Frank Moore is Michael's father. He passed away recently. Michael shed tears for the loss of his Dad even at the age of 92 years old. I witnessed that. They sincerely loved each other as father and son.
But, listen to the conversation. Frank Moore could have been my father, but, my Dad worked for Union Carbide in New Jersey.
During this conversation Frank Moore not only misses his former employer, he moans for the world his son inherited. Frank Moore was well employed. He knew his retirement was insured. His health was well addressed. He also saw a son in need of his own path because any chance of working for GM was not possible for his son's generation. Not in the same way it happened for Frank's generation.
The quality of life for Frank Moore and his family was stable, offered upward movement for him, his spouse and children. His life had a great deal of hope within it. It was full of opportunity and a promising future. When GM left Flint, Michigan it took more than jobs with it, it removed quality of life for the generations of Americans that was yet to come.
I remember when my Dad would come home from work, we always ran to greet him. My Mom was either in the kitchen or at the front door. Dad coming home from work was an event. We rejoiced in it. Different from Mrs. Frank Moore, my mother did not have her driver's license until I was about 13 years old. It was a major accomplishment for her. Our family had only one car, too. Mrs. Moore drove to the factory to pick up her husband in a very similar way parents drive their children to and from school today.
The difference in the quality of life of the generation of Frank Moore and my father is very different. Today, families own multiple cars and most women in the USA now work. Imagine having one car and having the status of 'well off' today. People would laugh. Imagine women not having their driver's license? It's preposterous today. But, in the life and times of Frank Moore life was good.
"The best memory. I think it was the people." Frank said. The place of work that supported the family was important to every family touched by that income. Families would be provided with free company picnics every year. There was a strong sense of purpose by the company and the employees. But, the employees at places like GM and Union Carbide had a strong sense of self. They knew the company could not run without them. They also knew their income would provide comfort to their families. They banded together and decided their 'best interest' was forming a union to let the company know they were as valuable as the product they produced.
It was a matter of respect. Employment and good pay with benefits was the way both the employees and company measured respect for each other. There was a lot of self-esteem for Frank in his peer group and in his capacity as an employee.
It is a lost quality in the USA. Citizens aren't respected, they are threatened with their jobs in some states while they work for poverty wages. If one were to ask Frank or my Dad if poverty resulted in the face of working 40 or 60 or 70 hours week, they would look at the questioner as if he/she had two heads and six eyes. The entire idea an American was working full time, 40 hours, and not receiving a living wage and benefits to support the health of themselves and their families or never having a vacation was completely alien to Frank's generation.
Today, in the USA, Americans settle for what they can get and toe the line when they are told by their employees to jump. There is little to no respect for the common man or women and their definition of quality of life. There is absolutely no respect for the American Dream.
The conversation between Frank and his son Michael carries incredible insight to what happened to the USA as a country and a people. I play this conversation time and again in order to anchor myself in remembering the way the USA was and how much FUN it was to be in my family.
But, listen to the conversation. Frank Moore could have been my father, but, my Dad worked for Union Carbide in New Jersey.
During this conversation Frank Moore not only misses his former employer, he moans for the world his son inherited. Frank Moore was well employed. He knew his retirement was insured. His health was well addressed. He also saw a son in need of his own path because any chance of working for GM was not possible for his son's generation. Not in the same way it happened for Frank's generation.
The quality of life for Frank Moore and his family was stable, offered upward movement for him, his spouse and children. His life had a great deal of hope within it. It was full of opportunity and a promising future. When GM left Flint, Michigan it took more than jobs with it, it removed quality of life for the generations of Americans that was yet to come.
I remember when my Dad would come home from work, we always ran to greet him. My Mom was either in the kitchen or at the front door. Dad coming home from work was an event. We rejoiced in it. Different from Mrs. Frank Moore, my mother did not have her driver's license until I was about 13 years old. It was a major accomplishment for her. Our family had only one car, too. Mrs. Moore drove to the factory to pick up her husband in a very similar way parents drive their children to and from school today.
The difference in the quality of life of the generation of Frank Moore and my father is very different. Today, families own multiple cars and most women in the USA now work. Imagine having one car and having the status of 'well off' today. People would laugh. Imagine women not having their driver's license? It's preposterous today. But, in the life and times of Frank Moore life was good.
"The best memory. I think it was the people." Frank said. The place of work that supported the family was important to every family touched by that income. Families would be provided with free company picnics every year. There was a strong sense of purpose by the company and the employees. But, the employees at places like GM and Union Carbide had a strong sense of self. They knew the company could not run without them. They also knew their income would provide comfort to their families. They banded together and decided their 'best interest' was forming a union to let the company know they were as valuable as the product they produced.
It was a matter of respect. Employment and good pay with benefits was the way both the employees and company measured respect for each other. There was a lot of self-esteem for Frank in his peer group and in his capacity as an employee.
It is a lost quality in the USA. Citizens aren't respected, they are threatened with their jobs in some states while they work for poverty wages. If one were to ask Frank or my Dad if poverty resulted in the face of working 40 or 60 or 70 hours week, they would look at the questioner as if he/she had two heads and six eyes. The entire idea an American was working full time, 40 hours, and not receiving a living wage and benefits to support the health of themselves and their families or never having a vacation was completely alien to Frank's generation.
Today, in the USA, Americans settle for what they can get and toe the line when they are told by their employees to jump. There is little to no respect for the common man or women and their definition of quality of life. There is absolutely no respect for the American Dream.
The conversation between Frank and his son Michael carries incredible insight to what happened to the USA as a country and a people. I play this conversation time and again in order to anchor myself in remembering the way the USA was and how much FUN it was to be in my family.
