No Job Is Beneath You

I have a feeling I'm going to sound old-fogey-ish with this, but I guess that happens as time goes by (although I don't ever remember feeling differently about this issue). See, when I was growing up, I wanted -- and really needed -- to work. I was responsible for my own car, my own car repairs, my own car insurance, my own bills, and any "fancy" clothes that I might want. So I worked. And I grew up with the understanding that, if you got a job, you worked it, no matter what kind of job it was. And if you couldn't find a job doing something you really wanted to do, you found a job doing something so that they would pay you every week.

So I've done everything: I picked apples. I pumped gas and learned how to change oil, tune-up cars, do brakes, and replace clutches, among other things. I worked retail in several different places -- and one lovely task involved unloading a tractor-trailer full of charcoal briquets at one particular drug store I worked at. I drove limos, worked in radio, worked as a statistician, and have (finally!) settled into a career in law. But even as a lawyer, when I moved from Ohio to New Jersey, and had to await bar results, I still had to eat and pay bills. So, I worked for a temp agency, and wound up on loading docks, on an assembly line, as a secretary, and as a records researcher -- all the while with a law degree in my back pocket. The point is I worked at whatever I had to work at because that's how you feed yourself and your family. Lounging around, waiting for the "right" opportunity, was never an option. That's not how I was raised, and that's not what you do.

But in the time we live now, too many Americans -- some young, and some old -- think that it is beneath them to work at a particular job, or in a particular field, or even to put in what they consider "long" hours. People rail against illegal immigrants taking American jobs, yet many of the jobs in question -- floor sweeper, demolition laborer on a construction site, house painter, maid, toilet cleaner at fast food joints -- are jobs that many Americans simply refuse to take. I have heard people say, "I won't take that position -- I'm better than that." Or, "I don't want to get up at 6:00 a.m. to get to work." Or, "It's too hot to work outside in the summer." Please.

People think that work is supposed to be a "fun" place. It's not. It's work. That's why they call it "work." If it was fun, they'd call it "play." Sure, some folks are fortunate enough to land in a field that they truly enjoy, but there's still crap to put up with even in a dream job. My dream job was when I was a dj -- I loved it, but not every minute of it. I worked holidays, including Christmas day. I had to get up at 4:00 a.m. to make the air by 6. But I did it because that's what you do.

People think work is supposed to be TV-type glamorous, Mary Tyler Moore-esq, "The Office"-type places to work. Again, there are moments like that in any job, but it's still a job, and you just do it.

If the only job you can get is hauling rocks from a construction site to a dumpster, who do you think you are to believe that that job is beneath you? It's a job. It pays you money. In some cases, it gives you benefits, and if it doesn't include benefits, that's all the more reason to work, so you can afford things like doctors and dentists. A job -- any job -- is guaranteed money in your pocket every week. And if it doesn't pay enough, you know what you do? You find another, better-paying job. But you keep working at the job you're at while you look, because you still have to eat.

People -- both young and old -- are so spoiled in this country, it is almost sickening. No one is guaranteed anything in life, and life doesn't owe you anything, either. You can take the bull by the horns and make a name for yourself, but you've got to take the initiative. Starring in "The Real World" is not a career path. The guys who give out jobs aren't coming to your door to offer one to you; you've got to go get it, go find it, or find something that you can do that can pay you money on a regular basis. And showing that you're a hard worker -- whether you're stocking shelves or parking cars at a restaurant -- is an important step in showing that you're a responsible human being, and not just a spoiled brat.

Immigrants are people too.

Was watching ABC Primetime tonight, and they did an interesting piece on their "What Would You Do?" segment. In a deli in Linden, New Jersey, they put an actor behind the counter acting like a total tool when waiting on two other actors posing as Mexican day laborers. (For those who don't know, these are folks, some here legally, some not, who live in and around towns and gather at certain spots around town, waiting for contractors, construction firms, carpenters, painters, etc., to come round and offer them a day's worth of work. Many -- if not most -- have little, if any, ability to speak English, but they can work, so they do, and contractors use them freely, easily, and voluntarily.)

Anyway, with hidden cameras rolling, the actor behind the counter took the position that he would not serve the actor-day laborers who were trying to buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee, because they couldn't speak English. He called them illegals, told them to go to Taco Bell to get service, and said he wouldn't serve them. It got ugly (play-acting ugly, of course, but it looked real enough). The point of the story was to elicit reactions from others in the store.

88 people were subject to the "show." 44 took no position. 9 sided with the clerk, some vehemently, telling the workers to get out of the store or the cops would be called, another saying he'd like to hang out with the clerk. But the rest stood up -- vigorously -- in support of the workers. One lady was in tears over the treatment, canceled her food order, and left. Another guy -- an obvious regular -- called the manager over and told him to straighten out the obnoxious clerk. One lady I thought was gonna go over the counter after the clerk, calling him an asshole, and looked like she'd rip his throat out with her bare hands if she could get to him.

It was good to see. Yes, I know -- illegal immigrants take jobs. I know they don't "follow the rules" and they should. I know they don't speak the language, and they should try to assimilate more. But they're still people. Legal or illegal, that doesn't change the fact that they are entitled to the same humane, decent treatment you would show any other human being. And, they do take jobs -- but the jobs that a good number of Americans these days find "beneath them" (which I'm going to discuss in a minute, in another post.) It would be one thing if illegals were coming to this country and taking CEO positions, and IT jobs and such. But they're coming here and picking apples in orchards, and cleaning toilets in McDonalds, and hauling rocks from a construction site. Should they be legal? Of course. But should they not be here at all? See what happens to this country if that ever happens.

My "Glad" List for 2009

I've seen too many posts to start this year about people "wishing" for that, or "hoping" for this.....I thought an "I'm Glad For" list might be appropriate:

1. I’m glad we didn’t have macbooks, psp’s, gameboys, and dvd players when I was a kid — it helped me learn to interact with people (my parents and siblings) on long drives and on tv-free vacations, and it forced us to be creative to entertain ourselves with games like “The Alphabet Game” and “20 Questions” (which I’ve passed on to my kids).

2. I’m glad we had to sit around the table for dinner every night when I was a kid, instead of eating in front of the TV, or on the couch, because I learned how to have a conversation, how to listen, and how to behave in a restaurant.

3. I’m glad my parents didn’t overindulge me with every gift I could conceive of (not that they were in any position to do so) because it taught me how to appreciate those gifts that I did get.

4. I’m glad I had to start working at 15 in order to make enough money for my own car, car insurance, and expenses, because it taught me to appreciate my things more, and taught me responsibility.

5. I’m glad that I learned how to apologize as a kid, because it is far better to take ownership of the mistakes you make, rather than try to pin the blame on someone else.

6. I’m glad I turned out the way I am, because, while I’m not perfect by any stretch, I’m cofortable in my own skin, and in my life.

A Message to Our Children

I gave you life, but I can not live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I can not make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I can not always be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I can not account for it.
I can take you to church, but I can not make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I can not always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I can not make you lovely inside.
I can offer you advice, but I can not accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I can not force it upon you.
I can teach you to be a friend, but I can not make you one.
I can teach you to share, but I can not make you unselfish.
I can teach you repsect, but I can not teach you honor.
I can grieve about your report card, but I can not doubt your teachers.
I can advise you about friends, but I can not choose them for you.
I can teach you about sex, but I can not keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can not build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I can not say NO for you.
I can warn you about drugs, but I can not prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can not achieve them for you.
I can let you babysit, but I can not be accountable for your actions.
I can teach you kindness, but I can not force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I can not make your morals.
I can love you as a daughter or son, but I can not place you in God’s family.
I can pray for you, but I can not make you walk with God.

— The Rev. Dr. John L. Hines