phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

Amen!

Wasabi

I have a hard time understanding your use of the word privilege. My mother was a widow when I was born in 1933. She did not have salable skills, funds, or any of the support systems that exist now. She married my stepfather, a low level blue collar worker when I was seven years old. I worked from the time I was in 7th grade until I finally retired at age 70. The value of education was drummed into my head starting in first grade. I studied, went through grade and high school, undergraduate and grad school and I had some very good teachers along the way. Worked a job all the time to pay for it and spent my time in the army to earn the GI Bill benefits.

My 'privilege' was to be born in the USA, the land of opportunity, and to have parents who cared about me and valued education. AND I know many others who did similar things to struggle up the ladder. From what I read on this forum there are many here who had similar experience.

The opportunities are still there if you are willing to work for it. And many of the immigrants pouring into this country realize that.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

My parents told similar stories. So can I, in a different context. No, the privilege I’m talking about is a social acceptance granted to us by members of the dominant culture of our society. It is a ticket to ride. It opens doors that are closed to those outside that culture.

It’s not insurmountable, but it does take unusual effort to overcome a lack of that privileged acceptance.

Wasabi

Yes, being born in a certain culture, any culture, is a stroke of luck, uncontrollable by the recipient. There are opportunities in all cultures, most cultures have doors that open for their own. The culture that dominates changes over time.

Bon Voyage

Lcfitt Loc: Cameron Park, CA

Thank you for posting this. I think of it all the time and Treasure the memories. 1940

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Well I was born on a farm in Ky in 1939, so I remember most of that stuff!!

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

I'm find it a little tiresome listening to the guilt trips being offered by some of our members. I started thinking about what life was really like in that time period and comparing that to what it's like today. My grandchildren literally have an over organized life right now. They're all into sports and play in many different leagues, same with school activities, and social media just adds to it. My recollections of growing up is we were essentially on our own to find ways to occupy our time and had to create our own activities. We left the house in the morning and didn't come home til supper time and had a great day discovering things for ourselves. I believe this reliance on ourselves to determine how we passed our time play a great role in how we managed as adults as well and was part of defining this age group for the positive.