Monday, May 25, 2009

Using your brain for your hands


NYT Magazine:
'A gifted young person who chooses to become a mechanic rather than to accumulate academic credentials is viewed as eccentric, if not self-destructive. There is a pervasive anxiety among parents that there is only one track to success for their children. It runs through a series of gates controlled by prestigious institutions. Further, there is wide use of drugs to medicate boys, especially, against their natural tendency toward action, the better to “keep things on track.”'


Use to be that kids of color were guided by school counselors to do manual work.  This was because of the assumption that only the "smart ones" should go to college and Mexican or Black kids weren't smart.  Now the NYT is thinking about all those Hedge Fund Managers that want to become mechanics.  It's trying to make them feel better.

The truth is that people who do things with their hands (of course their brains help) are just as gifted and can usually be considered "artists"  - like the person who tiles your bathroom, puts up your siding, straightens your car out after an accident.  

But there is that old class issue, that goes back a milenium.  The rich and noble didn't (and don't) have to do anything but use their brains.  Can you change the oil in your car?



"A Case for Working with Your Hands," New York Times Magazine, May 24, 2009




1 comment:

Defensores de Democracia said...

Marie-Theresa :

Beautiful Post. I agree 100% ... I love music, painting, illustrations, literature, sculpture ART.

Since Latinos are in many instances condemned to Physical labor, menial jobs, lowest paid and lowest scale jobs, then let us dignify work, activity and effort.

I admire all artists and feel a lot of envy of the beautiful things that warm my heart and life, because I would want to have their talents.

Great and Charming Post of yours !!

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It is perfectly natural that Obama attended Reverend Wright's Church.

He was probably sleeping during his sermons or making political calculations and adding votes.

Obama probably knew that Reverend Wright was angry at slavery and at Genocides against Vietnam and Islamic Nations that are also Human Beings and should also be counted as victims of War.

Reverend Wright acknowledged the Humanity of all "darkies" and "brownies", Islamic or not, and he understood the imbecile fallacy or "Terrorism" for all people in pajamas.

If my ancestors had been slaves, eaten by dogs, castrated, leashed, beaten and whipped, and chained, then I would be angrier and madder than Mr Wright.

Mr Wright is inocous and can do no harm. He does not kick people in the head while they are unconscious on the floor.

The Wright Congregation : Black people dancing and singing and somewhat hysteric or frenetic, with wonderful beautiful music, those Blacks represents zero danger for American Society.

Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld or Idiot George W. Bush are one million times more dangerous.

Or the Racist Rednecks that are killing "darkies" and "brownies" as sport, fun and entertainment.

Politics is a tough business, and Mr Obama learned a lot form Chicago then I applaud.

He needs to be somewhat shrewd to resist the charges of People so mean and debased morally as Dick Cheney, the businessman of War and Genocide, getting richer with every bomb that falls on a poor illiterate village killing children, women and the old.

I still believe that Racist Rednecks have three powerful enemies : Demography, Science and Intelligence.

Against their Imbecility use Intelligence :

Raciality.com

Vicente Duque