Are you a domestic terrorist?

[--Pete]

Hi,

We are intentionally kept away from means to accumulate enough wealth to actually be owners of the machines, . . .

I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or puke when I read or hear this. My parents and I came to this country in 1951 with two suitcases and $31 (the maximum that could be taken out of England at that time). Within two years, they were running their own millinery factory on Lexington avenue. They *owned* the machines then, and continued to own them until their retirement around 1985. My stepfather died last year at 88, my mother is still alive at 93 and still living on the money they made (and saved) by their initiative and hard work. Neither of my parents ever spoke English well (although, between the two, they spoke seven languages). My step father did not finish high school, seems that the Germany invaded Poland in what would have been his last year. My mother was educated in a convent, where religion and 'women's work' were the primary curriculum. What they did, they did without friends, without family, without inheritance, without privilege.

So, anyone born, raised, educated in this country that hasn't made it needs to face the reason for their failure. It isn't the government. It isn't corporations or business. It isn't inheritance or privilege. It's the inadequacy of that person in the mirror.

Those that can, do. Those that can't whine.

--Pete