The kicker is that people *do* want creativity in the world. Even the greyest, dullest, most-work-bound person in the world wants to watch great films, read interesting books (or magazines) or even watch television. All of these things involve *someone* creating them. Whatever your thoughts on the current state of the film/book/magazine/tv market at the moment (and I'm sure you have views on it!), these markets are churning stuff out which requires creative input.
Mr Fred Dull-n-Grey enjoys that, just so long as it is produced by someone *he doesn't know*. Because then he can pretend that real people aren't creative, he could never have been the ice-dancer that he dreamed of when he was 6, and it's just as well that he's an insurance salesman after all.
However, if his cousin makes her living as a screenwriter or an actress, isn't it possible that the only reason he isn't pursuing *his* dream as well is that he just couldn't be bothered to try?
But life is a gift. It’s not owed; it’s given.
Couldn't have put it better. I *gave birth* to my children. I gave it. Freely and with joy (and a certain amount of pethidine in Jared's case...). They don't owe me, or anyone else, anything. I hope they'll contribute to society in their own ways - as musicians, dancers, or joyful insurance salesmen. If they end up grey and dull and unfulfilled, I think I'll have screwed up somewhere along the line as a parent.
However as an aside, I *do* think there's something wrong when person A expects person B to sacrifice their life and dreams in order for person A to have their dreams. It's up to the individual to make it happen for themselves, not to wait until a person B comes along to give it all to them at huge personal expense. Whatever the ideal is, we live in *this* society and we *have* to function in it.
Which is, as I noted up top, perfectly doable. You just have to run really hard after your dreams.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2005-08-23 01:48 pm (UTC)Mr Fred Dull-n-Grey enjoys that, just so long as it is produced by someone *he doesn't know*. Because then he can pretend that real people aren't creative, he could never have been the ice-dancer that he dreamed of when he was 6, and it's just as well that he's an insurance salesman after all.
However, if his cousin makes her living as a screenwriter or an actress, isn't it possible that the only reason he isn't pursuing *his* dream as well is that he just couldn't be bothered to try?
But life is a gift. It’s not owed; it’s given.
Couldn't have put it better. I *gave birth* to my children. I gave it. Freely and with joy (and a certain amount of pethidine in Jared's case...). They don't owe me, or anyone else, anything. I hope they'll contribute to society in their own ways - as musicians, dancers, or joyful insurance salesmen. If they end up grey and dull and unfulfilled, I think I'll have screwed up somewhere along the line as a parent.
However as an aside, I *do* think there's something wrong when person A expects person B to sacrifice their life and dreams in order for person A to have their dreams. It's up to the individual to make it happen for themselves, not to wait until a person B comes along to give it all to them at huge personal expense. Whatever the ideal is, we live in *this* society and we *have* to function in it.
Which is, as I noted up top, perfectly doable. You just have to run really hard after your dreams.