Today I was just casually strolling through YouTube and I happened to come across this one really frustrating video. Instagram "star" Christian Burns forgot his pass into Vidcon, one of the biggest Internet events where many famous YouTubers take time out of their lives and give an opportunity to show their work in real life and meet and interact with fans. It's an amazing setting full of positive vibes, fun, and laughter, except for one man. Because he had forgotten his pass, Christian Burns wasn't allowed in, and so the video shows Christian's reaction to the security, and if you have a chance please check it out.
The video shows Christian standing right in front of the security's face, yelling at him to let him in. Even though he is reasonably told no, Christian pulls the "I'm rich", "I'm attractive as ****", "I'm famous and you're not" cards. As the security guard continues to just do his job, Christian begins to verbally abuse this man, tearing him apart and saying "You're an ugly piece of ****", "Kill yourself". It's absolutely disrespectful and just so frustrating to watch. I've never seen anyone so prideful and entitled about something so little in my life, but really the final straw occurred when he yells at the guard "You're blue collar as ****". That was it; I turned the video off right then.
Thanks to Christian Burns, I have been inspired to talk about blue collar workers. What Burns had said about the security guard was absolutely derogatory and disrespectful, but I realized that he probably isn't the only person in our society so entitled and conceited enough to use the term "blue collar" as an insult. Despite the negative connotations of the label, it's an achievement because blue collar workers are the backbone to what makes our society so successful. Everything stems from them.
To the construction workers, janitors, miners, manufacturers, oil field workers, mechanics, firefighters, and all the other blue collar workers: this is a single thank you for your service, your perseverance, and your toughness. I get up to go to the train station every day at 6:10am, yet you guys are already hours into your work. You spend physical energy and exhaust in helping our society become organized, clean, efficient, and continuously running. You're the reasons why we get to work in our cars, are able to have clean roads and proper disposal of waste, or are able to have working toilets and running water. You're the reason why we have sufficient energy for using our cars, our batteries, our lights, and our daily addictions: smartphones.
While we're sleeping in our comfy beds, you guys are working 10pm-6am shifts. You are strong and tough, mentally and physically, because it certainly isn't an easy lifestyle to live. All of you workers know from the bottom of your hearts that survival isn't easy, that success doesn't come falling down the trees. You're humble and hard working, as everything in life comes earned with blood and sweat, not entitlement. Your mentality truly is not given, but earned. Many neglect your efforts and work, especially those ignorant enough to not appreciate or understand, but I see you guys working day in and day out, and although at times your work gets tough and your life gets frustrating, what you are doing is an amazing service to our communities. You guys are neglected, even disrespected, yet you are the backbone of our workforce, of our society. This society wouldn't be functioning without the blue collar industry. Thank you.
