[StBernard] Expanding higher ed access for low income students
Westley Annis
westley at da-parish.com
Wed May 30 23:47:17 EDT 2007
John,
You are able to articulate and zero in on the crux of the matter so much
better than I can. So I'll say to everyone, "Yeah, what he said!"
Laurie
>-----------------------------------------------------
>Wendy
>
>...and Laurie, you can take a break on this one, I'll cover for you ;-) .
>Wendy, you referenced the scene in Wil Smith's movie pointing out..."What
>if
>Smith's character wasn't on that street that day or the guy didn't answer
>his question? My only point was that yes hard work plays a huge part in
>things, but
>circumstances (whether destiny, choice, higher beings, influences) all play
>into his." Okay, let me respond to that - even in light of what Chris
>Gardner said in the dvd extra interview.
>
>I have always strongly believed in something I heard long ago. I can't
>remember who said it so I can't give proper credit, but the saying
>went..."luck is ally to the brave, not the cowardly, as is good fortune to
>the persistent." What a great quote - because it's true. Thus, if Chris
>Gardner wasn't on that particular street that particular day, it soon would
>have been another day on another street. Perhaps the word I'm looking for
>here is "destiny." With his hard work, his determination and courage,
>success would have come to Chris Gardner in some manner reasonably soon
>because he decided he was going to make it happen. I've never known anyone
>like that not to succeed.
>
>So, Gardner might have commented "gee, I wonder what would have happened if
>I'd not been on the street that very day?", but deep down I believe he
>knows
>the true answer to that question - he would have found a way to succeed
>another day.
>
>This reminds me of a great quote by Thomas Edison. When asked what was the
>formula to his success, Edison replied, "10 percent inspiration and 90
>percent perspiration." In other words, persistence and hard work always
>pays off. And if no one ever believes that, then they are destined for
>failure.
>
>These words are more than just a "go get'em" and emotional pep talk -
>they're a fundamental, psychological prerequisite for
>success.....regardless
>of your humble beginnings, poor quality of inner city education or any
>other
>rock bottom circumstances. I belive this to be a fundamental difference in
>dogma between conservatism and liberalism. Conservatism is based on the
>principle that anyone, no matter how far you start down the totem pole, can
>still raise "themself" (key word) to unlimited success - where liberalism
>is
>based on the principle that the individual is weak and cannot make it
>without signifant help from the government, or simply cannot succeed at
>all."
>
>I always like to joke...what cable channel is the least watched by
>liberals?
>The "Do-It-Yourself" Network, of course ;-) just joking.
>
>- John Scurich
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