Comments on: So What Is A Sense of Class?

By: Cashgreen

Cashgreen — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:22:27 +0000

It begins by accepting the fact that one thing we have in common with our fellow man is our lack of perfection

By: micmarine

micmarine — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:43:03 +0000

Said like a true Marine Brewer!

By: Ferraribubba

Ferraribubba — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:21:17 +0000

Class? To me, class is all the things that I lacked for the first 65 years of my life. Egotistical, self-centered, lying, whoring, cheating, a user. you name it, that was me.
That was until my son Harrison was born in the Old Pueblo on July 29, 2001. A day that changed my life forever.
It hit me as if a lighting bolt had struck. God was giving me one more chance to get it right. Don’t let this boy end up like Willi, your first one. Dead in the street on some rainy Christmas Eve.
Well, I sobered up enough to hit one of Tucson’s two $28,000 for 28 day Rehab joints and learned a hell of a lot about myself and the reasons why I drank.
But I continued to drink after I got home. Smarter, but still drinking.
So, as a last resort, I ended up going to this Papago Shaman on the reservation who I called Bob Manygoats for obvious reasons.
He put my problem into such simple terms that even I could understand how to stop.
“White Boy”, he said, “You drink for two reasons: You want to and you can. It’s just that simple.”
In Tucson the nearest Circle K and a qt. of vodka was 2 miles down Bear Canyon Road in the Ferrari. Here in East Jesus it’s 20 miles to the nearest Stop ‘n Rob. And I gave der Frau the keys to the Fazzaz for the first 60 days we were back here to make sure all the booze was out of my system. It’s been since Nov., 2005 now, but I sure do miss a cold Cerveza Pacifico to go with what the Hillbillys call Mexican food back here.
Now, getting back to class, To me it’s listening, not talking. Being respectful and polite. Not interupting. Driving a Ferrari, or any fine car, not to impress, but to be one with the machine Back here we all address others as Mr. Tommy, Miss Cheryl, Mr. Bob, or the like. Never just by the 1st name. Only children under 18 are addressed by 1st name only. The kids do the same.
When I came back here, the big city boy with the fancy sports car, boy was I ready to judge all the natives.
But after a few weeks back here, I found that I could only judge myself. If I live to be a hundred years old, I could only hope to be half as genuine and good as these people are. They really opened my eyes as to what real class is.
When I got sick and was in the hospital, theybrought over hot meals for my family, cut my lawn, took care of the hound, and asked nothing in return. Now that’s Class!
The median household income for our county is only $34,000 a year, but I submit that these people are richer and have far more class than any family in Beverley Hills.
I may jokingly call my town East Jesus, but it’s really Bismarck, Arkansas and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world right now.
Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:03:59 +0000

Yes sir!

By: tiponeill

tiponeill — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:12:36 +0000

In general an excellent prescription with one small quibble.
Seldom in doubt about the right thing to do.
Seems to me that it is the people who are always sure of their inherited sense of right and wrong that are classless, and those who preach them most loudly the most classless.

By: leftfield

leftfield — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:47:40 +0000

“…the encore mentality of a programmed consumer”. This is a great line. I may steal this (properly credited as to source, of course).

This is a nice piece of writing, Mike.

By: winnieo

winnieo — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 16:23:09 +0000

Words spoken with great class, Mr. B.
I would add, “Acceptance and appreciation for diversity.”
Life is so much more interesting when we are able to co-exist with and enjoy people of every race, religion, gender, and political POV. As more people become willing to accept with respect differences, the world becomes a more peaceful, tranquil place.

By: Carolyn Classen

Carolyn Classen — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:47:12 +0000

Very eloquently said Mike. It’s interesting when people characterize others as “low class” or “high class”, indicating economic wealth. For me it is a matter of respect and how a person treats another that exhibits “class.” You hear people say that someone acted with a lot of “class” or was a “class act”, which usually means good behavior, graciousness, kindness and humility overall.