In this crazy, fast-paced world we live in, so many of us run from place to place, never taking the time to enjoy the special moments. We work, we eat, we watch TV, we sleep and, if we’re lucky, we take time out for vacation every once in a while. Sound familiar?
Fast-food restaurants are the “norm” and sit-down meals with our families are saved for the holidays. This is not the way I remember the good ole days. We knew what time dinner was being served in our house and, boy, you’d better be on time. “Respect” wasn’t a word or action created by gangs in the street, but at the very core of how we were taught to treat each other from a very young age with “please” and “thank you” included in every sentence. “Cute” wasn’t when a teenager’s pants were hanging down below their hips showing their boxers and whatever flesh hung out, but instead girls jumping rope wearing pedal pushers and pig tails or perhaps a boy riding his bike with his new crew cut and white sneakers pedaling down the sidewalk toward the ball park. “Work” wasn’t when you showed up at the job asking what the days off were, the benefit package, or how long the breaks would be. Work in my world was the opportunity to prove myself to my boss and always trying my best to stand out, get promoted, excel. Money wasn’t my motivation, opportunity was.
I’m saddened for the younger generation facing the “new America,” where opportunity is fleeting. I’m sick of political motives and false promises. We need to get back to basics and work hard for a day’s pay. Why do we need to move American businesses out of our country to make profits? How will we sustain a middle class if we have no jobs to offer? We must all take responsibility this election year and demand accountability from our elected officials.
I lived in South America growing up and one thing I know for sure, I couldn’t wait to get back to the USA where we had a middle class, a place where everyone could succeed, where jobs were abundant, and we didn’t need an armed chauffeur to drive us and armed security guards on streets at night to protect us. I no longer lie in bed gazing out the window from my downstairs bedroom and counting the minutes it took for the guard in our yard to circle the house with a gun barrel on his shoulder. I thought, “This is insane. No one should have to live like this.” We did and the wealthy Brazilian’s in Sao Paulo did. Why? No middle class. Our walls around the house were built of cement and the very top had imbedded broken glass to prohibit any intruders. We knew back then that if they were coming over the fence, it wasn’t to “play cards.”
I fear America is headed on a collision course with this behavior. How many of the working class does it take to support the entitlement population? Too many and we don’t have enough to provide when we print money to fund it. This isn’t rocket science; it’s basic simple stuff. We must fight to keep jobs in America, provide incentives for corporations to reinvest in our country. Their tax money provides the basics we need to keep the lights on. Common sense is far too uncommon.
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Be mindful when shopping for anything, shop locally and help keep our small businesses afloat. Your dollars do count and sales tax revenue from local purchases support your city.
Happy Fourth of July and let’s visit the true meaning of in-de-pend-ence; freedom from the control, influence, support, aid or the like of others.
God Bless America,
Sharon Alley-Calone
