New rules in Chicago area

There is nothing you nor I can say to really stop the ignorance. Because thats what it really is. They hear things, they talk amongst themselves, when something is repeated often enough they assume it must be true.

The owner of my carrier is Lithuanian. He works hard every day to keep his company going. He is one of the most honest and fair people I have ever met. He treated me with dignity and gave me the respect and courage to go after what I wanted. Despite his foreign birth,.. he is as American as me or anyone else. His kids all speak english. He loves to go to Cubs games. He celebrate American holidays. He is grateful for a country like America where anyone from any country can be an American.

What so many people fail to see,.. or they turn a blind eye to the truth,.. there are as many is not more redneck Americans, white trash Americans, privileged Americans,.. all who break the rules and create chaos and havoc within the trucking industry. Its not just an eastern european chicago problem. Its a nation wide epidemic. To label a single demographic of people as the source or primary contributor of the problem is a lie stemming from either fear, hatred, jealousy, envy or any number of negative reasons because they simply do not understand or have any personal experience to know better. They look a single instance or a few negative events that had a significant impact and suddenly they think they are experts on what the problem is. Its too easy to point the finger at someone else and say there is the problem. Reality is so much different.

I worked for an American company who's owner was an absolute tyrant. He manipulates people and uses their hard times to his advantage. Pushing people to the breaking point, holding them under his thumb when they have screw ups. Putting them in fear of not being able to escape and move on to better things. He is one of the cruelest people I have ever met. Were it not for my sheer stubbornness and fortitude, I would never have made it through that ordeal. And this was an American man doing this to American people.

So when I hear people talk negatively about guys like the man who gave me my freedom and helped me become an O/O, I feel hurt and wish I could some how change the negativity they feel against people like my carrier owner.

I guess thats all I can really say. I only hope at least one person is willing to look beyond the stereo type.

Hurst