Every afternoon at 2:45 there's a man who bikes along Route 22 to Dominick's where he's worked for years. He bikes home at night through any kind of weather with his backpack. No lights, all dark clothing, just the small reflectors on his pedals.
Some days near Lake Zurich I come across the same man I saw while practicing how to park in the parking lot of my old church. Two years ago he was there with his bike, a stuffed animal, skinny jeans, black tank top, top hat, a studded belt, and a dark beard. He bikes the streets around Lake Zurich, occasionally leaves to visit Deer Park mall where he's looked strangely at by others.
According to students at our high school, each feeder middle schools represents a different social class. I came from the wealthy, upper-class, rich school with kids who are "loaded" and selfish. Realistically, my family is fortunate and well taken care of, but we don't match the classification. We support my cousin who is divorced with a seven year old daughter and we supported my aunt who was struggling with a million things and had no money. I was never raised to believe I was entitled to anything, but that I should always be there for others who were in need of help.
Being classified by a social class simply sucks. Writing others off to a generalized group restricts them from overcoming what they're limited by. What we should be noticing is that there are millions of people, let alone Americans, in the world who are trying to make ends meet and could use a little bit of our help.
I'm sick of athletes, celebrities, big-named artists receiving billions of dollars to spend on some mansion while so many people are left to sleep on the streets. I hate seeing wealthy people treating Starbucks employees like crap trying to order some $5.30 drink that could go toward buying someone else dinner for the night (I love my Starbuck's employees, but I do spend too much on coffee).
So many people get caught up in their own world, in their money, to notice some of it can go toward something greater. It's time to start doing something different, especially with the holidays coming up. Let's bring some happiness to everyone this season.
I agree that people often get caught up in their own world and focus too much on money. I also agree with what you said how people can buy countless drinks of star-bucks when all that money could go towards buying someone an entire dinner and how much money people spend towards mansions and fancy cars when others like Tammy & her family struggle with the living conditions they do. However, once people earn their money they are free to spend it how they want. I don't think its fair that people are "assigned a social class" its almost a stereotype. But, the more we realize what is occurring, the more we can prevent ourselves from classifying and judging people based on income/appearance.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the middel school thing but your absolutely right. I mean west oak is even nicknamed west broke. How can we even get away from social class if things like that start at age 11?
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