SHELTER

April 2003

Behind The Counter

Thanks, Abe, I Needed That

by Lyle R. Hill

Writing a monthly column and knowing that people on occasion actually read it is a real delight. It’s also an ego boost to know that your thoughts and opinions are being carried in what is, without question, the industry’s most read and best produced publication. But I also have to admit that the responsibility of coming up with an article month after month can at times be a real burden. You see, at least once a month, usually around the 5th or so, the phone rings and one of those friendly voices at SHELTER reminds me that a column is due.

At any given time, there are at least five or so half-finished columns in my middle right-hand desk drawer. Some are waiting for an ending. Others are in need of a beginning. Quite often, an idea or theme has been identified but will require a lot of work to be developed into a presentable format. Believe it or not, a great deal of self-inflicted pressure is generated in an effort to produce something that I feel will not be an embarrassment.

Additionally, there has been a great deal of external pressure recently, mostly from my children, to write something less silly and more meaningful. This is particularly difficult for me because I can deal with silly. Serious is not so easy.

So with all of this in mind, I set out to write a column that would deal with some of the issues plaguing not only our industry, but society in general. Indeed, problems are all around us. We’ve become a society being led around and misdirected by special interest groups and extremists.

Everyone seems to feel that they’re entitled to anything and everything that anyone else has; not because they’ve earned it, but simply because they want it.

The debate over equal opportunity and affirmative action programs continues with no answer in sight. In spite of billions of tax dollars thrown at the problem, Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty has been hopelessly lost. Common sense, pragmatism and rational thinking have abandoned us and our leaders are clueless. 

But what can I possibly say that would have any significance whatsoever in all of this? You see, I really am better at silly than at serious, and some days I’m not really good at either. 

But then something unforeseen happened. While tearing through some old files in search of records the IRS apparently felt were more important than I did—talk about people who can deal with silly—I found an old clipping that I had filed away many, many years ago. And, to my total delight, it said some of the things I wanted to say and certainly said them more eloquently than I could have dreamed possible. My notes indicate that it was written by Abe Lincoln, and the thoughts expressed are as timely and meaningful today as they ever were:

“You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

You cannot help the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man’s initiative and independence.

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.”

Thanks, Abe, you really came through.

Lyle R. Hill works almost every Saturday “behind the counter” at Glass America, a dealer of windows, doors, glass and other products.

SHELTER