Ambition...
When we look at poor third world people struggling to feed themselves, we may be forgiven if we happen to think that their misery is due to their lack of ambition.
The truth is that the most ambitious individuals in the world hail from those forgotten corners. For them, simply trying to earn a penny to afford feeding their own is an ambitious task. And as a result, no matter the hardships, their dignity and strength of character may often prevail to propel them to great achievement.
In those poor countries where kleptocracy rules, anyone who wants to get up the ladder of success often ends up mingling with shady characters whose only qualification would be a relative in high places.
Those few who have an overwhelming desire to make it up the ladder of success on the strength of their true convictions are soon swept aside like annoying flies.
Oftentimes ambitious people in those countries end up becoming heroes of the people.
They may not be free to fulfil their dreams of advancement but in their struggles to do so, they usually bring many crooked practices out in the open.
Can you think of any ambitious people or unsung heroes you happen to admire?
Cartoon borrowed from Hagar the Horrible.
...
I screamed and guess what?
12 Comments:
Y'know Cream, all day today I was thinking about this, about how folks in 3rd world countries WORK HARD are kind and generous despite their hardships.
They just do what they have to do and get on with living.
You do know 3rd world life well...the shady characters and so on.
But not all of us are kleptos, and some do succeed without having to hang out with crooked characters.
A lot of folks here are heroes, my list would be soooo long. But I'll start with my own parents. And grandparents, both sides. How they struggled. And not a complaint.
How is Papa, by the way?
And oh...this is NOT a tag, okay...but can you take us on a cyber walk around your neighbourhood? And when you're done, you can ask someone else. But it is NOT a tag, okay? :-)
For the tag, good idea! I will do it as soon as I can manage to go for a walk.
By kleptocracies, I meant governments that plunder their country's riches!
I can assure you, GG that, in the countries I am on about, anyone who really succeeds has without a shade of a doubt, rubbed shoulders, willingly or unwillingly with the scum that rule them!
It is very hard to even begin getting rid of these plunderers because they pull all the strings and are worse than the Mafia in holding on to power.
Papa is great, thanks for asking. I will be ringing him tomorrow.
cream, you are such a well rounded individual with great topics to share and ask people to ponder about. I love tuning into you everyday. you are like chocolate or alcohol (addictive)! Having been born in San Diego, Mexico and it's people have been my friends and neighbors always. I admire so much these loving people. They work the hardest for the least in some of the lowliest conditions and they always smile, sing, laugh, share and are some of the most naturally happy people. They do all the work that nobody wants to do. They live modestly and send all their money home to their families and live in very cramped conditions all together and they feel lucky.I salute and love them!
My father.
He left Jamaica and went to school in the U.S. My mother came to join him 2 years later. We were poor immigrants.
Today, my father is the only one in his family with a college degree. A Ph.D. Both my parents have jobs with the government and now we are all U.S. citizens. He was ambitious and took a chance. Though I've never told him this to his face, I'm really proud of him.
Val, I have always described myself as a "Jack of All Trades Master of None"...I am still looking for my calling.
Those of us who have experience things first hand will always understand a bit more about life...It used to be the same for Algerians working in France.
Juliana, you have every right to be proud of your father. Make sure that you tell him.
This might sound corny to A LOT of folks, but I enjoy reading success stories.
Stories about guys like Ralph Lauren who started off by selling ties in a suitcase [or so the story goes]; teensy little farmers in deep, deep rural America; anonymous people in Africa.
They inspire me to keep going.
GG, it's definitely not corny at all! I too love success stories especially those that make against the odds.
Inspiration isn't the only thing I get out them. I also get the satisfaction that there are still many Davids in this world of Goliaths.
Maggie Thatcher. Ok, her politics was a tad dodgy but without Maggie we wouldn't have softscoop icecream. Strange but true, Maggie is a trained chemist and worked as a food scientist working on icecream setting methods. She also did some very important work which produced techniques which have allowed us to study cell membranes. Without Maggie the world REALLY would be a different place.
~Milady
xxx
i agree with gg i love to hear peoples success stories. the most successful people are selfless, they were not trying to get rich, they are trying to do something great!
Milady, you've done it now! Do you know that as from this moment forward, I will not take a lick of ice cream without thinking of Maggie?
Val, I love your contributions to my blog. If ever there were a contest on Biggest Cream Fan, you would be top of the pile. But on a serious note,successful people are ordinary people who have a simple desire to better themselves.
i am your biggest fan! you have to admit that it's pretty darn great to communicate with people all over the world with similar interests and ideals and connect on a daily basis. call me presumptious but I consider you my friend.
Val, you and all the regular bloggers who comment on my Screamers, have become a great set of real rather than virtual friends.
People who share stuff they really like with others who give back can do no less than consider themselves as good friends.
Welcome to the Circle of Friends.
(By the way, have you read any of Maeve Binchy's books?) Karen loves her!
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