[rant]
I think that the first thing that people should do when they're trying to educate people about a certain topic, is to not put them on the defensive from the get go. How are you going to teach someone something by calling them stupid right off the bat or telling them that they will never understand something because they aren't a certain race or sex or they don't worship the "right" higher power?
I often tell my children that they are intelligent. I figure if they hear it enough, they will believe it and try harder. (not that they are stupid, but I want to make sure that they get the most out of life and be able to do whatever they choose to do) I don't know if that makes any sense or not. I think what I'm trying to get here- is that if you have higher expectations for someone, they are going to rise to the occasion, rather than settle for what they may be given.
I don't know why I even put this in this thread- I'm sure there is a point somewhere. People can do whatever they want in life. They can settle for what has been given to them, or they can rise to the occasion and make their lives better. I've quit a lot of things in my life, some of which I regret, some of which opened other doors for me and have made my life more rewarding and more successful.
I, like may people, choose to get out of bed everyday and push aside people that have said I can't do something, or that I won't succeed, and prove them wrong.
People who blame others because they didn't succeed are cowards. It's easy to point the finger at someone else and say- because of you I couldn't do this when they can't hack it. No one can change your life except you.
[/rant]
EDITED TO ADD- If you want something bad enough in life, no one is going to prevent you from getting it.