Thanx again Prof, for the history lesson, much of it spanning my or my parents’ lifetime. I lived thru the prejudice of the “Welfare Cadillac” perception that black ppl on assistance could afford a uselessly expensive ride. No one seemed to notice the GM Executives where those Caddies were made getting inflated salaries plus bonuses fa…
Thanx again Prof, for the history lesson, much of it spanning my or my parents’ lifetime. I lived thru the prejudice of the “Welfare Cadillac” perception that black ppl on assistance could afford a uselessly expensive ride. No one seemed to notice the GM Executives where those Caddies were made getting inflated salaries plus bonuses far in excess of most workers annual salary.
Fact is, I was raised white, middle class. My Great Depression era parents’ left inner city St. Louis for the ‘burbs. I also attended an integrated high school and learned that black teens were the same as white teens. This continued in my military service where black & white men lived, ate, showered and worked together and I sometimes had a black sergeant supervising me.
Then, in the late ‘60s I turned on, tuned in & dropped out. Me, the white middle class young man now living in rundown inner city apartments with other slackers of both races. Trouble is, we did work for the most part. I never took any government assistance, and aside from the times of travel I worked for minimum wages usually 48 hours a week, saving money for the next trip. Yet, ppl saw me as a lazy Hippie. Profiled by my shoulder length hair and beard as a non-contributing member of society.
But, I was Leftist Working Class American, the same as most of those Right Wing Nuts who tried to overthrow the government last week. The only difference is one of perception; of being able to think critically and weigh Liberty against Responsibility. The ignorant tRump cultists don’t seem to realize that total liberty without a sense of responsibility is anarchy.
Thanx again Prof, for the history lesson, much of it spanning my or my parents’ lifetime. I lived thru the prejudice of the “Welfare Cadillac” perception that black ppl on assistance could afford a uselessly expensive ride. No one seemed to notice the GM Executives where those Caddies were made getting inflated salaries plus bonuses far in excess of most workers annual salary.
Fact is, I was raised white, middle class. My Great Depression era parents’ left inner city St. Louis for the ‘burbs. I also attended an integrated high school and learned that black teens were the same as white teens. This continued in my military service where black & white men lived, ate, showered and worked together and I sometimes had a black sergeant supervising me.
Then, in the late ‘60s I turned on, tuned in & dropped out. Me, the white middle class young man now living in rundown inner city apartments with other slackers of both races. Trouble is, we did work for the most part. I never took any government assistance, and aside from the times of travel I worked for minimum wages usually 48 hours a week, saving money for the next trip. Yet, ppl saw me as a lazy Hippie. Profiled by my shoulder length hair and beard as a non-contributing member of society.
But, I was Leftist Working Class American, the same as most of those Right Wing Nuts who tried to overthrow the government last week. The only difference is one of perception; of being able to think critically and weigh Liberty against Responsibility. The ignorant tRump cultists don’t seem to realize that total liberty without a sense of responsibility is anarchy.
Rob, I appreciate your unifying Liberty with Responsibility. Perhaps, we are all responsible to the American Family, and the Human Family.