Responsibility
I don’t usually wax philosophic in blog entries but it might swing that way in this one…
What makes someone responsible? What makes someone irresponsible?
There seems to be some level of personal responsibility missing from people these days. I have my reasons for stating this. Allow me to elaborate…
Without stating specifics, one of my jobs is to help teacher trainees in ‘job assistance.’ Although I have no business card or any formal paperwork officially stating that is my position, that’s what I do. Somehow, it seems that each month the concept of job assistance becomes twisted into job placement. Twisted by the teacher trainees. I simply do not have the capacity to provide jobs nor does my employer. One past comment was that I should be able to give ‘more hook ups’ in regards to jobs. What the fuck does that mean? Since when are jobs given for free without any effort from the party who wants/needs the job? Most jobs that I know of are offered due to: submission of a CV, a good interview (or a series of interviews) and qualifications/merit. Fuck off if you think life is hook-ups. You’re in for a series of disappointments so prepare yourself. To me, that’s an irresponsible and juvenile mantra. Get your head out of your ass.
I’m not suggesting that everyone I meet follows the creed of MINE GIVE IT TO ME NOW FOR FREE NO WORK REQUIRED. There are plenty of people out there who know what is necessary and they do do it. But it’s that other group that I’m referring to….*Maybe this is a uniquely American mindset. **Maybe age is a big determiner, too. But one thing is true–it is easy for a bad egg to spoil the bunch. Negativity seems to be an easily created recipe.
*Does anyone else think Americans are this way? Speaking AS an American I feel I can say with confidence that yes, many of us ARE this way. In other words, wanting the result without the process. It doesn’t work that way; you can’t get to Z from A without going through the alphabet.
**Younger people seem to be the biggest offenders of the MINE GIVE IT TO ME NOW FOR FREE NO WORK REQUIRED crime. Those with a longer work history or more life experience (as cliche as that sounds) acknowledge that there’s work involved–in everything.
Bottom line, I think it’s about personal responsibility. No, you can’t control all the factors that are contributors to your home life, job, personal life, finances, etc. But, there are ones that you ARE in control of, you DO have choices.* If you ARE capable and CAN do something/make change, do it. I can’t/won’t do it for you and neither should anyone else. No, my world isn’t sunshine and skipping through the park all the time but at least I can recognize my obligations and the choices I make. It ain’t no free ride, baby.
*I’m not trying to make a sweeping generalization about poverty or the homeless or anything like that because frankly, that’s another subject entirely. And, for the record, fixing poverty, welfare, homelessness, etc. are huge obstacles and telling someone to ‘go to school, get a degree, and make a better life for themselves’ is much easier said than done. It’s an insulting oversimplification that the privileged minority tend to do. In these cases, it’s a societal issue and requires a much bigger remedy. Besides, assuming someone has the ability and resources available to even GO back to school or TRY to get off drugs isn’t so easy. It’s very easy for us fortunate people who grew up without struggle to make such statements. I would never pretend to know what it’s like to live a life of hardship but I’m also not so boastful to presume that I know all it takes to fix the problem is to ‘get an education’ or ’stop smoking crack,’ etc. As I said though, this isn’t what I’m talking about from my original point…
I know, that was a bit ranty but I wanted to make the distinction.
