term victory but a longer term defeat. Why? Because we are wasting precious time and resources travelling down a road of ruin instead of a direction that would be more equitable for all, especially in terms of equal opportunity. Electing a female President is a monumental step forward. There will be moments of hope and excitement as we glimpse at the "mirage" of what could be. But ultimately the world of Clinton Number Two looks, tastes and smells the same as the Have/Have-Not Reality of Bush One, Clinton One, Bush Two and Obama One. It feels like we’re moving forward, but in reality we’ve got the car in reverse.
My mother—sharp and witty, loved and liked by many in my hometown neighborhood of southwest Philadelphia—used to say: "Don't talk about politics, religion and money at a dinner party." It’s funny though: we lived in a tiny home and had little money, and we didn't go to any fancy dinner parties or host them for that matter. We did go to countless neighborhood family get-togethers, year in and year out. My father was from a sprawling Italian-American family, and many of the aunts, uncles and cousins lived in the same neighborhood. Everyone lived in a small row home. For all the big holidays, we got together at Aunt Ida’s or Aunt Grace’s house. They prepared the "homemades" and all the Italian specialties. Of course, there were other aunts present, and everyone brought something to the party. The uncles (brothers, and brother-in-law’s) brought the liquor (most times home-made). And then the family gatherings would proceed with plenty of eating, drinking and laughing. Card games would follow. Finally, after a few bottles were spent, came the arguing and insulting. And yes: Politics, Religion, and Money were popular topics. But any subject was fair game, and it always blew past the "PRM". The men were the key players in the evening’s "entertainment". This was 1965 to 1975.
My mother's heritage was Czech, Austrian, Dutch, Scottish, and maybe a few more European representations—auburn hair, light blue eyes. My father was second generation Italian-American (tall, dark and muscular). They were a fiery pair—equal parts passion and argumentative volatility. They both attended high school. My mom was a waitress, and then raised my sister and me. My dad fought his way across France and Germany in WWII and when he returned home to the US, he became a police officer, a position he held for 54 years. I’ve looked into it, and he must have been one of the longest serving police officers in US history. They both wanted their kids to have more opportunities then they did, but, at the time, I was oblivious to their foresight.
I was drawn to the idea that it was the purpose of neighbors to “have your back". I didn't think of Poor versus Rich or similar cultural demarcations. I still cherish my rough and tumble neighborhood upbringing. I grew up positively, connected to a diverse environment and holding equal respect for all. My street education has helped me more in navigating life than many of the other drivers of intelligence that I came across.
Over the years, my parents infused my life with wisdom and insight. Mom’s big focus was education, manners, and respect for others. Education was most important. She always said that her Jewish friends held education in the highest regard. They treated education as the key ingredient to improve yourself and open the door for new opportunities. She said that most immigrants came to America with "only the shirts on their back". There were many factors that led to "the American Dream": education was top of the list. The tight-knit Jewish community of inner Philly embodied this idea, and so she followed in kind.
My dad's top three were to be true to yourself (don’t be a “yes man,” be a pathfinder not a blind follower), work hard in life and at life, and help others no matter your situation. Mom’s specific and more superficial insight was to learn about money and be smart with it. Dad’s biggie for success in the material world was to learn to golf because that's what the rich families did. They did not hover over my sister and I with their thoughts and ambitions for us. But these concepts were offered to us from time to time while growing up. They wanted us to figure things out on our own. Fittingly, the one concept they were completely unified on was: Stand up on your own two feet and make it happen yourself.
I've travelled the world extensively, and I can say unequivocally there is no place in the world like America when it comes to a chance to fulfill your dreams. Don’t get me wrong: there are many amazing countries and people around the world. But when I think of America, I see the whole world represented under one roof. Every country is here.
America, just like my parents, represents an abundance of love and volatility. It is beautifully imperfect. Extraordinary things can happen to and for you in America. This has always been the case from pre-Revolutionary War to the official formation of the United States under the Constitution through the present day. But it is not available to many in the same form, if at all. Equality doesn’t mean equity.
And, most distressingly, the pathway toward the chance of opportunity is becoming even more opaque, convoluted, and complex. You may not be personally driven to pursue the abundance that life has to offer: that’s fine. But everyone should at the very least have access to options.
The concept of Have/Have-Nots carries many different meanings to citizens of the world. Most probably believe it refers to monetary wealth or some other similar derivation. To me it means this: "Have knowledge" vs "Not Have knowledge". It’s that simple. The understanding of certain key concepts can truly propel a person to new heights. And the more you learn and understand, the more opportunity you can access (if you want to pursue it).
I'm an eternal optimist. I root for everyone. I'm hoping President Clinton Number Two will do some amazing things and change the direction and dialogue of our country. I had the same hope with each of the past presidents, dating back to Bush One. But given what I have fortunately and graciously learned from the "have" side of the knowledge equation (up to my 25th birthday in 1986 and henceforth), I've always proceeded in life without counting on our political or corporate leaders to do the aggregated "right thing". It just hasn’t happened yet.
My goal over the next 100 posts in this kick-off blog is to just maybe illuminate a better path.
Posts and vlogs to follow.
DP
