Is classism the new racism?

ellebud
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:37:58 +0000

Do I think that having money is a component in class? To a degree…yes. But then how does one explain walkers? (Generally gay man, generally not wealthy but from a good family which gives them entree into high society as escorts to older single ladies.) These men are able to comport themselves in a civilized and amusing manner that will give them entree into fashionable parties as a “plus one.”

Someone in the “aristocracy” likes/plays polo, golf, lacrosse, tennis, sport hunting/fishing and yes, other sports, including basketball, baseball and perhaps bowling. The latter, a poorer man or woman might play the latter, but rarely the former. Perhaps because of accessibility and cost someone with less disposable income will play a less expensive sport.

Does the New York Times cover the weddings of John Joe, the truck driver and his manicurist wife? No. But do people love them and treasure the invitation? Yes.

Perhaps it is education, perhaps it is confidence or ease with oneself, perhaps it is charity work, or daily acts of kindness: but to me the busboy at a restaurant who ran and got my girlfriend extra water because she was choking has the same “class” as the oncologist who called me at 3 a.m. because I was in pain. They are both, in my view, aristocrats of the world.