I find I am living in an era in my life in which people surrounding me are excessively
capitalistic, but frustratedly so. What is a capitalist without any money? A frustrated capitalist. That’s what I mean. I mean, I am all for equality, but equality is something that has to be worked for, and America is most definitely not socialist, although its programs seem to be verging on it at times. That equality that just gets handed down without anyone applying the appropriate corrections to their lifestyles just seems to enable and oppress. I spent most of my early twenties friends with people who were, give or take, my intellectual peers, and though I suppose we are still friends for the most part, more and more I find the people I run into have an inflated view of self not consistent with their achievements or levels of social success. I think people sometimes don’t realize there are better examples out there for them to follow than what is immediately in front of them. College for the community—great, in theory. Not actually competitive, in reality. And people are going to college, I’m guessing to join that great rat race in the world, are they not? I feel people make assumptions based on, oh I can’t afford this school, or this type of school would be far too challenging or too much of a commitment, but exactly the opposite is true. Most upper tier schools encourage diversity by admitting students from many different socio-economic groups and providing for them in the way of grants and loans. The cost is the same, but your debts are offset over time and in a manageable way to pay concurrent with your post-collegiate employment. So then, why don’t more people do it? Well, I would venture to say that most people who care to be acknowledged positively in the workplace do NOT bypass a well-rounded college and master’s education. At the very least they finish their bachelor’s. Of those who do not, very few options are left for employment and often there is very little on which to support even a small family. Families will turn to government sponsored programs, more often than not, further perpetuating a cycle of oppression and the draining of federal and state resources. There is nothing logical or rational about it.
Segue: The reason I didn’t write publicly in my early twenties was simply that I was shy due to relational oppression. I had a group of peers who essentially looked down their noses at me for being what they assumed was worse off financially than them. I am not sure how they came to this conclusion except
to say that an influential figure jumped to unfair conclusions and all of them were simply following. It turns out several of the people who were friendly to me were interested in sleeping with me, further solidified by their subsequent disappearance from my life once I ceased to be physically present. But since life happens and I was at least striving for a career, I won’t make any apologies for changing location. No one should. If an environment seems hostile, it is always wise to get out. I cannot stress this enough. And keep your creative voice alive whenever possible. Any people who try to silence you or posit that you’re lesser when you have wisdom to share is not interested in your friendship, and what a sad thing for them to miss out on your love. If you work for it, respect can definitely be yours. If you’ve been through college and beyond and worked to get where you are, don’t let anyone tell you you don’t deserve to be here! Especially if they failed to make similar moves themselves. Many of those oppressed are destined for greater success than many around us ever believed. Just freaking get it.
