Education As A Weapon (12)

As America grew, so did the opportunity for “regular” people to create their own wealth. This was really great for people who weren’t born into wealth, but those who had come from wealth or had a high status, didn’t really appreciate  the idea of the American Dream – because now, it meant they (the people who had been born into wealth and influence) were no longer special. For as long as anyone could remember, the wealthy had influence – and  college professors thought of themselves as having

a high amount of influence. Yes, a doctor can save a life, but only because he was taught by a professor. Harvard and other Ivy League colleges were only for the “elite” – (kind of like how the NFL is the ultimate destination for the most talented football players).  Professors in Ivy League colleges were held in high esteem.
Gradually though, ANYONE could create their own wealth and/or hold power and influence. They didn’t need to go to college to be successful.
People who did not have a college education began to gain influence, success was now obtainable for all through ideas, inventions, hard work, and determination.
Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and Henry Ford are early examples having no formal education yet still becoming very successful.
So, what started happening is that professors and those from “royal” or “wealthy” bloodlines, became resentful that anyone, who worked hard, had imagination, and determination, could become wealthy, influential or powerful.
''Education is a weapon whose effects depend on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.''
Joseph Stalin

Street Smart Versus Book Smart

“It seemed to me,” Socrates would say, “that the people with the greatest reputations were the ones who were most deficient [in true knowledge], while others who were supposed to be their inferiors were much better in practical intelligence.” –

I believe what Socrates was referring to are people I refer to as ‘blowhards.’ Blowhards spend their time crowing with conceit rather than demonstrating any sort of true education or scholarship.
When I worked in Emergency Medical Services, I found the saying “Those that can, do. Those that can’t, teach,” to be true.
There are many EMT’s (an EMT is like a nurse, a paramedic is like a doctor) who could run circles around paramedics.
I know many EMT’s who have spent many years working “in the street” but are not book smart enough to pass the medic requirements. I’ve seen paramedics who barley pass the requirements but throw them into the middle of a train wreck and they take charge and run things seamlessly.  And I’ve witnessed paramedics with Masters Degrees who place oxygen masks on their patients upside down and are truly incompetent in the field. I would trust my life with an EMT who has 10 years of street experience over a medic who holds a Master’s Degree.

It’s amazing to me that society has stopped talking about the possibility of becoming successful UNLESS you graduate college…when all around us are great examples of people who have elected to dedicate themselves to learning and earning independently of higher education.
Some recent examples of success without school: Food Network Star Rachel Ray, Hollywood heavy hitter Steven Spielberg, and Mark Zuckerberg (dropped out of Harvard to pursue Facebook) and Mark Wahlberg.

Envy is a part of human nature. It can be used as a positive tool to inspire people to aspire to reach similar success – or better success. Or, envy can be used as a negative tool to fan the flames of anger – spite – resentment.

Remember one of our “fears” in life is that we will not be significant.  Professors and Old Money Elite began losing their status - and when a group or person feels their power slipping, they feel their security is threatened. They no longer feel special – and, indeed, for thousands of years, it has been biologically and historically impressed on them they were born to be powerful.

The USA grew and prospered due to those who wore work boots while the “intellectual” were busy studying.
Though “regular” college became more accessible, the “Ivy League Educated” became the new Superior;  The new Royalty, Nobility, Monarchy.  They believe they know better. They believe they are better. And we believe them – why, because we (regular people) accept what we think we deserve – and we’ve been sent mixed messages by parents, by books, by culture, by media, movies, etc  - to think we are not deserving.
On one hand (you didn’t build this!) yet on the other hand, we are groomed to believe that Utopia exists and we all deserve to be happy BUT only if EVERYONE is happy.  Who is sending these mixed messages? People who control the media and people in media attended “name brand schools.” And these name brand schools show by their actions they are being led by their lizard brain; basic animal instincts; concerned with STATUS, tribal affiliation, preening like peacocks, ego. They seek to control.
The sad thing is, we’ve  rolled over and allowed their HARVARD STAMP to control us, guide us, bully us, and devalue our own independent accomplishments.
If you are told by a landscaper wearing torn jeans and work -boots to plant a tree in sunlight and keep the dogs away from it, you consider the advice. But, if someone else comes along and says, “I graduated from Harvard with a doctorate in nature studies. You should plant the tree in shade and use organic compounds scientifically proven to nurture the roots and establish improved growth.”
You have to admit you will tend to put more trust in someone who has never planted a tree but STUDIED it at an “Ivy League” school, rather than the jean wearing, sun tanned, tattooed, landscaper.

John Dewey, known as "the father of modern education," was the co-author of the "Humanist Manifesto." The U.S. House Committee on Un-American Activities discovered that he belonged to 15 Marxist front organizations. Dewey taught the professors who trained America's teachers. Dewey was obsessed with creating dependency, creating a ‘collective’ a ‘herd’ of people. Dewey once said, "You can't make socialists out of individualists. Children who know how to think for themselves spoil the harmony of the collective society, which is coming, where everyone is interdependent."

History has conditioned us to rely on pseudo-science, educational experts, and of course, the wealthy. The non- scholars (us common people) have been conditioned not to question the well-educated. And the well – educated have been conditioned to dis-regarded their own ideas, they can draw no independent conclusions, unless they cite a study and other "experts" have confirmed it. "Studies show" is to the college graduate what "Scripture says" is to the religious fundamentalist.

The Pessimism Power Shift (11)

In the 1800’s, as John Locke and other optimistic philosophers were gaining  popularity and as America was growing and bursting with hopefulness and optimism,  along came a German philosopher named Immanuel Kant.  Kant believed that people were stupid and could NOT be trusted to self-rule. He believed that in order for society to flourish, people needed to be told what to do, they needed to be ruled. He believed people were born basically evil (there’s that pessimism again).

Karl Marx, another German philosopher came along shortly after Kant.

Marx is recognized for his book “The Communist Manifesto” which was published in 1848. He hated religion and individualism, and appealed to the envious, the weak, the disillusioned, turning people against each other by bringing back the idea (broached by Plato and then Thomas More) that everyone should be treated the same. Though that’s what he said he believed,  his actions said otherwise: Marx lived off the money of Friedrich Engels, who came from a wealthy family that owned cotton factories and history shows, treated his employees very poorly. Marx had 7 children. Only 3 of those children lived to be adults; the other 4 died young from the effects of living in poverty and off of handouts from Engels. Though he had never worked, Marx concluded that a working man was selling his soul to his boss. Karl Marx lived off the toil of factory workers while bemoaning their fate and 'thinking' of how it ought to be.  Marx was like those people we call “Monday morning quarterbacks” – people who watch Sunday football but don’t play football, but believe they know better than the actual people on the field, playing the game.

Marx’s theory stirred up envy, divided people, and operated on fear and hate and the false promise of security. But Marx was a hypocrite because what he was really saying was not that everyone is the same, but that a few are born superior, everyone ELSE is born evil or senseless, and it’s up to those who are ‘better’ to control society.

John Locke’s ideas gave men confidence and faith in themselves, courage, and independence. Locke basically said: We are ALL significant and trust that we can individually make choices that are best for ourselves. 

Independence (10)

“To find yourself, think for yourself.”

― Socrates

As the great philosophers first observed – man is most happy when he is striving to make an independent positive difference – when he can live free as long as he doesn’t purposefully harm another person.  Throughout time, people have fought for the right to pursue their own paths.

In the 1600’s - the first settlers left Europe and landed in the New World (the area we now know as Jamestown, Virginia.) 

The land was plentiful with fruits and vegetables, yet  most of the settlers died. The fault, documents show, were not in the ‘barrenness and defect of the Country' but in the ‘want of providence, and industry.’

Translated, that means: there was no fault in the land or the environment, there was plenty of food, the settlers died because but no one wanted to work to gather the food.

This was because the settlers had no stake in what they produced. They were bound by contract to put all they produced into a common pool to be used to support their colony as a whole. Everyone was supposed to work according to ability and take according to need.

Phillip A. Bruce, a late 19th century US historian, wrote of the Jamestown immigrants, “The settlers did not have even a modified interest in the soil …. Everything produced by them went into the common store, in which they had no proprietorship because  it is owned by the King.”

The result, as Bruce wrote, would be what anyone would expect; working harder or longer provided them with no rewards, so they avoided their responsibilities, became lazy, and though food was plentiful, died of starvation and disease.

The British government sent Sir Thomas Dale to serve as marshal of the colony. Dale arrived in 1611 and immediately diagnosed the problem as the absence of individual recognition and reward. He subsequently determined that each man receive three acres of land and, other than a lump sum tax of 2 ½ barrels of corn, did not have to contribute anything to the common store. The colony immediately began to prosper. It prospered because each individual directly benefited by his labor. It goes to show, when a person has an individual stake in something, ownership, they take pride and work hard to keep it in shape.

Historian Mathew Paige Andrews, author of Virginia: The Old Dominion, "As soon as the settlers were thrown upon their own resources, and each free man had acquired the right of owning property, the colonists quickly developed what became the distinguishing characteristic of Americans — an aptitude for all kinds of craftsmanship coupled with an innate genius for experimentation and invention."

The Indians, who had previously looked down upon the settlers as incompetents, began trading furs and other items for the corn that was being harvested by the settlers.

It is the basis of our Thanksgiving Celebration.

What gets rewarded, gets done.

After the arrival of the printing press,  ‘common’ people had access to books and didn’t need to rely solely on the educated wealthy. Religion and nobility started to take a back seat in what is known as the Enlightenment Period. This ran from about 1685 to 1778. This period of time is what gave the Founding Fathers of America the idea of Individual Freedom. 

John Locke was a philosopher in England during this time and believed that people are free and equal by nature and not subject to rule by royalty.

Locke believed that man could govern himself, trusted man to do so, and believed in the Golden Rule: “That which you do unto others shall be done unto you.”

Locke believed that men were basically good and would work together.

People who were optimistic, brave, and bold loved Locke’s  ideas. Though it was a bit intimidating and daunting after being told for centuries that only wealthy could rule and/or that destiny was up to God (or the universe).

The idea that man could control his own life… that man could shape his own destiny…

that each man is responsible for his happiness…Locke’s ideas were frightening ideas to many people. People who were not courageous or confident. People who truly believed they were superior and other people were not their equals and needed to be controlled.

Despite those who were afraid and the nay-sayers (historical figures vary, but there are reports that 1/3 to ½ of all people living in the colonies didn’t support the fight for Independence) the fight  for American Independence began with military conflict in 1775 and lasted at least until 1783 when the peace treaty with the British was signed.  The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 because the idea of personal freedom caught was inspiring. The difference between America and British was that the USA was built on the freedom of the people to reason. To think for themselves. To do for themselves. No one has absolute power…power should be balanced.

The Founding Fathers of America believed in the idea that Individual Freedom, when used within the boundaries of principles, is the highest good.  EVERYONE would have a shot at creating a better life. The American Dream was exactly that: the ability of anyone to lace up their boots, work hard, create a home, follow their own path – not a path determined by a King or Dictator. You didn’t have to be born into wealth in order to succeed.

Individuals being responsible for their own happiness is based on optimism, hope. The “I Can Do It!” philosophy. 

“Independence Is Happiness” – Susan B Anthony.

Nature (9)

“Needs are imposed by nature. Wants are sold by society.”

The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly. -Richard Bach.

I was paramedic. I witnessed tragic accidents.  Some accidents were a result of pure nature – a slick roadway caused by sudden rain, an icy road, lightning strikes a tree and sets it on fire – it catches the house on fire. It was probably my career in EMS that made me realize bad things happening is simply a part of life – and the faster you can accept that reality, the happier you will be. 

As a paramedic, I witnessed children die too soon – due to careless accidents, due to defects they were born with, due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Death – one of our basic fears…and one of the fears used most by exploiters to manipulate, to give us a false sense of security.

While we are born with the ability to think and reason –we were not born with a guarantee of health, housing, and food nor even safety.  We were, however, given the ability to protect ourselves as best we can. And when all else fails, it is our dignity and attitude toward things we can’t change that make us silently brave.

My father died at age 50 after a two year battle with ALS.

“It’s not fair!” I remember crying often. And then my dad’s voice would always come back and remind me, “Life isn’t fair.”

And finally, one day, I accepted that statement. And it was with my eyes wide open and actually seeing the world as it is; that nature is nature; shitty things will happen. Good things will happen. Be grateful for the good and accepting of the bad and move on.

As Bull Durham stated in the movie about baseball (and love): “Sometimes You Win. Sometimes You Lose. Sometimes it Rains.”

Everything you need to know about life is found in nature. There will be warm, sunny days. There will be days of cold and darkness. And that is the beauty of life. Our constant striving to meet the obstacles of life with strength, dignity, and grace is what gives our lives significance – it’s what makes us feel accomplished. To embrace the good that happens to us with a certain humbleness and to accept the bad with as much poise as we can.

All nature (all life) is both a burden and a blessing; not either-or, but this-and-that. For example: the same snowfall you think is beautiful and blankets the ground with needed moisture to provide food for plants – is also the same snow that caused a slick road and an accident that cost an eighteen year old girl her life.

That hurricane that wiped out a small coastal town, also provided jobs for builders, better homes than what came before, and the opportunity for a community to lean on each other and display the compassion of man. 

It’s in our nature, our instinct to be optimistic, to believe anything is possible, if we didn’t – we wouldn’t have innovations. If our brains were hardwired to be negative, we wouldn’t take risk. We wouldn’t have electricity, planes, trains, automobiles, computers, or more importantly, pizza, glitter eyeliner, and bacon.

“Nature has never read the Declaration of Independence. It continues to make us unequal.”-Will Durant

We could learn so much from our military vets from the earliest wars – who came home battered and bruised but did not talk about it. Instead, they got back to life, to living, happy to be home. They did their duty to fight for freedom and were proud to do it.

Men, by nature – are meant to be…men!

Hunters. Heroes. Strong. Sturdy.  And our world today is creating a culture of cowards – shaming men who fight for our freedom, condoning police, hunters. 

Behavioral doctors, professors, politicians, and opinion scientists, have taken the manliness out of men. Raising them to be delicate teddy bears lacking the power to act, lacking courage, lacking strength — all that nature has gifted within him.

But men still seeks those things…only now instead of playing Army Men or Cop and Robbers (not politically correct) he is using the computer and playing video games. He finds something that seldom exists in the real world any longer; a community to belong to, camaraderie, great heroic deeds, realistic chivalry, and true love. In fact, video games are, for many, the last possibility to somehow perform heroic deeds, experience epic battles, achieve victory in combat, and overcome defeat.  All of that is available simply by walking out the door, by taking chances in life. But fear prophets’ and exploiters try to convince us ‘real’ life should not have risk. Stay home and play games in the comfort of your house. It’s a miserable exchange from the real thing, which is why so many people who substitute fake worlds for real worlds are so unhappy.

Human nature is instinctual – most women are better at nurturing and other skills than men, and most men are better at protecting along with other skills. It doesn’t mean that we aren’t all capable of being nurturing or protecting, but recognizing and respecting our differences was one of the ideas America was built on. We were meant to complement each other, not be identical replicas of each other!

 “Man is a product of nature, a part of the Universe. The Universe is operated under exact natural laws. Man is a product of millions of years of evolution. He adapts himself to the laws of nature or he perishes.” ― James Hervey Johnson

One of the most stunning books I’ve ever read was Mans Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl. Mr. Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor. In his book, Frankl talks about how our body, by nature, is built to endure. Prisoners in Nazi camps did not brush their teeth, they did not receive medicine or surgery, yet many of their bodies healed. He was amazed when he was released from camp that all his teeth remained.

Our bodies are much stronger and built to endure much more than we realize. And as Frankl pointed out, much of what sustained the prisoners was curiosity and optimism.

Part of the beauty of life is letting go of the idea of perfectionism – accepting that life is like nature; full of storms as well as beautiful days. That happiness in life comes from overcoming obstacles that stand in our way…happiness comes from getting things done – even the simplest of things gives us pleasure - we have accomplished something! It adds to our feeling of independence and confidence. When I was a paramedic, one of the things I noticed was that people who had really messy houses were often the unhappiest patients; the patients that had overdosed on drugs, the patients that had to be taken to the ER because they’d been involved in a domestic fight or were intoxicated or chronic complainers. 

 “If an American is to amount to anything he must rely upon himself, and not upon the State; he must take pride in his own work, instead of sitting idle to envy the luck of others. He must face life with resolute courage, win victory if he can, and accept defeat if he must, without seeking to place on his fellow man a responsibility which is not theirs.” Theodore Roosevelt

The Perfect Illusion (8)

  

The promise to save or create a ‘perfect’ humanity is  an excuse for the urge to rule humanity. 

Not long after the arrival of the printing press, Sir Thomas More (1477 - 1535) wrote the first formal version of Utopia.

Thomas More imagined a complex, self-contained world set on an island. On this island, people shared one culture, one way of life.  There was no need for tolerance because everyone would be the same. Philosopher Plato also envisioned something similar. 

I grew up believing that Utopia was a sort of heaven. Perfectionism. 

But then wisdom and experience taught me otherwise.

We are born unique. Science has discovered none of us have the same DNA. Some of us are born with gifts, special talents, and the majority of us are born with a brain that can process and reason. Nature has given us the ability to think for ourselves, and so far, it is the one thing that can’t be controlled however,   it can be greatly influenced using consistent messaging through popular culture, news, media, etc.  

Utopianism is intolerant of diversity and uniqueness. Utopianism’s purpose requires a singular focus – sameness.

But really, who would want to be the same as the next person? We thrive on striving to be seen as unique individuals. Look at the way we dress, the products we buy.

And the thing with “Utopia” is that everyone is treated the same, except, of course, for those who  make the rules for the perfect society.

Let me tell you about my friend Sally.

Sally is a college student. She loves to party.  She was telling me about the ‘perfect’ society in which everyone would be treated the same.

“No more mansions. We’d all have to live in the same size house,” she told me.

“Who would pick up the trash?” I asked.

“We would all rotate in and out of jobs. One day we’d pick up trash. The next day cook. The next day do dishes.  No one would have one specific job.”

“So one day the guy who empties the garbage would then operate on a brain the next day?” I asked.

“Oh My God,” she rolled her eyes. “Of course not. You could only be a doctor if you were smart.”

“Wait, I thought everyone was treated the same?”

“Well they are. No one has a better car or better house or better clothes.”

“What would you do?” I asked.

“I’d be a teacher,” she told me.

“What if everyone wanted to be a teacher?” I asked.

“Then there would be a test to decide who would be the best teacher.”

“But if everyone is the ‘same’ who decides what best is?”

“The people in charge!” She said.

“But in this perfect world, you said no one would be treated better…yet the people in charge ARE better.”

“Well, it sounds good,” she told muttered something about me being stupid.

“It sounds good unless you stop to actually think about it,” I said. 

 I understood where she was coming from because I had once thought the same thing too.

The people most often suggesting ‘sharing’ and ‘fairness’ are people who live in gianormous homes who complain about global warming while they jet around the world and have 10 cars, 4 of which are SUV’s. The same people who want to ban guns, except of course, guns are allowed for their body guards.

The pursuit of equality only causes more conflict, as Aristotle had predicted in his book

Politics. Equality should mean equal OPPORTUNITY. Somehow, in translation, equal opportunity became “give special favors” which requires more government interference and control to maintain ‘perfect’ order.

What kind of power both attracts a free people and destroys them…the heart of the problem is, in fact, utopianism. – Mark Levin

People say they want diversity, yet, they want everyone to be treated the same; well, which is it?  It’s a trap, a contradiction.

In a “fair” world  (utopia) there can be no different voices/ ideas.

Our natural drive is to search for our own individual accomplishment based on choice, on our ability to meet challenges.  Human nature thrives on displaying our uniqueness – heck, look at all the different hairstyles and hair colors and jewelry in the world.  In a world of fairness; what happens if a person is born stronger or prettier? Are they made ugly or weakened so as  not to make anyone else envious?

In a “fair” world there would be no winners.

No World Series or World Cup or Super Bowl. 

No Oscars. No Emmys.

No marathon races.

No Pulitzer Prize (really, that’s become a joke anymore anyway).

Everyone would live in the same house. Drive the same car. Wear the same clothes.

Because the only way to obtain true “utopia” which is sold to us as pure happiness, ‘ecstasy’ , is by removing envy, removing “individuality.” By ignoring the talents we were born with.

The selling of Utopianism relies on deceit, illusion marketing, conditioning, dependency, and fear.

Winston Churchill: Perfectionism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

The idea of a ‘perfect’ world  finds a willing audience among the disenchanted, directionless, disappointed, and disillusioned. These Shallow Sallys and Hollow Harrys were taught to reject responsibility for their actions and to blame their environment, their family, friends, and their circumstances.

The fastest way to power for an exploiter is by promising ‘salvation’ or ‘payback’  to the disenchanted and then by disparaging and diminishing the successful and accomplished in order to stir up further resentment. .

Exploiters whisper to the disenchanted, “No one should be better than you, regardless of the value of his talents or hard work.”

Talk about confusing – it sounds good unless you are like most of us and you’ve worked at a job where you  worked your butt off  but the slacker makes as much money as you and gets the same benefits! If everyone gets paid 10.00 an hour regardless of how hard they work, what is the incentive to work hard?

Edmund Burke on idea of a perfect word:  A perfect equality will indeed be produced—that is to say equal wretchedness, equal beggary, and on the part of participants a woeful, helpless and desperate disappointment. Such is the event of all compulsory equalizations. They pull down what is above; they never raise what is below; they depress high & low together, beneath the level of what was originally the lowest.

It wasn’t until I started doing some research on the word Utopia that I discovered the word actually means “nowhere” and if you think about it – living in a world where everyone is the same (except, of course, the leaders) would be boring, tedious, and lead to nowhere. 

The Printing Press Of Freedom (7)

The more wisdom you have, the more control and power you have over your life.

Those who control the ink, control what people think.

In the 1400’s – the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg (there is evidence pointing to a similar but cruder device created by the Chinese more than 200 years prior to Gutenberg’s press).

The Gutenberg printing press was a monumental invention.

Knowledge was now available to all common people as well as wealthy people. Prior to the printing press, only the wealthy had access to books – so the people below the wealthy relied on those who could read to give them information. With the arrival of the printing press – books could be mass produced. Information was more accessible. If you wanted control over your life, you learned to read and then you sought out books and knowledge.

The classes below the wealthy no longer needed to depend on the “elite” for information. Superior status began to shift from the elite. Which did not make the elite very happy.

The printing press began to liberate those who had been dependent on the upper class, but it also threatened the power of political, educational, and religious figures.

The average “Joe” and “Jane” citizen began to gain confidence in their own personal power, their own worth, their own voice.  

Once the printing press was established, Kings (and Queens) often outlawed Bibles or created their own version of the Bible (King James created his version) because rulers were convinced, and had convinced the people, that God had handpicked the King bloodline. 

King Henry the Eighth, however, took it way too far.  He ruled from 1509 – 1542 but he the longer he ruled, the more the power went to his head. He began to tell the people that he wasn’t a ruler sent from God, he began to tell people he was above God. Some people believed (because if you didn’t believe him, you would be killed). But when they read smuggled copies of the Bible, they realized King Henry had been lying to them in order to control them. And the people were pissed.

If the King found people who had copies of the Bible, they would be imprisoned and often sentenced to death; it was considered treason.

Many of those who left the their country for the “the New World”  in the 1600’s  (it would later become America)  did so in order to escape religious persecution. They battled rough seas, left the only home they knew, all in the name of freedom to believe and live independently of those in power. Those who fled the Kings rule are the reason the first amendment of the Bill of Rights guarantees that Americans have the right to practice whatever religion they choose and Government shall make no laws interfering or prohibiting the right of people to practice their faith. In its positive form, religion, for many people, gives them explanation, gives them a purpose and meaning to life. For many, religion gives people a sense of shared belonging and status in a community.

In its negative form, it can be used as a tool to oppress and disempower.  In some areas of the world religion is used as an excuse to kill, conquest, and control.

Though the printing press was a game changer and gave more people the chance to empower themselves – it wasn’t long before exploiters learned how to manipulate the written word to embolden a few with power and create fear in many.   

Character (6)

“Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Trust is incredibly important for our survival as a society.  

Prior to the printing press, word of mouth was the most reliable method of communication.  

Back before computers, and radios, before telephones and newspapers, a person’s Character was important because that was the only way to protect yourself, your community, your family.  To be a man of your word was to be everything.

The wealthy were protected and could say just about anything; people would believe them, or forgive them because, don’t forget, the common person thought the wealthy had been chosen by a god to be born into a better life.

For the average person, however, it was important to be of honorable character; to be consistently trustworthy. People were not able to move to a new town, a new city, a new state, as easily as they do now. If you did something to hurt someone, it would be found out sooner rather than later. Your actions would disgrace your family. The wealthy had power and influence to help them survive. The “regular” folk only had their character, their reputation.

Our very survival, our success, our independence, and our happiness depend on our ability to trust and to be trusted.  

Here is an interesting fact: A baker’s dozen means 13. Back in the old days, when customers asked for a dozen rolls, bakers would throw in an extra roll so customers would be surprised, delighted, and spread the word. They felt they were getting a better value for their money. The bakery owners were sending a message that the customer was special.

On the other side of the coin, if a customer was ripped off, the customers would spread the word and run the business out of town. They didn’t take too kindly to swindlers.

Word of mouth was important. Personal communication was one of the most powerful weapons prior to the inventions of newspapers and radio. It was a way to protect yourself and your community.  But the person telling the story had to be credible, had to be believable, had to be trustworthy, which was one reason why people tried to stay honest and do the “right” thing.

To be part of a community was very important back then. There was no online community to turn to for support. If you lied, cheated, or hurt someone else, talk spread fast. If you were a cheater…say you slept with your best friend’s wife…well, you couldn’t be trusted (neither could she!) and in a small community when life was already difficult enough fighting disease, the elements of nature, and the constant threat of invaders, wasting time on drama was…well, wasting time.

The community would shun that person (or people) or actually run them straight out of town. Reason often prevailed over emotion back then. Sure, your husband might not be as handsome as that new guy who just rode in a white horse, but your husband is a good father, works hard, and keeps your feet warm at night. The new guy might make you feel all fluttery and special, but for how long, really? Was it worth pissing off everyone in the community? Reason often prevailed over emotion, over personal (temporary) gratification, for the simple sake of survival. If you’ve ever been lied to or cheated on, you know how doubt can ruin a relationship. Every time your partner is late, a little niggling doubt rears its head, and it will eventually erode your relationship. It is a long, difficult road to climb once trust has been lost. Drama takes away our focus, distrust corrodes our confidence, zaps our energy and distracts us from pursing our dreams, our plans…for simply getting things done.

Another interesting fact:

When the first immigrants arrived in New York City they would have a small suitcase, family connections, and their character (reputation).

The immigrants’ who were already established in America, who had businesses, knew that if Anthony Delgado had arrived from Sicily, came looking for a job at the restaurant that Joseph Martelli owned, and the head cook of the restaurant said to Mr. Martelli, “I can vouch for Anthony Delgado, I know his family. He’s from good stock. He’s a good guy.” Well, that word meant everything. There were no resumes back in those days. No employment contracts. There was only your character. Did he come from a good family? Was he trustworthy? Was his family trustworthy? If he came from a family of drunks who couldn’t keep a job – the cook wouldn’t vouch for him, because then the cook would be afraid if the kid messed up, Mr. Martelli wouldn’t be able to trust the cook any longer! Which is often why parents warn kids about the friends they hang around with. You will be judged (and influenced!) by the company you keep.

People settled in communities according to their nationalities. Because in a new world they didn’t understand yet, the one thing they did understand was their own culture. In a new world, it helped to have comfort – it was a refuge from the unknown. It gave people a sense of security; one less thing to worry about.

The Irish, the Italian, the German, the Polish, and so forth. Why? Because of trust.

Polish people knew how to make pierogies, and what traditions were important to them. German people had their special food and traditions. And so forth in each culture. Just like in a family situation…you might hate your brother at times and call him names, but if an outsider dare make fun of him, you would jump to your brother’s defense. And so it was the same situation for those who came to America.