The Greek myth of Sisyphus tells the story of a king condemned to roll a rock
uphill and upon reaching the top loses control of the rock which rolls back down
and he must restart the endless task.

This is interpreted by most as symbolic of absurdity in life and pointlessness
for we all have a common destiny of concluding this life's drama. I've found
nothing inspirational or worthy of emulation in the myth although some find
meaning in the struggle itself.

In recognizing accomplishment, the ability to overcome difficulty is praised
with reverence and awe, as it should be. Too often though, those difficult
circumstances don't get the scrutiny deserved and go unaddressed until some
critical mass is reached (say, tent cities appear, or violence breaks out). How
did manufactured hardship become the vaunted path to achievement? Yes,
'manufactured', because all of the circumstances and/or responses are created by
humans.

At a corporation where I was once employed there was a saying: "Work smarter,
not harder". Clearly in some cases (i.e. gaining revenue) a more efficient
route with reduced impediments was preferred and encouraged.

Advocates who chant "personal responsibility" believe that is the only
answer. It is certainly a critical factor but it presupposes that the only
power one has is to circumvent (or more popularly envisioned, plough through)
the obstacle. Education may allow you to "control your destiny" but no more than
hardening yourself to whatever "life" may throw at you. There are plenty of
educated people right now wondering how their destiny has been radically changed
from what they envisioned.

It would be different if history didn't have this aggravating habit of repeating
itself. That very aforementioned education teaches the many sacrifices,
sometimes years in coming to light, that were made before a little more
refinement of 'civilization' occurred (if one knows where to look).
And decade after decade there is a familiarity, a common thread of oppression,
rebellion, and fractionalization.

With all the revelations emanating from the economic meltdown lately I
wonder, how many complicit in the scandals didn't have a father? Did they have
to overcome discrimination? Were they demonized by the system? Did they have a
"victim" mentality? In short, were they burdened with the same pathologies
whose impact (real or imagined) has long been attributed to the "others"? What
could account for this greedy anti-social behavior?

And on the other side of it, what can be said to assuage the innocent bystanders;
the ones who "followed the rules" and were industrious "team players"? I'll tell
you what I hear in some quarters: it's all their fault! They should've had a
backup plan, they should have been more analytical and proactive in developing
and executing a strategy...

As I think of those innocent bystanders I wonder: How many "ones" were they able
to accumulate over the course of their career performance reviews? And what
good is it now? What kind of personal responsibility should they assume for
aging? (Staying "current" doesn't automatically translate to "a good fit"
you know. What personal responsibility is there for not being "cost-effective"?
(Lessee...barring a merger where I'm part of the 'merged' hence low on the totem
pole, or need for the company to meet Wall Street's expectations [read hold the
line on salaries], I did get "ones" -- or at least "high twos" on my performance
review the last few periods, didn't I?)

And, what doesn't get equal time in the platitudes about "hard work"
and "education" is the not-so-subliminal views on "office politics" and the
like.

This economic disaster has changed people's lives in ways they never imagined
(although some have been down so long, it seems like "up" to them. I heard a
comment on CSPAN's Washington Journal recently where a caller observed that
perhaps now some will see that a downturn in fortune is not necessarily caused
by a deficiency of character). Could it be that this reversal of fortune will
harbor a new-found empathy? Uh oh, there's that niggling aggravation about repetitive
history again...

Some years ago I had a fantasy of how the world would work if everyone could
switch jobs for six months. Too preposterous, my ego replied, the knowledge and
skill transfer could not be accomplished without a direct download to the cortex,
sci-fi style. Now, underemployment as well as unemployment is rife; the only
working example of a trickle-down theory however.

Funny, how things have a way of working out.

Am I saying to give up when the road is hard? Hardly. What I am saying is let's
not pay undue homage to the struggle without recognizing the causes, components
and their true cost.

What I'm doing about it: learning all I can about Internet Marketing, keeping up
with my technical skills, and finding _Clients_ rather than interviews. Want to
join me? Subscribe to my newsletter with a blank email and subject line "Opt In"
to subscribe@myownimage.net.

[Sources: NYT online "Older Workers Need Not Apply" 4/12/2009,
surfing a number of websites and Life experience: 1965- ]

It's bad enough when you are associated with reprehensible actions of others
you don't even know. What do you do when you are judged by actions of those
you know? Recently Barack Obama had to address his affiliation with a couple
of controversial preachers who had a unique and/or forceful way of expressing
themselves, to say the least. He hasn't been alone in having to answer for
the statements made by associates that have drawn outrage and opprobrium, but
it's obvious he's a lightning rod for criticism.

So what are we to do; keep projecting responsibility on each other every time
a member of a particular ethnic group bugs out? And in fact, if the behavior
is not physically threatening to anyone or psychologically abusive, wouldn't
it be more praiseworthy to stick with that person and try to influence them in
a more positive direction? I would tend to thank those in that effort versus
their dropping the scorned, as seems to be the generally accepted course.

McCain has recently had to declare his disagreement with his former
economics advisor's opinions of Americans as "whiners". Well that's good enough
for me! I'll be sure to watch what else he says/supports and compare it to past
actions _he_ has taken to judge where he's coming from. (And he did say much of
the current economic mess is "psychological". I don't know about him, but my
fantasies are _much_ better than this!)

As Jill Scott sang: "You ain't no saint, we all are sinners, but you put your
good foot down and make your soul a winner." Put up with what you can 'til you
"caint take no mo'!" And I'll try to remember that we're all individuals;
innocent until proven guilty.

Speaking of images, over the past 6 months I've heard Barack Obama respond to questions regarding
white men being "considered black". In one he responded "I don't know...I'd have to check to see if he
eats grits...[etc]." In the other recent instance which I recall more clearly, he was asked how he felt about
Bill Clinton being called the "First Black President". Again, he assumed the same demeanor, responding
"I'd have to check his dancing ability...".

I mentioned this to my wife and relatives at a family dinner one evening, fuming a little at another
luminary stereotyping his own. But my wife, whose perception I've always admired, countered "You should
give him the benefit of the doubt. He's probably just sayin' that because the question is so ridiculous!"

It immediately reversed my interpretation and I was indeed willing to give him that benefit.

But I'll be listenin'. [Comparatively,  his was mild.]

So, here's what led to "My Own Image"...

I've been exposed to narrow perspectives a lot in my lifetime and sometimes I didn't bother
to counter them. Those days are over. No more simplistic judgments given waiver. No more
passivity and endurance of generalizations and getting lumped in a category.

It's about having a balance. It's about acknowledging being multidimensional.
It's about freedom and self-determination.

Heard Tavis Smiley commenting on protests against BET programming, quoting (paraphrased):
"When the SUM of what you see is negative and cast as normative, mainstream opinions, we have a
right and a duty to speak out against that degradation".

I decided to represent "My Own Image".