I'm sure most of the people who will read this are aware that I'm not a fan of Apple or especially of Steve Jobs. I'll preface this by saying I won't be saying anything particularly negative about him here; rather, I feel that everything I disliked about him I've already voiced and this wouldn't be the appropriate time to criticize him, anyway.
What I will be saying is this. I didn't realize it until after his death, but I think a lot of the dislike I had towards the guy was misplaced. Sure, he was a ruthless businessman, but so are most of the unbelievably rich. I dislike them as well, but for some reason I've always disliked Jobs on an entirely different level. I think I've finally figured it out, and it's really not anything that's his fault.
It's idolatry. That's what always pissed me off the most. That people would idolize a businessman who is there purely to make a profit. While I never felt that the drive to succeed was anything detestable, I certainly never felt it was anything worthy of praise either. And yet people WORSHIPED the guy. Seriously. People name their children after him, they make shrines to him, they sing his praises on high. That's what really irritated me. The idolatry. People treated a person who was merely a successful businessman as a saint.
And why did this irritate me? I'll tell you why. It's because of the everyday heroes who go unnoticed or, even worse, are forsaken by the public. Firefighters, volunteer workers, even just the random passerby who happens to help out someone in need. They're never noticed in the eye of the public; nobody celebrates their deeds, their trials. Nobody names their children after them, nobody enshrines them. This is what really bothers me, beyond anything Jobs might have done as a businessman.
So, at the very least, I feel like I owe this man an apology. My anger was certainly misdirected. He was more or less your average businessman, and I am truly sorry for treated him, during his life, as some sort of demon.
No, the true target of my anger should not be Jobs, but the Apple fanbase.
You. You people disgust me.
Where were your condolences when the policeman lost his life trying to stop an attacker? Where was your praise for those who gave their time to aid in the relief of a major disaster? When did you ever give recognition to the people who work day in and day out to protect the lifestyle you hold dear? Have you ever, even once, stopped to thank one of the people who sacrifice to make the world a better place?
No. You sit there drinking your mochafrappachino latte du cafe, shoveling undue praise on a person who was merely successful at his trade, as the firemen, the public servants, the army folk; as these people give their lives (sometimes quite literally) so that you can enjoy your lifestyle. Where is your thanks to them? Sure, those people do what they do not expecting or even desiring thanks in return. But does it ever hurt to thank the person who risks their life every day so that you don't have to?
So again, I apologize, Mr. Jobs, for my undue anger toward you; even if it is a bit late. Certainly, the death of any person is a cause for mourning. However, you will have to forgive me if I do not mourn your death in the same way as I mourn the deaths of those faceless few who gave their lives so that you didn't have to.
What I will be saying is this. I didn't realize it until after his death, but I think a lot of the dislike I had towards the guy was misplaced. Sure, he was a ruthless businessman, but so are most of the unbelievably rich. I dislike them as well, but for some reason I've always disliked Jobs on an entirely different level. I think I've finally figured it out, and it's really not anything that's his fault.
It's idolatry. That's what always pissed me off the most. That people would idolize a businessman who is there purely to make a profit. While I never felt that the drive to succeed was anything detestable, I certainly never felt it was anything worthy of praise either. And yet people WORSHIPED the guy. Seriously. People name their children after him, they make shrines to him, they sing his praises on high. That's what really irritated me. The idolatry. People treated a person who was merely a successful businessman as a saint.
And why did this irritate me? I'll tell you why. It's because of the everyday heroes who go unnoticed or, even worse, are forsaken by the public. Firefighters, volunteer workers, even just the random passerby who happens to help out someone in need. They're never noticed in the eye of the public; nobody celebrates their deeds, their trials. Nobody names their children after them, nobody enshrines them. This is what really bothers me, beyond anything Jobs might have done as a businessman.
So, at the very least, I feel like I owe this man an apology. My anger was certainly misdirected. He was more or less your average businessman, and I am truly sorry for treated him, during his life, as some sort of demon.
No, the true target of my anger should not be Jobs, but the Apple fanbase.
You. You people disgust me.
Where were your condolences when the policeman lost his life trying to stop an attacker? Where was your praise for those who gave their time to aid in the relief of a major disaster? When did you ever give recognition to the people who work day in and day out to protect the lifestyle you hold dear? Have you ever, even once, stopped to thank one of the people who sacrifice to make the world a better place?
No. You sit there drinking your mochafrappachino latte du cafe, shoveling undue praise on a person who was merely successful at his trade, as the firemen, the public servants, the army folk; as these people give their lives (sometimes quite literally) so that you can enjoy your lifestyle. Where is your thanks to them? Sure, those people do what they do not expecting or even desiring thanks in return. But does it ever hurt to thank the person who risks their life every day so that you don't have to?
So again, I apologize, Mr. Jobs, for my undue anger toward you; even if it is a bit late. Certainly, the death of any person is a cause for mourning. However, you will have to forgive me if I do not mourn your death in the same way as I mourn the deaths of those faceless few who gave their lives so that you didn't have to.