Yesterday I attempted to respond to a question I saw on Twitter yesterday – “The extreme vast majority of people I see at tea party rallies are white. Why is that?” It’s a very valid question but my tweets in reply were vague and allusive. I actually went off on a mental tangent recalling all the encounters I had with people that I felt the system had failed. It’s very difficult to explain to someone something you see going on everyday without sounding like a racist or a bigot, especially when I they find out you are a white woman living in the deep south.
I must preface this with the fact that I have lived all over the world as a military family member and I have also been in the military myself. (Perhaps I should also comment about the positive changes that being in the military will do for you, but I’ll save that for another day). I have been part of a number of very diverse cultures and communities. I am a very tolerate and patient person – except when it comes to those who “can but will not do”.
Am I angry because I am unemployed? No, I am letting God drive this bus and I am very at peace that this situation will resolve itself very soon. I am angry because I seem to be surrounded by people who don’t appreciate the job they have. Most of my experiences have been when I came in contact with someone in the food service industry. I know that it’s not a “living wage” position, it was never meant to be, but at least it’s a job.
I have walked into many a popular fast food restaurant in my area only to see that tables and floors need cleaning. I glance at the store’s rating and am not surprised to see it’s low. I’ve been to a recently opened Bojangles on a number of occasions. When the restaurant first opened it was banging, everything was fast, fresh and the order was correct. After the “store opening team” left, things started to slide. Three different times my husband stopped by to grab a chicken biscuit on his way to work. On each of those occasions, the biscuits were not ready. Cries of “eight more minutes” could be heard from the back. Eight more minutes, during the morning rush? On three separate occasions?
On a visit to another eating establishment, I had difficulties receiving the correct change from my order. I tried to be gentle and patient, but the girl was treating me like it was my fault that she could not count change.
I can’t let all these negative experiences go by without sharing a very positive one. I was heading out of town and my husband wanted to treat me to breakfast before I hit the road. It was 5:30 in the morning and we stopped off at our local Chik-fil-A. The outside signage wasn’t on, so we waited a few minutes for it to come on. We saw someone head to the door and the lights came on. We walked up to the door and noticed the posted hours said it didn’t open until 6:00AM, so we turned around to head back to the car. As we were walking back, a voice was yelling at us to come on in. They didn’t have to let us in, technically they were not open yet. But they did. Not only was the food hot, the service was still just as good as it was every other time we had been there.
So yes, it makes me angry that I don’t get the same service at every other fast food establishment, that Chik-fil-A offers. Why must I always be greeted with an attitude? If you are not happy working there, then quit. The attitude that the world owes you has got to go. You need to stop blaming everyone else for your problems and start looking in the mirror. That’s where the “change” has to come from.
I’m angry because too many people want the government to fix everything, when all they have to do is start with themselves. I’m angry at the government for making it so easy for so many to become dependent upon programs that were meant to be a temporary hand up. Government programs are destroying the desire and drive to do better in life. We have done our children a great disservice with the “No Child Left Behind” act – our education system is failing our children. We are more worried about the sigma of failure and holding a child back, then we are of making sure that child receives a good education. Our children are being taught that competition is bad. I have talked with teachers that have to spend more time documenting what they are doing for Federal money, than being able to prepare quality lessons. I feel bad for the girl who could not count change, the education system failed her.
I am angry because more government is not the answer. Personal responsibility and accountability is where everything needs to start at. America what has happened to that burning desire to be number one as a nation, not number one as an individual? We have a generation of “what’s in it for me whiners”. Let’s stop punishing success.
To answer the question – “The extreme vast majority of people I see at tea party rallies are white. Why is that?” – the way I see it here in the deep south, people of color here in Alabama believe that the government is still the answer, that the tea party rallies will take away the comfort of government. I have a question or two also – “Why do some black people treat successful blacks with disdain, treating them like sell outs because the person chose to work hard and make something of himself?” and “Why is it okay for a black person to say a very distasteful word, but it becomes an uproar when I white person says that same word?”
Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.