Achievement Is Not Privilege.

Until quite recently, those of particular skill or education were viewed with respect. This was as much the case in the trades as it was in the professions.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill were viewed with respect, as marks of achievement based on discipline and effort with their own specialist bodies of knowledge.

This is how it should be.

Unfortunately, it also led to snobbery and arrogance on the part of some of those with these achievements, and discouragement, despair and a sense of inferiority on the part of some without them.

Thankfully society evolved, and much of the second set of phenomena were eroded.... thankfully. These were all negative traits to be avoided.

Unfortunately, it also led to erosion of the former, with education and achievement being derided as "privilege" and those holding these achievements being disrespected and their views, often based on their expertise, as being seen as mere "opinions" no greater than any other.

As a keen genealogist I have learnt that the former is very different from the latter. I have ancestors and friends who achieved despite starting with almost nothing:

1. My maternal great-great grandfather, Mr Kemp, whose sign-writing business KEMP LONDON remains as the oldest signwriter in London, UK, grew up in a family where his father, my ancestor, was too illiterate to even sign his name. His 7 year apprenticeship required him for the first year to only receive room and board.

2. My paternal grandfather studied medicine at Sydney University on scholarship, he and his family having to migrate here from New Zealand, where 40 of their extended family had arrived from Ireland 60 years earlier to escape the potato famine, pooling their resources to buy a farm and eventually open a shop.

3. I have two friends who came here from the former Yugoslavia as refugees, and have since achieved in university education.

Yes, I and many others have had advantages that eased our achievements. This does not negate them.

Respect, and learn from, those around you that have achieved in ways you have not, or who hold knowledge you do not have.

I have nothing of value to say about cars, engineering or trade work. I defer to the experts in those fields.

Not all "opinions" are equal.

Embrace your own experiences, knowledge and expertise and your capacity, no matter your starting point, to improve yourself (an unpopular phrase now!) and thus your standard and depth of living. Small steps count and should be celebrated.

Denigrating achievement only lessens our individual potential and expectations of ourselves, and dumbs down our society.