I WANT, I’M ENTITLED
Kevin Bryant
It’s really hard to admit the truth sometimes. There are several reasons why we sometimes don’t. We don’t want to hurt the feelings of someone else or we don’t want to paint ourselves as being “that person” who makes simple or stupid mistakes. Sometimes we don’t do it because it will expose our own shortcomings. Whatever the reason is, it usually makes sense to the individual but leaves those around them scratching their heads. We also like to think of our children in the best of light and heaven forbid someone else have a more perfect child. Let’s be honest, there is no such thing as a perfect person and there certainly is o such thing as a perfect child regardless of age.
When my siblings and I were little, if we wanted something, there was like “maybe” a 5% chance we would actually get it when Christmas rolled around. When we were teenagers, if we wanted something, we had to earn the money and pay for it ourselves. My brother and I did so many different types of odd jobs growing up I could write a whole column just on that. Besides the odd jobs, we both were substitute bus drivers and worked at a bottling plant while in high school. We both roofed houses during the summer and even tore down a couple. My sister worked at KFC while going to high school. The bottom line is, we didn’t expect anyone to give us anything. We knew we had to earn it if we wanted it.
Growing up in a small town back in the 70’s and 80’s, the spoiled kids in school who got everything they wanted were few and far between. Those who worked for their stuff never complained that anyone owed us anything. Had I told my dad that he owed me something, I would have been lucky if all he did was knock me out. My mother, she wouldn’t knock me out but would certainly reminded me of who way paying for the roof over my head, the bed I slept in and most of the food I ate and clothes I wore.
Today far too many younger people believe they are owed something by either society or the government. Many believe that if society doesn’t give it to them freely, then the government should take from the haves and give it to the have not’s. Sadly, many who believe they are owed something got this mentality while growing up. Parents spoil and give into children’s wants more now than ever before. Government has gone to great lengths to remove parental rights and choices and enforce the beliefs they know best what a child needs.
Our own President believes in Social Justice. What exactly is Social Justice? All I see when I hear that term thrown around is take from those that work hard and give it to those who don’t. What I see is class warfare with a twist. If someone today told me that growing up, my family was middle class, I would have a hard time believing the bar went down so low that we were included. Now we have upper class, middle class and lower class kids whining and crying about having to pay back their student loans. They demand government force companies to give them an $80,000 a year starting salary with absolutely no experience. The demand government provide them a house and pay for their utilities. Where do these 20 something year old kids think the money is going to come from to do all this, the government? No. It’s going to come from their parents. Every time I hear the words Social Justice, Their Fair Share, Entitlement(s), Right of Basic Needs and every other form you can twist class warfare against those who actually worked for their money, makes me just want to go out and slap one of these young punks because they are basically stealing from their own family and using the government to do it for them.
Wall Street Occupiers, Most Berkley and other Liberal College Students, The 22 year old Welfare Recipient in better shape than I am. Why are they the “I WANT, I’M ENTITLED” generation, we created them.
I have three kids. Two of the three disagree with the Wall Street movement. Two of the three disagree with the idea of “Social Justice”. Unless things change with the third one before I grow old, the day I die, only two of my three kids will inherit anything and everything I have. The third one is specifically slated to receive a dollar, and that is only for the purpose of making it difficult to practically impossible to contest the will. I may have failed to instill good work ethics and principals, but my child knows what and how I think and I’ll go out with the last word.
ADDENDUM: I want to make something clear. I certainly do not hate my daughter nor am I just punishing her for her views. There is a lot more involved regarding my “entitlement” minded daughter than just her stance on this issue. Those issues are personal in nature and do not belong outside the family.
