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Monday, September 17, 2018

Americans Agree With Geoffrey Owens: There Is Dignity in Work

To some it may seem like a man-bites-dog story.

Geoffrey Owens, a Hollywood actor famous for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on “The Cosby Show,” had been working at Trader Joe’s for 15 months to provide for his family in between acting opportunities.

When photographs of him working were published by media outlets, people from all walks of life defended Owens and denounced the coverage as “job shaming.”

Yet in the wake of the scandal, a valuable conversation about work has emerged.

Owens himself offered a passionate defense of honest work in a clip posted by Time on Twitter.

"Every job is worthwhile." Former 'Cosby Show' actor Geoffrey Owens speaks out over job-shaming incident https://t.co/zTTzwXwEzQpic.twitter.com/zF8yuxwGAi

— TIME (@TIME) September 4, 2018

In the clip, Owens said he hoped his experience would lead to a “new recognition … about work and about people working,” specifically “the dignity of work and the dignity of the working person.” He also noted that “one kind of work is not better, superior, than another kind of work.”

Owens is spot-on, of course. But it’s worthwhile to highlight something that’s often been overlooked in our national discussion: Owens’ sentiments—and the positive public response to them—demonstrate broadly held American attitudes toward work.

More here

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Only if Salisbury had a Trader Joe's . Maybe there would be similar happy workers. Workers around here just seem rude and miserable. I don't care how much or how little you make. Pull up your big girl pants and do your job politely. Even white collar workers around here have an entitled attitude. Real Estate agents here have to be the most puffed up pushy and pretentious creatures I have encountered any where and I have lived all over the country bought and sold homes and investment properties. I met with this one. She'd had so much plastic surgery and gigantic fake tits. She is plastered on bill boards very heavily photo shopped and was pushy like she'd watched too much Nancy Grace and was practically shouting out of her botoxed lips. The whole scene here is an incestuous joke. Metropolitan Magazine is not journalism it's all paid advertising. Just like the local TV news and print paper. I can't wait to move on.

Anonymous said...

I make my once a month trip to Trader Joe's in Annapolis.
Worth the trip, and the quality and service is the best!

If not Salisbury, Hopefully they will open one on the shore.
Probably Easton.