The Audacity to Claim “I built this business by myself!”- Reflections from an American living abroad during an Election Year

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.