Nowadays individuality is not always smiled upon, and enlightened, social progressives promote the “it takes a village” mentality, which reminds me of a word I don’t like: uniformity.
In today’s society, uniformity is a fallacy. Consider this: the top five percent of taxpayers contribute sixty percent of government revenue; the top ten percent contribute seventy-five percent of government revenue; another forty percent ante up the rest, and one out of two Americans pay no taxes at all. Where is the uniformity?
When I posed this question to a liberal friend, she looked down her nose at me, as the self-proclaimed elite always do, and said, “Well, my close-minded conservative friend, you’re an impoverished college pedagogue, so you should agree with me that rich folks are greedy and should be forced to share their wealth with their less fortunate brothers and sisters, of whom you are one.”
“Part of greed is resistance to being too merciful,” I said. “I admire rich folks for competing in the world’s best economic system: capitalism. They’ve learned that being too unselfish toward unproductive people is like having too much mercy on stray dogs, and taking them in. Pretty soon, the kind-hearted soul starves because he spends all his money for dog food. The affluent pity the poor, but avoid joining their ranks.”
Whoever taught you that should be ashamed,” she said.
“My mother did,” I replied. “She instilled in her sons the competitive, free enterprise mentality, and we were never foolish enough to question her teachings because that would make her unhappy, and we learned from previous experiences that when Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
“Did she instill that same attitude in your sisters?” she asked.
Actually, no. The truth is, my three sisters had it made. Mama’s plan for them was to make sure they married men who, like her sons, had been imbued with the capitalistic spirit. To that end, Mama made sure they were taught all the social graces, including poise, purity, etiquette, and impeccable femininity. She also made sure they got the full complement of beauty rest. When there was no reason to arise early, they slept all day.
While our sisters snoozed, my brothers and I received Mama’s daily marching orders at the breakfast table. Mowing the yard, trimming hedges, washing cars, feeding chickens, and slopping hogs were just a few of our daily duties.
We envied our sleeping siblings, but wouldn’t dare disturb them, not only because we would face Mama’s wrath, but also because we knew that, once awakened, they go from serene slumber to bellicose barbarianism — baring fangs and shrieking unladylike obscenities.
Life’s best elixir is hard work
While the girls got what they wanted, we boys got what we needed. Mama taught us that life’s best elixir is hard work, and we grew up despising lazy people, the kind who think government should redistribute rich folks’ wealth.
If I ever become wealthy, I won’t become too merciful. Doing so would make Mama unhappy, and when Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.
Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
