What's It Worth?

With the continuous sense of entitlement that rushes through current American society with the might of a tidal wave, what happens to the little ones who have these people as parents? Rooms full of useless toys, but not concern for their actual well being or needs. Its keeping up with the Joneses to the level of abuse and neglect.

Case in point. The arts are completely out of the public school system. Anything that aids in the opening of the human mind such as literature, theatre and visual arts are all but gone. So with this reality in our soon to be third world nation, many teachers and concerned parents get together and form organizations that provide children with these foundations for free thought and creativity, in order to hold on to some vision of culture.

However, these after school programs are not free.

For a single mother these programs can be costly when doing the rest of the basic survival budget. Especially when child support is no where to be seen. What is she forced to do? Well things that a great deal of spoiled American adults would never be will to do. Go without. What a concept. Going without. who would have thought that would aid in the decency and proper education of a child. Now its not unheard of to have children not get everything they want, but a proper education should not be included in that sacrifice. In fact, it is the obligation of the parent to sacrifice their take out, new clothes, and un-necessaries in order to make sure that their children get the well rounded education that is so important in our nations tumultuous times.

Unfortunately a lot of parents don't feel this way. In fact, a great deal of non-custodial parents feel they don't have to provide anything at all in the way of support. Say a single mother gets $100 a week in child support. The parent paying the support may think that this $100 absolves him/her from ever having to provide any other kind of support for his/her child whether they see the child or not. It in fact doesn't. That support (as little as it is) is for basic necessities. That doesn't include education, health and socialization.

Why are brand new cars, gym memberships and flat screen televisions more important to parents these days than their children having the basic necessities and a proper education? This seems so monstrous to me. I cant even begin to understand it, even though I see it everyday. Parents that literally buy their kids clothing at Goodwill, but drive around in Audi's. These people should have a sense of shame for that, and are teaching their children lessons that are completely opposite from what should be taught. Selfishness, materialism and disregard for the things in life that really do matter.

Do we blame reality TV or do we blame the credit card companies? Because we know we are not going to blame ourselves. Living in poverty has been a awakening that I cannot compare to anything else I have ever known. I have found genuine people, coupons can help, and what is really important in life. The most important thing in life is in fact life. All the possessions, toys, big houses and crap that people fill their lives with instead of caring for their children is just tomorrows garbage. Do I feel privileged to be a mother? Absolutely. Do I wish I had a better support system? Without a doubt. Will I trade in my integrity in order to have the things in life that everyone else has? Well I haven't yet, but as the years go on I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out. I don't want a new car, big house or even a flat screen television, I just want the ability to provide my son with the best education available to us. Imagine that being a wish.

I have said to myself for years, "Someday it will get better." Well someday has taken 38 years and i think that someday is already here, and it hasn't gotten better. Should I replace acceptance with viciousness? Should I replace smiles with screams? Should I give up the hope of love for money? Everyone else does, so why shouldn't I? Because I'm an adult and not a prostitute by profession. I don't have a problem with women who choose prostitution as a profession, but I do in fact have a problem with women who do the same thing and call it marriage. At least a hooker is up front. They are providing pleasure for money. They do not perform under the guise that they actually care about the person in order to somehow gain a house and car. If your attraction to a person is contingent on how much money they make and what possessions they have, then you could be construed as a prostitute, well at least to someone with integrity.

Fur Your Happiness Only

Do not be mistaken, this isn't about the evils of fur coats, leather boots and feathered hats. It is the exposing of something much more sinister. Though I don't know how shocking it will be to anyone as this has become a common practice in the past few years. What do I speak of? Well the abandoning of pets once the novelty wears off. Sounds harmless enough, but is it?

The constant following of trends has led the moronic and pathetic to purchase and adopt the "coolest" dogs, only to pitch these puppies out once the "human" feels there is time for a change. The sort of person that does this is just cruel. When a person makes the conscious choice to add a pet to their lives, these furry friends invest all of their love and devotion to their new family members. This means, when you decided to abandon your pet friend, you are in fact breaking their heart and being completely selfish and narcissistic.

Now, before everyone gets all huffy, there are always extenuating circumstances that exist as well, but this post is for those who get dogs because everyone else has one, and then abandons them because they have better things to do with their time than honor their commitment.

A dog is not a novelty. He/she is a living creature that feels, loves, and who's heart breaks when they are cast aside and abandoned. The require nothing more than food and love; the very basic of necessities. When you cant even provide that, then what were you thinking even getting a pet friend? Do you feel guilty about being a self-centered, self-involved person? Or do you just chalk it up to, 'Its my life and Ill do what I want no matter who I hurt."?

It would be interesting to look into these peoples lives and see how they treat relationships that involve humans. Are they are cold blooded with people as they are with the animal they have made a commitment to and then abandoned? Do they always put themselves first when they shouldn't? Do they throw people away when they have gotten everything they need from them, without a second thought? Quite possibly. I would think you would have to be cruel all around to be able to look at a pet friend that has loved you for years and toss it aside so you don't have to be bothered being responsible for him/her.

The saddest part of scenarios like this one is that these people always get more pets. I will never understand it. They always manage go and adopt more pets once they abandon the ones they should have never thrown aside. Its like a sick mental illness for these people. It truly is a form of abuse. If a person were to do this to a child, it would be considered abuse, well unless your a high income white housewife who adopted a Russian baby and decided they didn't want him/her once they hit 5. This is happening all over the US and no one seems to care. True monsters walk among us everyday.

This society is getting more and more detached from what love, devotion and commitment really is. It is becoming a wasteland for the selfish and narcissistic with their therapist telling them, "Live for you, do what you want; take time for you."

Well what about taking time to be a responsible adult and honor the commitments you make to living creatures?

I heard a wonderful quote from a new favorite show on the BBC and I may be paraphrasing but it went something like this, "Every naughty child has some sort of syndrome now days. Its to make the parents feel better so they don't blame themselves."

It is far too true and I'm relieved that I'm not the only person who sees the world in this way. The lack of responsibility, commitment and decency in this country has become an epidemic, for which many persciptions are handed out daily. However, I think a good kick in the ass may achieve the desired result. Just because you decided you dont want to do something, or just because you dont care, doesnt make it ok to hurt someone else, whether pet or person. Be an adult, honor your responsibilites, and be as concerned about the feelings of another as you are about your own. Thats all it takes not to be a complete and total ass.

I'll always wonder...

What someone is thinking when they trade their integrity for what they think will be a financially rewarding opportunity, is sad and pathetic. To explain, integrity is not the same thing as pride. Leave pride behind, but never compromise on integrity. In fact, if one were to really think about it, pride is one of those horrible human traits that often times takes the place where integrity should be.
To use a prime pop culture example, take the HBO series Entourage. A series about a a hot hollywood star, his has been brother, their neighborhood friends and the experiences with wealth, stardom, disappointment and everything else the writers and producers can conjure up for these characters. The one character that stands out the most and in the opinion of many has the greatest depth and connectivity, is Johnny Drama Chase. The main character's big brother who had a brush with fame and now is a struggling actor. He has a complete absense of pride with what he is willing to do to stay in the industry and hopefully revive his paused career. However, he shows unwavering integrity at all times. It gives the character, well...character.
In this society it seems that pride is often time mistaken for integrity, but the two ideologies couldn't be further from each other.
Pride has lead to destroying lives, hurting feelings, and taking an otherwise decent adult and making them a spoiled, arrogant and unprofessional person. This is a plague infecting the current business climate in the USA. The desire to become an internet sensation, to make money on the backs of others without any true and fair compensation has created a bubbling pool that will eventually boil over. Simply because the people who are making this heat are full of pride, and the bubbling masses are being punished for their integrity, and something will have to give.
Put your money on integrity, because bravery, dilligence and heart comes along with integrity, where as pride's major attributes seem to be greed, cowardess, and fear. The latter makes monsters and bleeds is bile into society rapidly and only integrity's bandage can heal its wound. With hope pride will fade along with the ridiculous notions that it inspires and integrity will have it's turn.

Contradictory Contracting

When a person is contracted to perform a particular function for any company or business, often times the contractor will go the extra mile. Allowing for some light consultation, a little help here and there, but can this be the wrong way to perform.
A contracted individual is hired for a specific job or task. The plus for the company is they do not have to pay benefit fees, or regular salary, still some business people haven't any real understanding of the appropriate business ethics when dealing with a contractor. Far too often, middle management will treat contractors as personal assistants, when in fact that is not their function. It is important for the freelancer to put their foot down immediately and make it perfectly clear that if the contact isn't under negotiation for an increase in payment due to performing another function, that it important to perform only the tasks contracted for.
Unfortunately, the contractor can get left out in the cold after devoting unrelated hours to a company, and the business benefits without any regard to the fact they have required free labor in order to keep the contract running.
A contract is a contract and should not be confused or used as a leverage chip in order to threaten someones receipt of compensation for their contribution. So freelancers, contractors, and all other non-traditional artists, creators and writers, make sure you stand your ground, because be sure that some people have no shame in removing it out from under you.