The Smartest Man I Ever Knew

By Kat on December 20, 2007 | | Comments (21)

[Denizen Commentary - Kat]

Apropos the discussion that occurred in this H&I Fires Post and a post not long ago by Ry re: his friend's recent passing, I thought I would make a general comment and solicit comments.

The smartest man I ever knew did not finish high school. He left to join th Navy. He fought at Okinawa. He was seventeen. He returned and received his GED. Went on to get married and have three kids. He could build houses, furniture and various items without blue prints either from memory or from his own sketches he would write on paper or napkins from the local barbecue joint. He could fix any car or other mechanical item he decided to try his hand at. He told me you could judge a man's character by a hand shake. His handshake was worth more than any contract. It was solid gold. He would give his shirt off his back or his last dollar to a beggar on the street.

We would talk for hours about history, politics, world events, etc on his front porch while we ate said barbecue and drank iced tea. He taught me lay carpet and grout tile. He let me drive around his old yellow pacer so I could learn to drive.

Most importantly, he taught me that a smart man is not the man with multiple letters behind his name. A smart man knows his limitations, strives to surpass them and is humble even in the face of his greatest achievements.

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21 Comments

By AFSister on December 20, 2007 7:43 AM
Damn Straight, Kat. One of the things my ex holds against me is the fact that I don't have a college degree. I have several years under my belt, multiple financial licenses (and getting ready to work on another one), and 20 years of experience in financial planning, but his concern is that my lack of a "BS" degree will show the kids that college isn't necessary. I say... BS. College is a great experience and will do nothing but help your chances of getting a good job (Lord knows NOT having one has prevented me from getting jobs I'm more than qualified for). The measure of a man, or woman, should not depend upon initials behind their name; we should be measured by our life's accomplishments. Too bad more people don't see the worth of those without a degree, eh Kat?
 
By fdcol63 on December 20, 2007 8:19 AM
" ... we should be measured by our life's accomplishments. ... " Even this is a loaded statement, for the same kinds of people who are most impressed by initials after their names often measure one's "life accomplishments" primarily by the amount of money and material accumulated or names that can be dropped .... and not by the quality or positivity of the impact that one has on others.
 
By John of Argghhh! on December 20, 2007 8:33 AM
So, is this where I say I just got off the phone with MG Byrne and I had a chat with the President recently? And I hang with a congressperson? [signed] The Armorer, MAJ, FA, USA (Ret'd) BA, MSCJA, NCJHS... (rummage, rummage, I *know* I've got some more in here *somewhere*) ;^ ) Of course, in some crowds, the above is a litany of failure or lack of accomplishment - especially in my current business field. Low rank, low degree, failure to achieve brigade command, no War College. Yet, because I chose the right company to work for... I make as much money as many retired Colonel War College graduate former brigade commanders. Actually, more than many of them.
 
By fdcol63 on December 20, 2007 8:53 AM
But think about the impact you've had on others, John ..... your family, friends, former subordinates, co-workers, customers, the denizens of Castle Argghhh!, the blogosphere, and others. That impact is probably greater than you're even aware of. One of my favorite movies (haven't read the book yet) is Mitch Albom's "The 5 People You Meet In Heaven".
 
By Neffi on December 20, 2007 9:42 AM
...and Arty dudes are all about *impact*...!
 
By John of Argghhh! on December 20, 2007 9:49 AM
Hey, it looked good when it left here! Thread drift sets in early.
 
By FbL on December 20, 2007 10:13 AM
Beautiful tribute, Kat.
 
By GeoSTI on December 20, 2007 12:30 PM
AFS: You raise a great point with the lack of recognition of people (generally in HR) towards people with professional licenses simply because they lack a college degree (even if all that needs to be checked off is a BA of basketweaving from Po-dunk-it U) Would have to disagree that it does nothing. I've learnt (and through work, found that it applies) the fundamentals of engineering. Will this help me get an engineering job, you bet, but it will actually let me do the job in the first place.
 
By kat-missouri on December 20, 2007 12:50 PM
For the record, wasn't dissing a degree. Would like to have one since, as AFS notes, HR in many companies are rather insistent on it for certain positions. Regardless of experience. It is a pain in the rump that makes me want to spit. However, my point in reply to our great antagonistic commenter from the other side is that "smart", as in capable of making good decisions, evaluating people and ideas, is not related to a degree. It is a matter of being capable of rational and reasonable thought. I don't imagine that people who don't agree with me are idiots or, due to a lack of degree or even with one, necessarily reflects stupidity. That is the point, I believe. To reflect upon a favorite fictional character: Stupid is as stupid does.
 
By GeoSTI on December 20, 2007 12:58 PM
Sorry to all, I didn't mean to put words in mouths over "dissing a degree" just point out that there are many things were it is needed. A degree should not be the end-all-be-all, but it should matter, for lack of a better term. However, what really is needed is the return to degrees that count, not having this inflation of minimum education. Primarily the reason why I signed up for the FE/PE exam: proof that the degree means something. I agree fully, I've met many with advanced degrees that weren't "smart" as you put it kat.
 
By dc on December 20, 2007 1:39 PM
Indeed, it is the measure of the person and not pieces of paper! My story is not uncommon; I could never seem to make the cut to become a CPO in the Navy. (Certainly not from lack of effort!) There were/are a few CPO's who always made sure that I never forgot that I was never "selected". Since retiring with 20 I have sailed my boat across the Atlantic. I also enjoy a very good standard of living, thanks to Spouse's career that took off unfettered after we had left the Navy. It would be easy to work for the Guvmint, but I enjoy the flexibility of civilian employment. Plus, I don't have to explain my apparent lack of whatever, since I am not a retired Chief. One thing I learned was that when I say I will do something, I do it! I let nothing slow me down and I will continue to live life to the fullest. This lesson came courtesy of the years I spent serving. Not making a certain rank or not being a commissioned officer shall not be the defining point of my life. I'm proud that I did get to serve, and was fortunate to benefit as greatly as I did. Plus, we have a damn good time enjoying it! It sounds like the Castle Arrggh! Denizens already know all this and are having an equally great time of it all! Keep up the great work. Rock On!!!!
 
By HomefrontSix on December 20, 2007 2:17 PM
For many, all college is is a cool party with a $30,000 cover charge. Initials after a name simply show that you put in the time but they are not a measure of what you have learned. Even with my degree, my graduate-level courses, and all of the other courses I've taken throughout my life, I've learned more in the years NOT spent in school than I ever did in any class. My father never went to college. But he fought in the Korean War and went on to become a safety engineer with an international construction firm that handled a LOT of oil-company business in the Middle East back in the 70s and 80s. He has numerous professional certifications and knows more than just about any other person I've ever known. And I'm not just saying that because he's my Daddy. The man is a wealth of knowledge (if you can get past his crochetiness). But he does not have a degree of any kind other than that of life. Does this make him any less of an intelligent person? Nope. Just means he doesn't have student loans to repay. ;~)
 
By J.M. Heinrichs on December 20, 2007 3:03 PM
... so what happened to his kids? Cheers
 
By kat-missouri on December 20, 2007 3:09 PM
Are you talking to me? My father is a retired police officer. My uncle, recently passed, had varied careers, but was eventually fully disabled due to his Vietnam related conditions. This uncle was extremely intelligent and enjoyed discussing history as well. Aunt married and became a home maker. My dad is also a fairly good judge of character and is very charismatic. Probably could sell ice cream to an eskimo. And has, if I recall correctly. LOL
 
By Justthisguy on December 20, 2007 3:42 PM
Oh, don't forget the Ancient and Honorable Order of Saint Barbara! Though a good, umm, bad Protestant Methodist, I always appeal to her to protect me when about to do something silly with high-potential-energy chemicals.
 
By John of Argghhh! on December 20, 2007 3:46 PM
See! I *knew* I had another one hanging around somewhere. And there's that Paul Harris Fellow thingy, too!
 
By GeoSTI on December 20, 2007 4:05 PM
HFS: Only 30K? Where is that bargan basement deal?
 
By John of Argghhh! on December 20, 2007 4:09 PM
Um, some of us are, um, more eld than thee, Geo.
 
By HomefrontSix on December 20, 2007 5:25 PM
GeoSTI ~ I was speaking personally. I did the community college things first (more bang for your buck, if you ask me) and also worked while I was in college so that helped to offset the amount of loans needed. Also, by the time I actually made it to a 4-year university, my dad was retired and there was very little in the way of income so I was eligible for grants and work-study. And I busted my @$$ for scholarships as well. Any money my parents had saved up for my college fund was used to cover my dad's treatment for mesothelioma (aka lung cancer brought on by the exposure to asbestos) because his "wonderful" HMO only covered 80% of the treatments and meds. So the lack of assets helped me (in a sense) as well.
 
By AFSister on December 20, 2007 10:43 PM
Geo- I'm not dissing degrees either- but I do feel strongly that too many businesses (HR depts and hiring managers) put WAY too much emphasis on having a college degree than they should. Simply having a degree doesn't make you smarter than me, or more qualified for a job than me. That's like saying that people who have expensive cars are better drivers- judge the driver (or employee) by their performance; not something as superficial as the car they drive or the initials behind their name. Obviously I recognize that there are some professions which require a degree for good reason, like doctors and lawyers, but it's not necessary to have a college degree for many professional fields.
 
By Trias on December 20, 2007 11:04 PM
I have one of those degree things. A degree is really a sign of education and training on a specific area. It is not all that well associated with intelligence or wisdom, except by those that would benefit from such an association. And AFSis absolutely positively do not take the standards of your ex on board. College is not necessary. It's helpful though. You know all those letters you get in the package deal, i haven't yet figured out what good they are. They must have served a real useful purpose at some point, right?