Unsatisfied Americans

I like the diversity in work this country offers.  We have businessmen, we have government officials, and we farmers.  From my time, I've seen the growth of cities and the decrease of population in small towns.  I've lived in one of the top ten biggest cities in the US, and I've lived in a small town.  I've seen the "exploiters" and the "nurturers."  And so have most of us who've had our share of city life and town life.

Berry mentions, "The only escape from this destiny of victimization has been to 'succeed'--that is, to 'make it' into the class of exploiters, and then to remain so specialized and so 'mobile' as to be unconscious of the effects of one's life or livelihood" (5).  Sometimes I wonder how satisfied we can remain before we get antsy or bored with our current life.  The first example I could think of are the students from my high school.  Although small, several of them graduated and moved to big cities.  Within a few years, they came back.  Others never dared to venture outside of their state and are perfectly content at where they are now.

There is nothing wrong with moving to another location or changing careers.  I mean, look at Leeland Lee from "Job History."  For the most part, he had to change jobs just so that he and his family could survive.  On the other hand, what are one's intentions?  Their attitude?  Is it because they feel like they can't succeed in the current location they are living in? Is it because of pride?  Is it because of money?  Or is because they just want to be far from family as much as possible?

When I began thinking of that, it makes sense.  In America, our strive for success is great, and it's also blinding.  How?  If we are never satisfied with anything, we will never be satisfied with everything.  Here are two attitudes that Berry talks about, "The exploiter wishes to earn as much as possible by as little work as possible; the nurturer expects, certainly, to have a decent living from his work, but his characteristic wish is to work as well as possible" (8).  There is a main difference I've noticed among those who live in the city and those who farm in a small town.  City people complain about money often; farmers complain about weather.  According to Pierce Walker, "Weather will make ya or break ya" (4).

Because our attitude often determines our way of living, on the outside, people can tell.  For example, I have a coworker who is a farmer's wife.  She dresses very simple, wears no makeup, and has no extravagant electronic or car.  I have another friend, who is from the city.  She always has to have the best technology and appearance for her job.  While she continues to buy more and more and think of better and brighter ideas, my coworker is more concerned about complaints from her customers who did not enjoy her food.