Mike Rowe, You're My New Hero

MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry appears to be put off by the suggestion that “hard work” is too often linked with success. She doesn’t like the fact that many hard-working individuals have not enjoyed the same measure of success as Speaker Ryan, who was being acknowledged on her show for his excellent work ethic. Here is her response, in her own words…

HARRIS-PERRY: “I want us to be super careful when we use the language “hard worker.” I actually keep an image of folks working in cotton fields on my office wall, because it is a reminder about what hard work really looks like. But in the context of relative privilege, when you talk about work-life balance, the moms who don’t have health care aren’t called hard workers. We call them failures. We call them people who are sucking off the system.”

MIKE ROWE: "To me, it sounds as though Melissa is displaying images of slavery or drudgery in her office to remind herself of what hard work really and truly looks like. That’s a bit like hanging images of rape and bondage to better illustrate the true nature of human sexuality. Whatever her logic might be, it’s difficult to respond without first pointing out a few things that most people will find screamingly obvious. So let’s do that.

First of all, slavery is not “hard work;” it’s forced labor. There’s a big difference. Likewise, slaves are not workers; they are by definition, property. They have no freedom, no hope, and no rights. Yes, they work hard, obviously. But there can be no “work ethic” among slaves, because the slave has no choice in the matter.

Workers on the other hand, have free will. They are free to work as hard as they wish. Or not. The choice is theirs. And their decision to work hard, or not, is not a function of compliance or coercion; it’s a reflection of character and ambition.

This business of conflating hard work with forced labor not only minimizes the importance of a decent work ethic, it diminishes the unspeakable horror of slavery.

Unfortunately, people do this all the time. We routinely describe bosses as “slave-drivers,” and paychecks as “slave’s wages.” Melissa though, has come at it from the other side. She’s suggesting that because certain “hard workers” are not as prosperous as other “hard workers,” – like the people on her office wall – we should all be “super-careful” about overly-praising hard work.

I suspect this is because Melissa believes – as do many others – that success today is mostly a function of what she calls, “relative privilege.” This is fancy talk for the simple fact that life is unfair, and some people are born with more advantages than others. It’s also a fine way to prepare the unsuspecting viewer for the extraordinary suggestion that slavery is proof-positive that hard work doesn’t pay off.

Obviously, I don’t see the world the same way as Melissa, but we do have something in common. Like her, I keep a picture on my office wall.

That’s me, squatting next to the most disappointing toilet I’ve ever encountered, preparing to clean it out with a garden trowel. I keep it there to remind me of what happens when you need a plumber but can’t find one.

It’s also a nice reminder that a good plumber these days has a hell of a lot more job security than the average news anchor. (With respect.)"

Mike

+1

+1

I follow him on social media and this is just one example of his thought provoking responses. Mike Rowe is awesome, simply put.

Wow! I just became a huge Mike Rowe fan!

Yep Mike is awesome!!

Awesome, yes. Hero? I beg to differ. My definition of hero is different. There was one receiveing a medal of honor from President Obama a couple of days ago. This hero, born in France, naturalized American, threw himself on top of a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

That's a hero.

We can play semantics all day, it will only breed negativity and get no where. To me, a man with the balls to be straight forward and honest in a world full of offended people, fake BS, manipulation, political correctness and unacceptance of others is a hero. Not the same hero as our military heroes keeping us safe every day or a fire fighter that saves lives. He has the courage to speak his mind and stand for what he believes in. To compare him to a military hero is unfair to both. A military hero has reached something that the rest of us probably never will. To compare the military hero to someone who is touching people on a different level takes away from what a military hero is. It's an unfair comparison. He/she are on a level all their own. Don't take away from this by comparing to different types of heroes.

If we keep comparing good people to the ultimate heroes is unfair and can be discouraging. "I can't ever meet that level of hero so why try?" "All my work, no matter how good, the outcome doesn't matter because I'll never be respected since I'm not military" "You're not good enough until you become military"

My grandmother is my personal hero, she was beyond amazing in what she did for me and others. I have a ton of military heroes in my family, I was raised right and taught to respect and honor those who keep us safe. By the same token, I was never belittled when I accomplished something or said something, I was built up. If I were compared to the military in my family, I would feel unworthy and put down, like why bother since I'll never be in the military?

We have different types of heroes on different levels. I will always hold our military heroes in high regard, I was raised right. There are also heroes on smaller levels, teachers, paramedics, firefighters, moms, dads, grandparents, etc. My heroes consist of military and non-military who have done big and small things.

Let people have their heroes, regardless of who heroes are to them.

Namaste!!

Exactly what i said.

Pay attention to what I said please.

MY definition of hero is different than yours. Keep yours, i keep mine.

Exactly what i said.

Pay attention to what I said please.

MY definition of hero is different than yours. Keep yours, i keep mine. Originally Posted by Luke Skywalker

The original post was much more about Mike having the courage to challenge the idiocy of a PC-obsessed commentator than the formal definition of hero.

The original post was much more about Mike having the courage to challenge the idiocy of a PC-obsessed commentator than the formal definition of hero. Originally Posted by Wheretonow

Like on a newspaper article, the title is what drivesthe reader ship. The word hero was in your subject line.

Like on a newspaper article, the title is what drivesthe reader ship. The word hero was in your subject line. Originally Posted by Luke Skywalker

And properly so.

Hero, noun:
1. man of distinguished courage or ability,admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, hasheroic qualities or has performed a heroicact and is regarded as a model or ideal:
He was a local hero when he saved thedrowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play,film, etc.


I welcome another opportunity to further educate you in the proper use of the English language.

As to whether Mike Rowe is a hero for taking on an idiotic member of the liberal press, I'm going with yes.

And properly so.

Hero, noun:
1. man of distinguished courage or ability,admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, hasheroic qualities or has performed a heroicact and is regarded as a model or ideal:
He was a local hero when he saved thedrowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play,film, etc.


I welcome another opportunity to further educate you in the proper use of the English language.

As to whether Mike Rowe is a hero for taking on an idiotic member of the liberal press, I'm going with yes. Originally Posted by Wheretonow

You seem to suffer from reading comprehension. Read my post again. Carefully. Ask for you mom's help. I stated my opinion because you stated in your title he was you hero. You tried then to downplay it. When caught, you visited Webster.com. how creative...

Stick to your heroes. I stick to mine.

Awesome, yes. Hero? I beg to differ. My definition of hero is different. There was one receiveing a medal of honor from President Obama a couple of days ago. This hero, born in France, naturalized American, threw himself on top of a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

That's a hero. Originally Posted by Luke Skywalker

Exactly what i said.

Pay attention to what I said please.

MY definition of hero is different than yours. Keep yours, i keep mine. Originally Posted by Luke Skywalker

You seem to suffer from reading comprehension. Read my post again. Carefully. Ask for you mom's help. I stated my opinion because you stated in your title he was you hero. You tried then to downplay it. When caught, you visited Webster.com. how creative...

Stick to your heroes. I stick to mine. Originally Posted by Luke Skywalker

I suspect that my circle of heroes encompasses a larger group than yours does. And having served 22 years in the military, I've met and served with many of your kind. But to me a hero is a person who, when confronted with a set of circumstances, takes actions that confront, transcend and overcome. And I don't think only people who wear uniforms do that.

However included in my list of heroes is my fellow sailor (who coincidentally was black) who, at great risk to himself, saved my life in Vietnam. We still stay in touch and there's nothing I wouldn't do for him. But in true hero fashion he's never asked for anything. When I told him I was going to recommend him for a Bronze Star (with V for valor) he said "Why don't you just buy me a beer?" I ended up doing both.

You don't know shit about me. Or my "kind". You don't even have the slightest clue of what "kind" I am.

Go back to your kkk meetings.