The journey from there to here

I grew up eschewing the term "lower class". In my late adolescence and early adulthood, my categorization as such developed into a burning hatred for capitalism and all that it entailed. It was clearly, in my eyes, a battle of the "haves" against the "have nots", and in the end, I felt, the "have nots" would rule the day.

While I do not regret this chapter in my past, I have come to grips with an understanding of how deeply misguided I was, and how that misguided mentality was a handicap I had to overcome in order to advance and to grow to my full potential, which is, as of yet, unrealized.

If you've read my articles with regularity, you've heard me refer to the "cult of victimhood". While not exclusive to the lower class, the "cult of victimhood" is almost wholly worshipped within the lower class, who use it as an excuse for every failure, for failing to surmount the numerous obstacles in their paths to success.

I've come to understand and appreciate that there is, indeed, a "lower class" mentality. Not every person of lower income possesses it, but it is so pervasive among the poorer individuals within our society that it quickly drowns out the voices of the independent, upwardly mobile individuals who truly want to make life better. If you succeed, it is because you "sucked up" to the establishment; if you fail; it is because "the man" put you down. Pushing a pencil is regarded by many among the lower class as being a "sellout"; of betraying your upbringing.

Over the past few years, I've undergone a bit of a metamorphosis. The burnout I experienced managing group homes was largely because I was working with lower class standards in middle management, and hadn't learned to "speak their language", so to speak.

My epiphany came in an odd way. We were dealing with county officials who were holding meetings without the guardians' consent or knowledge to discuss the future of their wards (which is wholly illegal, but which, because I was sworn to confidentiality, I couldn't report without almost certainly losing my job). Because the guardians weren't there to represent their wards, I had to.

The discussion centered around a problematic individual with autistic tendencies. "Sally" had been observed in an inpatient setting at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a university highly regarded in the field, which came to entirely different conclusions about the source of her behaviour than these county officials and case workers, with their lay understanding of the psychological problems. This was one of my biggest challenges to the date. I HAD to come to the meeting completely prepared, or some decisions would be made about this individual that could have some rather dire consequences in her future.

I stayed up late into the night, studying her case file. I went to the meeting fueld only by the extra large cappucino I carried into the meeting. As the meeting began, I felt under attackl. The program was under attack, as was this individual because of misunderstandings by those empowered to help her. It was going badly.

At one point, when the others had all but decided her fate, they asked me what I thought about the source of her behavious. A light switch turned on in my head, and within a few seconds, I had produced the case study from UW-Madison. I began to discuss the study's conslusions, highlighting key relevant passages, and the mood in the room changed, almost instantly. I controlled the rest of the meeting, and changed the outcome through the simple act of being prepared.

It hit me immediately what I had done. I had learned to speak in the language that these individuals understood, and, rather than consigning myself to being a victim of fate, I had learned how direct and steer my fate. I can only conclude that the reason this happened is that I did not have a direct stake in the outcome, and yet cared deeply about the outcome. Because my personal life was not at stake and I was able to step outside and look at the situation I was handling through an objective, professional outlook, I made decisions and took risks I might otherwise not have taken. My entire life's philosophy was changed in a two hour meeting.

This lesson was not lost on me when we handled our recent encounter with CPS. To my complete and utter surprise, the CPS investigator concluded that not only did we not obstruct the investigation, but that we were fully cooperative. This despite the fact that at no time did we allow a home visit.

I still am in one of the lower income categories for US workers. But I can proudly say I am no longer "lower class". That is a label and a distinction that I have been able to overcome, through hard work, diligence, and the grace of God. But it's a mentality I understand well enough to address it because I spent the first thirty years of my life mired in it.


Comments
on Jan 20, 2006
I still object to the term "class", but I get the meaning you are trying to convey.  It is a mind set.
on Jan 21, 2006

I still object to the term "class", but I get the meaning you are trying to convey. It is a mind set.

Well, since it's a mind set I no longer hold, I'm coming to understand it more.