Average American

Old professionals on a new job.

To the face they may be professional.

Sincere.

Quick learners.

Conscientious.

Great communicator.

To the back they are over confident.

Skill deficient.

Inconsistent.

Untrustworthy.

Arrogant.

Indifferent.

Socially inept.

Those from overseas definitely are

Brown.

Accented.

Immigrant.

Excellence is threatening.

Excellence deserves vindication.

Jealousy.

Gossip.

Even, oppression.

Average is necessary.

Average is promoted.

Average is permitted.

To be allowed to be someone, there is only one need.

Tact.

Tact to be visible but not be noticed.

Lack of tact is the one critical deficiency to overcome.

Good, bad or excellent does not matter.

Results, do not matter.

Making a million for the organization, does not matter.

Working enough for ten, does not matter.

This is America.

The only thing that matters is whether you can fit in with the average.

Interpreting Silence

This is where it all started in fifth grade:

"I finished my test and sat in the library while I waited for my brother to finish his. 
It was an exam day. 
I waited for the whole school.
Third to twelfth grade.

I marveled at the silence that surrounded me. 
I waited for the Goddess of Learning to descend and bless the tranquility.
I could almost see a chariot of light descend any moment now.
That moment was not to happen.

What descended was realization.
I realized this silence was not what seers and hermits sought to be enlightened.

This silence did not lift burdens off the mind.
This silence was born of the burdens that young minds bore.

This silence was born of fear.
What fruit could a tree bear that grew from the seed of fear.

There was no amazement of learning.
No joy of achievement.

Only the fear of not performing well enough for expectations.

It was the silence of childhoods silenced in the name of education."

My dad read the unsigned note two years later. 
He showed it to me.
He said I should learn from whoever wrote it.

I told him it was mine.

He went silent.
I tried to interpret his silence.

To this day I do not know if he approved that his child was not someone he couldn't be ashamed of.

I kept interpreting silence per my convenience...

to be continued...