One
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
I studied hierarchy in the army of course. Rank was matched with character types just like the cartoons. In the army everyone looked the same outside, two-tiered green khaki, but might be completely different on the inside, which may or may not be hidden as the necessity of getting along, with thirty different strangers. It was how they played the role of their rank, which was two-tiered, officers and enlisted. These were kept strictly separate, no fraternization or mixing. The officers were harder to read, although they all seemed more or less the same.
In civilian life, rank is more subtle, and this tour was my first study of civilian hierarchy since the regimented army. I had, like most Americans, shunned the idea of class, being an egalitarian which we were taught to be, the classless society. Everybody was of 'Leave It To Beaver', 'Ozzie and Harriet' or maybe 'My Three Sons'. Notice all boys.
They had three networks and each like the automobile industry ended-up, with distinct class products, as lower-middle, middle, and upper-middle class values, like the difference between Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. There was ABC, CBS and NBC.
Coke or Pepsi ? And then there was RC. Whatever happened to Royal Crown Cola ? And if you didn't like the big-three, there was GingerAle. I was a Pepsi person myself, although when a kid only allowed them at Christmas time. And I drank too much Pepsi when factory working.
Match cars to personalities. I may have noticed various factory workers I knew then, get into various makes of cars. But many of my age, were outside those brands. We were customizers. I was a Chevy kid and my best friend was Ford.
(142 of 278)
Next Page
