Submitted by anthonyromanelli on July 18, 2008 - 8:09am.
by Anthony Romanelli
Think about it this way...yes, Rockefeller was a man of his
time, a giant among giants, and an oil tycoon with more money than most of us
will ever be able to fathom, but he did not grow up with near the amenities
with which our children will...
Your sons and daughters have 24/7 Internet access in case
they start ‘Jonesing,' for their 2 a.m. FN-MTV update of the Jonas
brothers. They'll grow up knowing iPods
before record players and 8-track tapes.
They can watch just about ANY movie ON DEMAND. Doesn't that make us ALL a bit spoiled? Dare I mention black and white television to
my girls?
Please, let's make sure while allowing our kids to jump head
first over the living room furniture while playing on their Wii's, that we walk
them through how we got here. We are not
even 100+ years PAST the Industrial Revolution in time and we can take a
picture FROM OUR PHONES and send them half way around the world with a simple
‘click.' That's CRAZY! Kudos to the great minds, helping us progress
further already than I ever thought possible.
To them I tip my proverbial, invisible cap. They have helped bring us this comfortable
lifestyle which some of us take for granted.
If history has taught me one thing, it is this--take nothing for
granted. History IS important. It shows us how far we've come and how far we
still have to go...
Now, I'm not sure how many of us actually take the time to
take a break and take all this in. How
great are truly fuel-efficient cars going to make this world. Hybrids are only the beginning. How great is the seedless watermelon, c'mon!
Nice job, scientists. How great is it
going to be, not to have a TV in every room, but one day, having every person
volunteer for a cause that he or she believe in? Is that possible? I'm hopeful.
This got me thinking.
There have been so many things created, invented, and reinvented
I bring you...Rockefeller vs. My Girls...
The Top Ten Things My Girls Have That Rockefeller did not
have access to: (Though I am appreciative he helped pave the way...)
10.
Direct TV
and a billion channels
9.
Blackberries/iPhones/iPods/Cell Phones
8.
Backyard Fireplaces
7.
Trendy T-shirts
6.
$10 movies (oh, wait, that's NOT good)
5.
Energy-Efficient, Twisty Light Bulbs
4. Crocs
3. The Wii
2. Netflix
1. Txt msgs
Did Rockefeller have these toys, option, or these
opportunities? Um, no. Though, his financial success did help him
found The University of Chicago as one of his first philanthropic endeavors. For every toy engineer whom I quietly thank
while playing on the floor with my daughters, I hope to quietly thank other
tycoons and philanthropists that helped pave the way for the world in which we
must raise our children...
