Let me begin this blog with a word of warning. I am writing this reflection as an American living abroad during an American Election Year. I have no comments about either candidates- President Barack Obama or Gov. Mitt Romney. Both have their pros and cons and as a registered Independent I tend to vote more for the person/their stance on issues rather than the party. This is not a political commentary but rather a commentary/critique of recently displayed American arrogance compared with sincere Brazilian struggle.
I am frustrated and disheartened by signs and t-shirts that
make the claim “I built this business by myself, not the government.” Are you aware of the audacity it takes to
make a statement such as this? Let me
explain to you a bit about the community where I live in the rural impoverished
part of northeastern Brazil.
This morning as I was driving out of my community I passed a
group of 6 men who were building a speed bump on our gravel road because the
local government has yet to express an interest in doing so. The men themselves, not the road crew, took
the initiative to provide this basic service for their families and neighbors. While driving to a nearby community to
participate in a conference I passed a young boy who was shoveling dirt from
the side of the road in to the deep pot holes that littered the Federal
Interstate. Naturally, this is not the
responsibility of a 7 year old, but rather the federal government that has
either not shown an interest in does not have the money to build paved
roads.
When I arrived at the conference we told the story of
hundreds of students who study under the shade of trees or in abandoned
buildings because there are no public schools in their communities and no
school buses to drive them the 30+ minutes to go to the nearest public school. These same students who lack public schools
also lack running water in their homes, paved roads, public buses, access to
internet and at times access to phones and electricity.
From these impoverished communities more than 500 students
have now entered the university and are returning to their communities to
improve the quality of life there. They
are taking responsibility for their own destiny with or without the help,
support and basic resources provided by the government. 
But, there is a popular saying in Brazil. “Sou Brasileiro. Nunca desisti.” This means, I am Brazilian I never give up.” These people have the right to say. “I built this by myself, not the
government.” Because, truly, the
government has not met their basic needs and they been forced to pave their own
way.
So, the next time you step out in your arrogance and claim
that you have done everything on your own and the government has not helped
you, think twice about what you are saying.
Did you have running water in your house to take a shower and make
coffee before you left for work this morning?
Were you able to travel on paved roads to your business? Do you have electricity at your business to
light the building and run the cash register/credit card machine? Did you come to work feeling relatively safe
without the fear of being robbed or attacked?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then realize
not only that there is an entire community/country/government that made each
“yes” possible, but also that there are others who cannot answer yes to even
one of these questions. And, when you
have the audacity to claim that the government does not play a part in you
success you are not only insulting the American government but this is a slap
in the face to those who truly can claim, “I did it on my own.” Of course, they, in humility and respect
would never make such an ignorant claim. So, please, think twice about the claims that
you make because you not only make yourself look conceited but you offend
millions around the world who already view you in a negative light.
