A job – and dignity

                  And Eric’s illiteracy

On Sunday night I heard the Afro-European-American Democratic contender, senator Barack Obama explain that when his (eventual) father-in-law obtained a job in one of America’s depressed communities, probably during the depression, “the job did not only give him a pay cheque, it gave him dignity!”
What a noble and accurate thought based on the old-time values of the poor but proud of my grandmother’s time. I share the sentiments expressed by the American candidate. But it set me thinking furiously. And to share these, perhaps repetitive views.

As recently as the fifties and sixties, I, in non-privileged but happy working-class childhood, understood early on the importance of an adult “getting a job”. Being employed. Whether educated engineer, teacher, nurse or lawyer; whether tradesman, rubbish–cart man, gardener or nanny, every adult, healthy Guyanese loved to be employed. Of course, the seniors, the handicapped, the “unpaid” housewife, or the very pregnant were understandable, accepted exceptions. As Obama said, a job gave status, dignity, integrity and yes – a wage or salary.

A male parent of those days was especially bullish on “wanting work”. And exceedingly distraught, if he stayed unemployed – and broke – for long. Whatever your class or status, your religion or education, you sought employment – or created it……