As we are aware, America has a class system. Our given rights entitle us to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, we're not all capable of pursuing happiness to the same degree. Our place in society basically predicts how much material happiness we may chase after and obtain. People often throw around the old cliché that money does not buy happiness...but how many people do you think who can't afford to pay their rent are searching for the true meaning of life?

There are three factors that determine one's place in society: Effort, luck, and family of origin. As Americans, we say we value "effort" first and foremost. We don't think much of "luck", except as a figure of speech, or, in terms of winning the lottery. And since theoretically this is the "land of opportunity", we say "family of origin" shouldn't matter. Oh, but it certainly does.

I was raised to believe that through effort all things are possible. Relying on luck is a waste of precious time. I never gave much thought to family of origin until two separate instances I encountered forced me to wake up.

The first occurred when I was seventeen years old. One of my friends at the time was originally from South America. He was bright, hard working, and optimistic. He had plans and dreams, hopes and fears; in this respect, we were so much alike. One day, he showed me where he lived. I felt as though reality slapped me across the face. Up until then, a "bad" neighborhood was a term in my vocabulary. I was stunned and humiliated when a man on the street offered my friend a wristwatch, if in turn, he could have me. When my parents found out where I had been, I was forbidden to ever go back. I began to feel guilty in terms of my own life; embarrassed and ashamed of growing up in a middle class neighborhood. His family seemed as diligent as mine; yet, he lived in a tenement building in a crime-ridden area, while I lived in a private home in an extremely safe area. How was this fair? Why did I deserve this lifestyle and he did not? I then realized that the only difference was our families of origin.

My friend and I lost touch after high school. Sadly, our two different worlds were too different. As I recall, he had hopes of becoming a flight engineer someday. So often, he stated that a prosperous career would be his ticket out of hell and into a heavenly future. I don't know if his flight was successful. Hopefully, he remained focused and allowed ability and persistence to be his guide.

A second obvious display of family of origin prevailing occurred just recently. I had the experience of socializing with a "character" whose affluent status was solely based upon family of origin. I got a large dosage of what having tons of money can do to someone who never had to earn any of it himself: Unbelievable. Unimpressive. Pathetic. The most lavish way in which to waste Grandpa's money is the dilemma of the every power meeting he has... with himself. Does spending $30,000.00 for landscaping the backyard sound necessary to you? Oh, and how about the way he treated the landscapers like trash because they have to WORK for a living. (Manual labor to this spoiled brat is making a pot of coffee.)

But, of course, the brand new Mercedes was essential...after all, how can you expect him to be seen in a one year old BMW? C'mon...out with the old, in with the new. After all, Grandpa wouldn't want it any other way.

I'd like to think that effort is the only thing that determines my accomplishments. I would be kidding myself to believe that family of origin has been of no significance, because I know it has. I have been blessed so far with a good life. Not perfect, but good. I've known those who've had a lot more and those who've had a lot less. I'm somewhere in the middle; in my opinion, a few valuable loved ones and priceless memories I cherish tip the scale in my favor...perhaps luck does appear now and then.