No Point in Insulting Certain Groups on Social Message Boards

Here are what I found out. I started my research and observations on some of my colleagues when I learned that there are nationalities for whom mortgage or educational loans are not part of their lives.

I do agree that in our present society these traits look improbable because certain bankers and professionals made it impossible for us to live without spending our lifetime enriching them and being indebted to them. But they cannot wipe out the truth that there was a not-so-distant past in our history when these traits were normal for us.

As most of us heard on Oprah, these bankers who commandeered our lives made it sure that we don't even think about those revolutionary (for us) but normal (for those communities who practice that way of life) ideas by immediately crying out "Socialism".

Greedy financiers wanted us to think that those communities were filthy, stinky or poor even to think about. They conveniently relegated us to a well so that we will be permanent frogs in that well, all the while pumping up our ego.

What is more juicy, fragrant and self-comforting than thinking all other races except mine are stinky and filthy, even if that means I spend my whole life paying mortgages, credit cards, health insurance and what not?

So here are those "stinky" ideas that make certain communities successful.

NOW first and foremost, yes, I mean it -

1. They don't consign their grandparents to old-age homes and nursing homes:

Grandparents are priceless Fort Knoxes of knowledge and experience. By having them with you or near you, you are saving thousands of dollars you may spent on shrinks and lawyers. Your grandparents may not be PhDs. But they graduated from the university of hard knocks. They know danger when they see one and tell you so, may even try to save you. That is selfless love just for the asking.

2. Their parents don't divorce:

Any differences their parents have are forgiven and forgotten before going to bed or on the bed at night. Next day begins as the first day of the rest of their lives.

Prenuptial agreements and alimony are unheard of in those communities.( No wonder, certain professionals among us don't want us to befriend those communities!)

This saves lot of money and time wasted on psychologists and lawyers. The money saved helps in enriching their own kids and giving them a solid foundation before they go to colleges.

This will be difficult if we idolize film stars and sportsmen who break up families for tax reasons.

In fact, some years ago, I was advised by my tax-preparer to divorce or file as separated to hoodwink IRS, which I flatly refused. The guy hasn't forgiven me for that even after two decades. First of all, I was a small-fry wage earner all my life, not a Hollywood celebrity or baseball player. I am not going to break up my family even for once just to feed the families of some professionals. I will consider those unsaved money given away to the IRS as opportunity costs for peace of life and mind.

3. Not being single parents means that, for most of the time, at least one parent will be at home when children come back from school:

- the greatest incentive for children to be safe at home, rather than be on the street or in undesirable circumstances that finally lead to abuse, drugs and guns.

4. I agree this last one is very difficult, especially if we broke up our families:

This one I stumbled on when complaints surfaced that 7-11 gave their franchises only to particular races. So when I met a middle-level official of that company, I asked about it. 7-11 didn't discriminate and their franchise was available to anybody who can come up with the money. But unlike the rest of us, it was easier for those particular communities to come up with the money because -

Their extended families band together to collect the required upfront payment whenever a young guy or gal wants to start a business. Remember, those loans are interest-free. Those uncles and aunts who loaned that money will be supervising their wards so that money is not frittered away. And they don't wait for SBA loans.

A similar situation may benefit their children when they buy homes later in life, avoiding mortgages altogether. No interest loans mean it is easier for any loan to be repaid. Elders standing as guarantors means that loans will be repaid - the young guys cannot escape that obligation. They are not mired in 30-year payments which covers almost all of the most productive years of an adult life.

Having worked with at least twenty nationalities both home and abroad right from my youth, I know it is easy for me to acknowledge good things in other races. I don't blame you if you have been taught to look down upon others because that is the situation we were purposely dragged into by bankers and professionals so that we can be "milked" - the "frog in the well" syndrome which Oprah did highlight.

We can bring up any number of arguments, justifications, excuses, accusations and insults just to stonewall ourselves and shirk our responsibilities. We may even get accolades and applauds for just doing that. But that is not going improve our children's future one wee bit.

So, if you find a man or woman or family of another race successful, don't be jealous or hateful. Instead, try to understand why they are. It may save us thousands of dollars and thus assure our children a headlong start in life.

Of course, it is easier to remain in our comfort zones, live our whole lives enriching others and impoverishing our own children because that is the in thing according to the idiot box. Then be finally consigned to nursing homes to be treated as unwanted people while still paying for that and to die unsung and unheard of even by our own children and grandchildren.

Choice is ours.

Did I just hear the self-serving, frightened, professional shout "Socialism" from somewhere?