Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin
Once they're 16, they can do what they want to in that regard. If their parents decide to hold them back, they can always go and become emancipated. I think denial of educational opportunity would be strong grounds for that.
And even after high school, there are community G.E.D. programs, there is financial aid to get into college or trade school.
My point is that unless someone just completely pisses their life away, there are options. Those options may not be as easy and accessible as those which were available to me and probably you, but those things are out there.
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I know we're going to have to agree to disagree on this issue and all that crap.
I don't think there's a magical thing that happens when a kid with an incredibly screwed up life of poverty/violence/parental drug use/crappy schools/hunger/illness/gangs/trauma/whatever turns 16 (or whatever age) and suddenly sees the light and the road to education/success/independence/health/whatever. I think it's entirely possible that someone who had a really terrible childhood would turn 16 and not even have any idea that anything in the world but the shit he or she has known since birth was possible or how to go about doing it. Having never experienced this, I don't know for sure -- but I can imagine it.
This isn't such a sticking point with me because I want to offer excuses for people who work at Walmart or collect welfare or commit crimes or do whatever it is they do that isn't considered successful. I'm just bothered by what seems to me to be a rather callous statement that it's their fault or they could succeed if they tried or they're lazy. Of course you're free to have whatever opinion you want, but I just find it sad -- because I don't think it's that simple for many people and I don't like the way our society in general doesn't give a rat's ass about the poor or disadvantaged. But like I said, I'm kind of a hippie, uh, which is why I don't shop at Walmart.
Hybrid Mode
