Too Much Emphasis Is Placed On Education, And Far Too Little Is Placed On Ability
It is said that things happen for a reason, but millions of us are much more concerned about what we must learn to become, than we are about who and what we really are. We live in a world today where far too much emphasis is placed on education, and far too little is placed on ability. Credentials have sadly become more important than skills, and the result has been the economic devastation of North America. So, for those of you refusing to be brainwashed by the system to become what it needs, instead of who you are, here is a little tale to keep you on the path to your dreams.
Do You Realize What You Could Have Been?
After World War Two the Eastern hemisphere was a disaster. Millions fled to the ‘new world’ with hope of finding a better life. Among them, was a 23 year old man from Italy, Giuseppe, who had very little education, knowledge of the English language, and only one dollar. He was on his way to meet his cousin in America, who was going to help him until he could get on his feet. The cousin lived in Bronx, and was a garbage man by trade. He assured Giuseppe that he could get him a job as a garbage man too.
The following morning, Giuseppe went to work with his cousin, who introduced him to his boss and suggested that he hire him. The boss quickly agreed, hired Giuseppe, then handed him a piece of paper with his route. Giuseppe looked at the paper, then at the boss, then back at the paper. The boss asked if there was a problem, and Giuseppe replied, “I canna no read.” The boss said, “You have to be able to read to do this job, I’m sorry, I can’t hire you then,” and took back the route.
Giuseppe’s cousin felt bad, but there was nothing he could do, so he said he would see him after work. Depressed, dejected and feeling horribly alone, Giuseppe wandered the streets aimlessly. He came upon a store, and being hungry, used part of his dollar to buy a couple of bananas and an apple. He then went to a park and sat down on a bench to eat. Just as he was about to take a bite of the apple, a woman pushing a baby carriage came by, and spotting the bananas, asked Giuseppe if she could buy one for her hungry child. Giuseppe loved children, so he readily agreed, and made a tidy little profit.
Another mother had witnessed the sale of the banana, and also approached, asking to buy the other one. Before Giuseppe could take her money, a man sat next to him and asked if he could buy the apple. Now empty handed and still hungry, Giuseppe had an idea. Every morning, as Giuseppe’s cousin went off to work, Giuseppe would take a bag and go shopping. He had a knack for picking the best looking and tastiest fruits, and customers now awaited his arrival at the park. Soon Giuseppe had enough money to buy a small cart, which earned enough to buy another, and another, and so on. Then one day, Giuseppe decided to do something then unheard of. He decided that he would open a store that sold only the best fruits and vegetables. It was such a success, that within a matter of a few years, he had several hundred stores across the nation.
Many years passed, and Giuseppe was now elderly. His family encouraged him to make a will to distribute his assets when he passed. Realizing the enormity of his wealth, and having the foresight to see possible battles among relatives taking place, Giuseppe agreed. He went to a lawyer to have a will drafted. Several days later, the lawyer had the final will ready, and asked Giuseppe to come review and sign it. The lawyer, quite pleased with his work, slide the will across his desk and asked Giuseppe to please read through it to make sure all was correct.
Giuseppe looked down at the will, then at the lawyer, then back down at the will. The lawyer asked if there was a problem. Giuseppe said, “I canna no read.” The lawyer, simply astounded, proclaimed, “You have built a corporation worth tens of millions of dollars, own real estate across the country, and are a true American immigrant success story, yet you can’t read? My God, sir, do you realize what you could have become if you had just learned to read?” Giuseppe smiled sadly, and quietly said, “Ya. I could’a been’a garbage man.”
