One of the terms I've seen thrown around a lot lately is "privilege" - usually directed at someone else because one is feeling disadvantaged. Let me just cut to the chase and spell it out for those who don't want to read the entirety of this post. We are ALL privileged in some ways and we are ALL disadvantaged in other ways - or should I say, it's pretty safe to say that everyone who has the opportunity to be here... on Facebook, is most likely enjoying privilege that is unavailable to many who truly don't enjoy such luxuries.
Envy is what blinds us to our own privilege and compels us to want something we don't have or can't obtain, even though we have access to privileges of those whom we envy.
We may be inclined to point the finger of scorn or derision to those who (according to a flawed belief system set up by certain sectors of society) are automatically "privileged" simply due to the amount of melanin in their skin or because of their chromosomal makeup at birth. This falsehood not only delegitimizes those who truly ARE disadvantaged, but it also serves as an excuse or limiter to those who claim that others possess privilege. In other words, if you are one who claims that you can't get ahead because others are privileged, you are doing yourself a disservice by sabotaging your own potential.
For those who are still unconvinced and afflicted with ingratitude, let me name a few privileges that most (if not all) of us enjoy in a first-world country.
1) Running water. Clean running water that comes out of a tap... that we don't have to think about and we can drink without getting deathly ill. There are reputable reports that claim that only about half the world's population has access to sanitation and clean drinking water. If you have access to clean water (even if you have to buy bottled water) consider yourself privileged. If you have access to hot running water, you are even more privileged.
2) Adequate heating and/or air conditioning. I know there are a lot of people who need to turn the thermostat down in the winter to cut heating costs or who have to endure warmer rooms in their homes, workplace or places, shopping centers, places of worship, etc... however, there are many people in this world who do not enjoy such luxuries. For them, it is a matter of trying to keep from freezing to death or succumbing to heat exhaustion. If your home is heated or cooled, no matter how, enjoy your privilege.
3) Food. North America (particularly the United States) has a very real obesity problem. This affliction does not come from the lack of food... or starvation, as some who are truly disadvantaged have to endure or die from. We have such surpluses of food in our country that food gets wasted and thrown away in dumpsters. Some communities have food banks where surplus or donated food gets distributed to those in need. We also have programs in each state to help take care of our needy - whether those are government sponsored or by generous donations. I'm going to be frank and say that many of our problems where we *think* we are "starving" are caused by our own mismanagement of resources. If you have money to spend on exotic coffee, tobacco/vape, alcohol, street drugs (to include cannabis), entertainment (including TV and Internet subscriptions), tattoos/piercings, hair/cosmetic services and products, smart phone(s), and so forth and so on... then you can afford to go shopping for food. You may not have money for steak and seafood every meal, but guess what... you may have to buy a bag of beans and a loaf of bread from a bakery thrift store. Very few people in the U.S. and Canada ever experience starvation or malnutrition that is not a result of poor diet choices.
4) Access to medical care. There has been much debate, anxiety and even alarmism directed to this issue recently, but in reality, if you are genuinely sick or injured and you show up at ANY hospital or clinic that is open to the public in just about ANY sizable city, you will be treated. Nobody's going to leave you lying on the side of the road or kick you out of the emergency room and left to die because you don't have insurance coverage. Sure, you will get a bill (because SOMEBODY has to pay for exorbitant medical coverage typical in America), but you're not going to be turned away because you can't afford to pay for it at the time. This is one of your privileges.
5) Employment. Sure, you will most likely have to start out at the bottom (fast food... retail... manufacturing... manual labor) with a dead-end, minimum-wage job, but there are many, many places that are hiring right now. Unless you've already burned your bridges by dropping out (or getting expelled) from school, or by abusing drugs or committing other crimes, or with poor work ethic/attitude... you're a good candidate for one of these jobs. If you have a verifiable disability that prevents you from being employed, there are alternative means of income in this country and many other first-world countries. Even if you have to make your own job, it is not impossible or improbable to do so. One of my first jobs took a bit of startup (an old pickup truck, a lawn mower and trimmer) and it kept me busily employed. Yep, it was hard work, but where there is demand, there is work. Many people are also eligible for military service or other government jobs as well. If you are eligible due to your own circumstances (you have stayed in school and kept yourself out of trouble) consider yourself privileged at the multitudes of opportunities ahead of you.
6) Education. In no state or province that I am aware of has any person of any race, gender or ethnicity ever been denied an elementary education. Take advantage of your privilege and do the best you can. Don't be a slacker (like I was) or a troublemaker and exclude yourself from opportunities like college admissions, scholarships and so forth. Your educational privilege is contingent entirely upon your own merits. When it comes to secondary education, there are scholarships and other educational opportunities for many demographics... many of which I am not privileged to take advantage of. Those are your privileges... use them!
7) Liberty. If you can't see this - being a citizen of a country where you enjoy those privileges - you need to re-evaluate your status in the world. There are some countries that prohibit citizens from speaking, protesting or otherwise redressing the government. There are many people throughout the world who are enslaved... literally. If you complain about slavery or involuntary servitude, and you are not directly affected, all you are doing is drawing attention away from REAL slavery and human trafficking. Stop it! Human trafficking, forced labor (or being compelled to work in ACTUAL deplorable conditions), forced prostitution and the like are VERY REAL and this is a worldwide problem... even in America. If you are working somewhere and you have the option to quit your job AND if you are receiving a paycheck as allowed by law, you are not a slave and you are not working against your will. If at any time you ARE a victim of human trafficking, you can nonetheless escape by calling law enforcement and you will be freed and your captors brought to justice. You have that privilege. Slavery doesn't exist legally.
8) Entertainment/recreation. I added this to the list because this is one of those things that is often overlooked. Most (if not all) of use have opportunities to enjoy life in some way through escapism. We can watch TV, go to a public park or other facility... even to the library. Those public services are provided for all of us. Those who complain there is "nothing to do" need to just step outside and go do... do something. Take advantage of your privilege.
I know I haven't listed everything. I'm sure that there are many things I have left off of this list, but I hope you get the idea. Bottom line - if you feel like you are lacking in privilege, go out and discover your privilege. If you feel you are disadvantaged, overcome that disadvantage. If you are still envious of someone else's "privilege" - get over it! It's not going to do you, or society in general, any good to go around with a chip on your shoulder about how you have been dealt a poor hand. I personally have had to learn gratitude and acknowledge my privilege not by comparing myself to others, but by experiencing hardships and disadvantage in many circumstances. I've lived without running water, adequate shelter and many of the other necessities of life and have had to do some extremely difficult things in order to provide for myself and my family, so I am acutely aware of the privileges I have - the same privileges that MOST citizens of first world countries enjoy, yet do so with ingratitude and without acknowledgement.
(This blog was originally posted to my Facebook page)
