Public service is supposed to be the hardest , least financially rewarding and thankless career to aspire to but should be a calling to some. The idea of waking up every morning and performing tasks and duties without the notion of personal wealth, with only the thought that it may ease the lives of others, is not meant to be an easy one. The endless toil of 14 hour days and long durations of time spent away from your home and your loved ones wouldn't be classified as typical human behavior especially when those closest to you feel that they have lost you to the masses. What could possibly lead someone to live a life like that, where your own life hangs in the balance and you resist every urge of self preservation . One ends up choosing a life of altruism and they end up alienating the ones closest to them who may not be able to understand why they do that. They chose to do this becasue they have a moral obligation to what is right and just..............well, some do.
When parents have discussions with children about what they hope to become, the norm has always been high paying and "Successful" careers. No mention or even hint of the term "Public service" crosses the father's lips, the mother may nod in agreement or echo his sentiments but the consesus is always the same. This is mostly true especially for families with little or no means. The vision of the next generation succeeding and climbing to a lofty station is all that drived the parents, they chose to toil and lift their children in the hope that they may never need to feel the hunger and lack that they have experienced for most of their lives. The hope that the next generation will live better is admirable but Isn't it doing the children a deservice to not instill this hunger/need to assist others who may be in need. This constant drive to want may be the cause of our current conundrum. A problem that we may today see the fruits but never have understood the roots.
Our country is on its way to its 54th Birthday and in that time we have seen events unfold that in the end have soiled the good name of public service. A few decades ago in the period of our fathers , before we had the many career options we have today the most respected and idolized person in any community was a teacher. A teacher would command authority in any discussion and would sit at the head of the table in gatherings. Teacher became a title and not just a job, any person holding this title would be known by it rather than their own name. The teacher molded the children of the community, became co-parents and an advisor to all those sought it. Their importance can be embodied by the fact that our second president was a teacher. This was a period where those who listened prospered and those who didn't floundered, but we went wrong somewhere. At some point in our nations timeline , it all went horribly wrong.
In all honesty, I actually don't know the answer. Like the missing link, there was a moment we were fine as a people but then in the blink of an eye we weren't. I have been alive for more than half the life of this country so I have only been here for the time we have spent descending. I do however have some hypothesis that may give an idea.
Forgetfulness
Those who listened and succeeded may have forgotten something. Something that the teacher did not forget to teach but was probably ignored. They forgot that when someone holds your hand and pulls you out of the water you are drowning in, stretch out your own hand and grab the person that you were stuck in the water with you. That person should do the same for the next person after him and the so the chain of progress goes. Those who were lifted above the others opted for a different approach. Whether purposefully or not, they opted to do their best to cut of the hands of others so as to make it more difficult to save themselves and others.
Silo mentality
In the scenario of a workplace a silo mentality basically means every individual only considers their own comfort and productivity rather than the organization as a whole. In the case of children its just the "ME" factor. In the case of our discussion, its basically working towards a position of power only to benefit yourself and those closest you.
These hypotheses ring true especially when you consider that they may have done their best to stifle the voices and influence of the very people who pulled them out of the water in the first place, the teachers. Teachers today are some of the worst paid people in the country. There have been more strikes by teachers on different levels over the last decade than any other category of worker.
I have spent the last ten years of my career moving in an out of proximity to the so called great men of this country. I have shared flights with them, ball rooms , sports events and even the occasional drink but one thing I am never eager to do is ask for memorabilia. These are people who borrowed, begged and stole to get where they are but do not give a second thought for the positions of power that they have been given. They chose to this path not for others well being but for their own. When i started this I spoke of the required qualities of people who chose public service, there lives aren't theirs anymore. They chose to serve and serve they do with their heart, bodies and souls. They love their fellow country men so much they actually end up dying for them in some instances. Yet what are we exposing ourselves to today, liars , murderers and thieves ready to sell us off as long as the price is right. Where are the great men and women that refuse to act to right these wrongs. The men who can stand up and say I am my brothers keeper and no misfortune shall befall him for as long as I have a voice and strength in feet. Where are they because today, there is no more greatness to aspire to......
When parents have discussions with children about what they hope to become, the norm has always been high paying and "Successful" careers. No mention or even hint of the term "Public service" crosses the father's lips, the mother may nod in agreement or echo his sentiments but the consesus is always the same. This is mostly true especially for families with little or no means. The vision of the next generation succeeding and climbing to a lofty station is all that drived the parents, they chose to toil and lift their children in the hope that they may never need to feel the hunger and lack that they have experienced for most of their lives. The hope that the next generation will live better is admirable but Isn't it doing the children a deservice to not instill this hunger/need to assist others who may be in need. This constant drive to want may be the cause of our current conundrum. A problem that we may today see the fruits but never have understood the roots.
Our country is on its way to its 54th Birthday and in that time we have seen events unfold that in the end have soiled the good name of public service. A few decades ago in the period of our fathers , before we had the many career options we have today the most respected and idolized person in any community was a teacher. A teacher would command authority in any discussion and would sit at the head of the table in gatherings. Teacher became a title and not just a job, any person holding this title would be known by it rather than their own name. The teacher molded the children of the community, became co-parents and an advisor to all those sought it. Their importance can be embodied by the fact that our second president was a teacher. This was a period where those who listened prospered and those who didn't floundered, but we went wrong somewhere. At some point in our nations timeline , it all went horribly wrong.
In all honesty, I actually don't know the answer. Like the missing link, there was a moment we were fine as a people but then in the blink of an eye we weren't. I have been alive for more than half the life of this country so I have only been here for the time we have spent descending. I do however have some hypothesis that may give an idea.
Forgetfulness
Those who listened and succeeded may have forgotten something. Something that the teacher did not forget to teach but was probably ignored. They forgot that when someone holds your hand and pulls you out of the water you are drowning in, stretch out your own hand and grab the person that you were stuck in the water with you. That person should do the same for the next person after him and the so the chain of progress goes. Those who were lifted above the others opted for a different approach. Whether purposefully or not, they opted to do their best to cut of the hands of others so as to make it more difficult to save themselves and others.
Silo mentality
In the scenario of a workplace a silo mentality basically means every individual only considers their own comfort and productivity rather than the organization as a whole. In the case of children its just the "ME" factor. In the case of our discussion, its basically working towards a position of power only to benefit yourself and those closest you.
These hypotheses ring true especially when you consider that they may have done their best to stifle the voices and influence of the very people who pulled them out of the water in the first place, the teachers. Teachers today are some of the worst paid people in the country. There have been more strikes by teachers on different levels over the last decade than any other category of worker.
I have spent the last ten years of my career moving in an out of proximity to the so called great men of this country. I have shared flights with them, ball rooms , sports events and even the occasional drink but one thing I am never eager to do is ask for memorabilia. These are people who borrowed, begged and stole to get where they are but do not give a second thought for the positions of power that they have been given. They chose to this path not for others well being but for their own. When i started this I spoke of the required qualities of people who chose public service, there lives aren't theirs anymore. They chose to serve and serve they do with their heart, bodies and souls. They love their fellow country men so much they actually end up dying for them in some instances. Yet what are we exposing ourselves to today, liars , murderers and thieves ready to sell us off as long as the price is right. Where are the great men and women that refuse to act to right these wrongs. The men who can stand up and say I am my brothers keeper and no misfortune shall befall him for as long as I have a voice and strength in feet. Where are they because today, there is no more greatness to aspire to......
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