Last night, Nikki and I went to Stevie’s Open House at the Southport 6th Grade Academy. His Languages Arts / Social Studies teacher passed out a handout with the typical classroom rules and grading scale. In the handout, she included a document that listed 11 things the students wouldn’t learn in school. Supposedly Bill Gates (of Microsoft fame) said these things to a high school audience.
Being the first time I’ve encountered this list, I was impressed with it’s clarity and forthrightness. “Right on” I said to myself. “About time” someone has said this to modern day American students. “Wish I had this when I was in school” I thought.
Then I wondered what a ‘put down’ black student would think, or another ‘minority’, or a white student from a trashy drug infested neighborhood. Most of the 11 Rules are aimed at the student’s personal responsibility instead of the warm fuzzy politically correct ‘you’re a victim’ rhetoric common to most school systems and the mainstream media. Especially since this list was verbalized by a multi billionaire white guy.
Rule #1 … Life Isn’t Fair – Get Used To It.
Wow. How clear. How succinct.
I wholeheartedly believe that opportunities and privilege are freely given to all in some measure and manner. However, most people who cry “foul” and protest against life being unfair are those that have squandered some aspect of the opportunities and privilege that they have been given.
Given by who you ask? Given by God, government, parents, friends, or strangers. Given, but squandered.
It’s taken me over 48 years to come to the conclusion that …. Hey, Life Isn’t Fair! And I am ashamed for the opportunity and privilege that I have squandered because I thought that life should be fair.
I recently read through the Bible book of Ecclesiastes. The words ‘meaningless’, “vanity” and ‘chasing after the wind’ are repeated many times. I believe that I see ‘unfair’ in that list too.
But, I’m getting over it now. I’ll still have my concern for people who find themselves in tragic situations of their own creation or imposed by others. I used to say “why them”, “why me”, but now I’ll understand that whatever comes your way is driven by an unfairness that is lifelong and enduring under this sun. How meaningless.
On a side note … this list of 11 Rules has been attributed to Bill Gates. However, these Rules were actually first written by Charles J. Sykes. Here’s the source of this interesting fact. He wrote the book “Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good about Themselves, but Can’t Read, Write, or Add.” Certainly this is an example of life being unfair, since Sykes isn’t receiving the credit due to him.
If you notice, there is a new widget in the side bar.
One of my biggest regrets in life is not continuing with the piano lessons that my parents wanted me to take while in elementary school. I remember taking a few lessons. I remember Mom fussing with me to practice. And I remember frustrating them and the piano teacher to the point where they just gave up and I never continued.
Finished the Imovie 09 “Essentials” training library with www.lynda.com. Started this class last month. I plan on making a few more videos from home and at Advantage so I thought I needed some training on this Mac application. At first, I didn’t like the application because it is nothing like I’m experienced with (no timeline; where’s the insert edit function?). But after using it and following the class, I become familiar with how turned around this Imovie app really is. I would really like to upgrade to Final Cut Express or Studio.
