Inequality
Today in American Heritage we discussed inequalities and how they affect people and their opportunities in life. Such inequalities included luck, good looks, family, inheritance, skills, height, race, and gender.
Many people (in fact, most) raised their hands and said these inequalities and their consequences on our society weren't a big deal. That some people have more than others and they should use it to their own advantage. I raised my hand and commented on the fact that almost every kid in this room was privileged, white kids from wealthy or middle class families, and couldn't understand what it would be like to be born into an underprivileged home and have less opportunities. I said America has a clear problem with inequality and that we should be more sensitive to it.
But still, all the comments following were incredibly blasé and irritating, saying that while some things may be unfair, inequality is a natural part of society. Again I raised my hand and said that there are people born into poverty that can't get out. They're parents and grandparents were poor, they are stuck or at least have few real role models to inspire them to change their life. It's easy for the kids here to say inequality is okay- it's easy for them to say those who work hard get rewarded. They don't have any idea what it's like for kids who didn't grow up privileged and spoiled.
It made me so unbelievably frustrated to hear one girl at the end raise her hand and say that she had nothing to say in her inequality essay because she believes that "inequality isn't a problem." WHAT. I literally want to puke. I can't even imagine what kind of ignorance it would take to say something like that.
We are seriously having a food drive right now and were just shown a video showing the incredible poverty in the world, and these spoiled rotten kids are saying that inequality is okay, natural even.
Many people (in fact, most) raised their hands and said these inequalities and their consequences on our society weren't a big deal. That some people have more than others and they should use it to their own advantage. I raised my hand and commented on the fact that almost every kid in this room was privileged, white kids from wealthy or middle class families, and couldn't understand what it would be like to be born into an underprivileged home and have less opportunities. I said America has a clear problem with inequality and that we should be more sensitive to it.
But still, all the comments following were incredibly blasé and irritating, saying that while some things may be unfair, inequality is a natural part of society. Again I raised my hand and said that there are people born into poverty that can't get out. They're parents and grandparents were poor, they are stuck or at least have few real role models to inspire them to change their life. It's easy for the kids here to say inequality is okay- it's easy for them to say those who work hard get rewarded. They don't have any idea what it's like for kids who didn't grow up privileged and spoiled.
It made me so unbelievably frustrated to hear one girl at the end raise her hand and say that she had nothing to say in her inequality essay because she believes that "inequality isn't a problem." WHAT. I literally want to puke. I can't even imagine what kind of ignorance it would take to say something like that.
We are seriously having a food drive right now and were just shown a video showing the incredible poverty in the world, and these spoiled rotten kids are saying that inequality is okay, natural even.
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