Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparrow
But how do you measure achievement?
It seems that material possessions are the indicator of success in the US; or is that unfair?
I think in Europe we see many ways to achieve. It isn't just about winning or losing.
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It is one way of measuring achievement, there are others in the US. Achievement is a personal evaluation, depending on personal goals and beliefs. For some it may be a 100 room mansion with all the trimmings, for others it may be a travel trailer wandering around the countryside. Still others may want a huge library. There are as many different definitions of achievement as there are people. And that it doesn't mean that you will achieve your goals. A person with only a 20 room mansion whose goal was a 100 room mansion will feel a failure,
by his standards. The person driving around with his travel trailer will laugh at both the 20 and the 100 room mansion.
The culture here has been geared to letting any person try to achieve any goal, with a minimum of interference. But to do that, you have to acknowledge that some people will fail badly. It is not the duty of the culture to "cut down the tall poppies" to make up for the failures. Both are the Yin and Yang of achievement...