tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post3004596269607050317..comments2023-09-20T05:54:11.381-07:00Comments on Cagle Journey: On Class PrivilegeCobyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02184525834288975548noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post-84368530644056755972009-10-01T19:16:36.639-07:002009-10-01T19:16:36.639-07:00I was just looking over your posts, and this one r...I was just looking over your posts, and this one regards something that I have thought about some, which is, "Why do I feel most generous toward people who least need my generosity?" I think the answer is that there is a natural tendency to be generous with those who have the ability to reciprocate, and to avoid those who might be most likely to presume upon our generosity. People offered you their car because they had no doubt they would get it back. Now, I don't know those carless guys you work with, so this is not at all a personal comment on them. In many cases, though, you take someone who doesn't have a car and loan them your car, and it will come back trashed, crashed, or not at all. <br />I think that class in many places is like a set of shelves, with almost no way to move from one shelf to the next. In the U.S., I think class is more like a thick fluid. It naturally tends to keep us in our place, but with enough competence or incompetence, it is possible for anyone to move slowly up or down through it.The Guy on the Couchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02457661512147852432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post-88564629547874643382009-08-09T12:20:19.452-07:002009-08-09T12:20:19.452-07:00Well put Kathy. Thanks for pointing out the insuf...Well put Kathy. Thanks for pointing out the insufficiencies of monetary gain. I once participated in a poverty simulation. My entire youth group and I were literally homeless for a weekend. All we had were the clothes on our back. The most generous people we met that weekend were homeless or poor. In that town they would work together to provide for one another. Sometimes poverty force us to learn the beauty of community and the freedom of sharing resources. Thanks for your thought :)Cobyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02184525834288975548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post-11043177397244863382009-08-09T08:16:23.193-07:002009-08-09T08:16:23.193-07:00Coby, you said, "...all individuals do not ha...Coby, you said, "...all individuals do not have the same resources and support ..." You have just described the reality of poverty. Those of us with support groups have resources that don't relate to money that people in poverty don't have. Merely adding money to their status will not change their lives. We need to build up the support and resources.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16190009469165632867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post-43348454227956529102009-08-09T07:34:17.873-07:002009-08-09T07:34:17.873-07:00Culps...welcome back my friend. Your comment remi...Culps...welcome back my friend. Your comment reminded me of something. You are correct in stating that we all do not have equal abilities. However, my experience at Rhodes taught me something. There are some kids that were horrible students and honestly were not bright. However, they all now have very lucrative careers. How did that happen? Well, their class gave them the privilege of having contacts in lucrative firms. All they have to do is not mess up big time and they will have a good paying job. On the other hand, if those same individuals were raised in the apartments across the street from PPBC but had the same work ethic, they would either be unemployed or working some fast food job. By the way, I could write a similar blog about race privilege or gender privilege.Cobyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02184525834288975548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post-65024734609902621942009-08-08T19:33:29.159-07:002009-08-08T19:33:29.159-07:00First of all, don't hate on my book dude:) The...First of all, don't hate on my book dude:) These things take time, and in my case, probably years.<br /><br />While I was reading your blog, I was thinking about people that win contests like American Idol or something. As soon as they win they always make statements like, "Never give up dreaming. Anything is possible if you work hard and go after your dreams." What they never seem to get is that they just beat out thousands of people who had the same dream and worked just as hard. Did they all have the same opportunity to win? Yes? Did they all have the ability to win? No. Only one had the ability to win. <br /><br />This also reminds me of my very unsuccessful attempts at basketball stardom, which you had the privilege of witnessing. Did I have the same access at playing basketball at high school as everyone else? Yes. There were open tryouts. Did I have the skill to get noticed by college scouts? No. So, while I did have every opportunity to be successful, I did not have the talent to take hold of the opportunity.<br /><br />People see one person make it to the top, and assume that means everyone can make it to the top. It's just not true. Not everyone can win American Idol even though everyone can try out. <br />I think you have a cool ministry at this big money church.<br /><br />Sorry I wrote a book of a comment:)Culpsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04307796686789663547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post-25019929330452553592009-08-08T17:57:30.561-07:002009-08-08T17:57:30.561-07:00yes. this is something i feel like i have to talk...yes. this is something i feel like i have to talk to people about a lot. that when your big dream is walking home from school safely, you don't have the mental space to think bigger. <br /><br />i think this inability to see the injustices around us stems from the human approach of placing our own thoughts and motives on others. because i feel like 'x' then so does he. because i pulled myself up, then so should she. we all have the same opportunities...etc. i am realizing that it can be hard for people to step outside of themselves, their own brains, to notice the differences.mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13116676892734212010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238694332885346847.post-51271518549795257342009-08-08T11:12:46.687-07:002009-08-08T11:12:46.687-07:00Nice entry CobyNice entry CobyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com