Why are menial jobs not considered honorable?

Question

My grandmother used to say that work, any kind of work, will pretty much cure what ails you.

Answer 1

Honor has more to do with character and little to do with work. Not sure your grandma is strictly accurate but not a bad ethic to instill in her family, jsut the same. Sometimes it is better to work smarter than harder. This takes some time and consideration. I do some of this on a deck chair by the pool, for example, and then I get up and design the building before lunch, just as if I had been sitting at my drafting board all that time.

What do considerate people think about menial jobs? Who knows. I think people are honorable... not by reason of the jobs they perform but by their human nature. Of course there are no dishonorable judges, lawyers, doctors or politicians - go figure.

Some jobs though are thought of as dishonorable by reason that they affront society... but these are not jobs at all in the traditional sense.. terrorist acts etc come to mind.

I think all jobs are menial.... we just do it for the money which we need to have more of to purchase what we think we need or want ... otherwise we do it so that someone in our family circle can do whatever else they do to earn money.

Was a time, before money, that people did it for food.... There are people around you that still do it for that reason. They are no less honorable people because of it. Strange how no matter what you do to make a living, you have a lot in common with others at an alternate station in society. Unfortunately few people look for the similarities and dwell on the differences.

I think throughout history religion has tried to level out those differences.. but then you get religious zeolots who think theirs is the only true God... and they dwell on the differences again.

I think American society dwells on the differences rather than looking towards the similarities, don't you?

Answer 2

In America there is a strong belief that you reap what you sow, and that hard work and dedication can achieve anything. Therefore someone who works at McDonalds or a janitor will not be as highly respected as an office worker or a doctor. So justifiable or not we make character judgements based on occupation.

Answer 3

Your Grandma was right ! Anybody who works for an honest living is honorable in my book !

Answer 4

menial jobs are not considered work because theyre exactly that---Menial