Friday, 20 April 2007 - 12:22 AM PDT

I didn’t get the chance to watch that movie yet, but it’s on my list and I’m going to see it when the semester will be over, you’re right, with all that homework there’s no time for watching movies :-)

I agree with you that education would be a very great first step towards the “better” life and out of the “lower class”. But I wonder, do people really cherish the chances and opportunities given to them?

I saw the picture of the little African girls who become students of the school built and sponsored by Oprah and they all were smiling and I couldn’t help but smile as well. I thought, these girls will cherish the chance to attend that school more than anything else; these girls deserve to be educated. Of course to compare the opportunities of students from a 3rd world country with the westernized wealthy countries is nonsense, simply because the gap between them can’t be overcome, not yet… (hopefully one day it will).

That school means for these girls the world; it’s a luxury, a privilege. In the “rich” countries, what does education actually mean for people? It’s definitely not a privilege and for many a painful process of “wasting time” in an institution they have no respect for.

Everyone gets an (almost) equal chance for education, but does everyone take it, see it as a privilege? Well, sadly no. Even though in the US where education is not for free, one can get enough education to learn a profession, get a job and get out of the “low class”, the trick is though, that such actions demand determination and a good will.

I really have no understanding for these people, who just complain about being poor because of racial or gender differences, because they are lower class. Well, sitting home lamenting about it or waiting to win the lotto, will not do the trick. If one wants to get educated in order to switch to the “better class”, there’s nothing easier than that. Well, yes there is – keeping on complaining and accusing everyone else for one’s misery. From nothing comes nothing. Hard work is hard, but it does pay off.

It makes me sad to see the kids and young adults (on my way home in the Bus #5 going through Western Addition and the project housings) hanging useless on the street, picking at each other, yelling and else… I often ask myself, what is it that they do or want? Attention? Why are they not home reading some exciting books, or are in some hobby-circle groups, there are endless possibilities and places to go for free and do something productive. Don’t they have any passions, interests?

In a money-driven society that we live in, every one – even the lower class citizens – take all what is given to them for granted, with no appreciation for the open possibilities. I ask, are we too spoiled to recognize that what we consider to be “lower class” might not even be a 3rd world country’s “middle class”?

Friday, 20 April 2007 - 7:51 PM PDT

You are absolutely correct in noting that many people do not appreciate Education. Rodriguez did when he saw the Mexican illegals packing up their tools.

Poverty and class is relative. It's impossible to compare the poor in America to the poor in say Africa or the Philippines. The immediate environment where poor (or lower-class) people live is the primary factor to concentrate on.

I commend Oprah on her venture with the young girls in Africa. However, when you think about it, she could have instituted the same program in a number of black neighborhoods in major US cities. Consider what her program could do for the people of the Western Addition! And not just for the young girls who would be in the program. Everyone in the community would be affected.

If you take a close look at the Western Addition you will see that the people are living in a disadvantaged neighborhood. Apart from the poverty, there's high unemployment, drugs, alcoholism, gangs, violence. It's another world. The stakes are stacked against kids seeking an education there. Role models are their parents who are unemployed or on long-term disability; aunts and uncles who are working 3 jobs and still not making enough to make ends meet; their brother who has dropped out of school to sell drugs; their sister who got pregnant at 15 and also dropped out of school. This is the day to day reality for so many in that neighborhood.

Education could be a light at the end of the tunnel for those Western Addition kids. Realistically though, I think it would take something like an Oprah venture to really begin to effect a long-term change for the community there.

Friday, 20 April 2007 - 9:45 PM PDT

I saw the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" and thought it was a good movie.

Saturday, 21 April 2007 - 11:20 PM PDT

I'm not clear on what you mean by "they [illegal Mexicans] are in a class beneath that of lower-class." That just doesn't sound right to me. What I mean ask is, what is the difference between poor people and poor people? Is the life of a poor legal person any worse than the life of a poor illegal person?

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - 9:09 AM PDT

There are some major differences between poor legals and poor illegals which I believe push the illegals into a class below that of lower-class.

A poor and legal individual can apply and possibly get a job paying at least minimum wage and benefits, per the US Labor Code. This person has constitutional rights under the Fair Labor Standard Act and may bring a claim against an employer (or landlord) who attempts to discriminate for whatever reason. This person would also be entiteld to unemployment, disability, social security and a host of other services. In essence, this poor legal person has a voice.

A poor and illegal person can apply for jobs but unless able to provide proof of eligibility to work the employer can not hire him/her. If an illegal obtains work, like the Mexicans in Rodriguez' story, the employer will usually pay less than minimum wage. The illegal is not entitled unemployment, disability, social security etc, and is not likely to bring a claim against an employer or landlord when treated unfairly. As Rodriguez says "Their silence stays with me now" (135).

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - 11:50 AM PDT

It is true, that education is valued in this day and age. It seems that you can't even get your foot in the door on a company without a masters. Experience becomes a tool to counter some of the education requirements, and is a testament to how important it is to put your boots on, pick up a shovel, and get some experience.

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - 1:44 PM PDT

But the illegal immigrants do have a voice.

It's been on the news, on the radio and in the papers for months now. There are pro-immigration activists and human rights activists all worked up, marching along side illegal immigrants in every big city in the U.S.A., just as there are anti-immigration activists at street inter-sections across the country protesting against illegal immigration.

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - 2:20 PM PDT

Sorry, I wasn't finished.
I get what you're saying, but I don't think that voice you're talking about really makes a big difference.

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - 4:14 PM PDT

The “Western Addition” kids.

Yes, Oprah could have built a school and introduce an educational program for the Western Addition kids, but she didn’t, she decided to put her energy and good will into Africa. Why? Well, as I already mentioned, because these girls will cherish it like no other would, it’s their chance to become educated and be able to help their own people in future. Do you think, the Western Addition kids would cherish such a program? Who would you like to help, someone who will be thankful for giving him/her such a great chance, someone who will bloom and grow in front of your eyes, someone who will show how much they appreciate it all and use it in their best way, or someone who you feel like forcing into education, someone with no sense of appreciation of your efforts.

You see, I believe these people who call themselves “poor” are too spoiled and to comfortable to be in the place they are, they don’t do any efforts of even trying to get out of there. These “lower-class” people have it so much better than the girls in Africa. But as I said it already, it’s just so much easier to complain and push the blame on the “others” than actually do something about it. I’m sorry to say that, but I have no understanding for such people.

In the liberal city of SF, there are too many places to go to and seek help, people here want to help, there are various programs offered in schools and/or churches. So what’s the excuse for not joining? It’s laziness. These people labeled themselves as poor and disadvantaged and it is simply easier to just keep on believing that there is no other way out. Without an effort there will be no results. Everything in life has a price, and often one needs to fight for it, only strong actions and hard work will pay off.

Comparing to American standards, I would say I came from a “poor” country. (Just as an example: I tasted my very first banana when I was 6 years old; my family got a phone line after being on the waiting list for 15 years!). Did I get discouraged about preceding my goals and getting an education because of such background? I stumbled a lot along my way, I had bad jobs, I had my share of bad experiences and loses, but I keep on going.

I look at some other immigrant friends of my parents and I admire them. Educated people who begun to work as cleaning personal in the new country, but who with hard work and effort built their life and established an average living standard. I look at the Mexicans working bad jobs, many of them not speaking English, and they seem to make it work for them, they put their energy and believes into making it work. Do you see them sitting around and complaining (except Rodriguez who definitely has his own issues) being disadvantaged? Why not? Because they know, that that’s not the way to achieve anything.

The Western Addition people, what kind of effort do they do to better their life? Their kids get the chance for education, there is no excuse not going to the college (like CCSF that is cheap and/or even for free for low income people). There is no excuse to not know how “stupid” it is to engage in selling drugs or getting pregnant at 15. If the parents are not the “role models”, well then look for someone else that will be, ask people for help. Work hard and move out of the ghetto. It seems to me, that these people for some reason have no values, no aspirations and I don’t understand why that is.

All the people I know have dreams and try to pursue them, they have goals set, and they work hard to move on in their life. I know so many people (including my family) who left their old life behind, sold everything they had, come to a new country, worked the worst jobs possible, and still managed to learn the new language and adjust to the new culture and establish a pretty decent life. You see, that’s the sort of people I know and maybe because of them I’m driven the same way, and probably that’s why I have no understanding for people who are even too lazy to have dreams and goals.

Sunday, 22 April 2007 - 5:44 PM PDT

I agree with you. Education is the only tool for those of a lower class to move up.
America is the land of opportunities, and it puzzles me to see why we have so many homeless people on our streets, and so many just arrived from anywhere in the world willing to work and change their lives around.
I think there is something wrong with us, as a society, we learned to look the other way. to focus on ourselves, as if nothing and nobody else mattered.

Monday, 23 April 2007 - 12:37 AM PDT

You have a big follower here, ten comments so far, I don't blame them. I enjoyed Rodriguez' essay, it had numerous great points and interesting way of looking at things. here! here! for education! Someone said, "Ignorance is not knowing and stupidity is not being able to know."
Regarding the movie, I would take your advice but I'm too behind on homework, maybe in the summer.

Monday, 23 April 2007 - 12:41 AM PDT

please see the other comments (Bobbles) below to answer your question.

Monday, 23 April 2007 - 5:31 AM PDT

The Pursuit of Happyness was a great movie and it was a great example of how class can affect ones life. Education is what can make class invisible because knowledge should be what seperates not the amount of money that people make. In the reading where the youth of prominent families were joining gangs is very odd to me its like they are taking steps back.

Monday, 23 April 2007 - 1:15 PM PDT

I agree with what you are saying about the illegal workers and about the rich. I, too, think that the illegal workers’ situation in the society is much worse than the lower-class. I can’t even begin to imagine the things those workers have to put-up to in order to work outside of their home country. It always makes me think that how terrible a county much be to force their citizen to find work outside their boarder in order to make a living wages.
I also agree that rich people have their path mapped out for them even when they are young. Because they are wealthy, they can “buy” the best possible choices in life; including school, jobs, and even lawyers. Basically, that is what set the differences in opportunity. If the government is willing to provide and pay for the same education to the rich and poor, I am sure that the class advantages won’t be so one-sided.
I have not had the chance to watch the movie The Pursuit of Happiness. If it is as likable as you said, than I think I should also rent and watch it. Thanks for the tip.

Monday, 23 April 2007 - 9:29 PM PDT

education is another form of power. it is a resource that one can take advantage of given the right amount of dedication so he or she can break the invisible barrier and attain a higher status of living than what he or she is currently in. and i do agree on los pobres even having it more difficult than those who would be labeled as "lower class"; these lower class people, if they're citizens, can take advantage of education, among other things. But these pobres don't. another prime example that class is so distinct, it's hard to break the lines that separate the people who have it good, and the people who aren't that fortunate.