Pursuit of Cash

Last night I had the opportunity to hear Chris Gardner, the man on whom "The Pursuit of Happyness" is based, speak at a university in Indianapolis. After seeing the film, I expected great things from this man.

I was terribly disappointed.

Mr. Gardner did an amazing thing. He acheived the American Dream by going from homelessness to great wealth. But he wasted a great opportunity last night. Instead of pushing the crowd to do something about the problem of homelessness in our nation, he used his charisma to spread the gospel of wealth and elevate himself. His speech was full of name-dropping and lists of his personal accomplishments. Throughout the whole thing, it was "me, me, me."

But the crowd loved him.

He did an amazing job of identifying with his mostly African American audience. Somehow he even managed to throw in enough religious rhetoric to get some Amens. But it was never about God. It was never even about people. It was about his journey to success - one he defined entirely by material wealth. "It's not a black thing, it's not a white thing, it's a green thing," he said. And I cringed.

I understand that money had to be his path off the streets and into a home. I do not begrudge him that. But money has become more than a means to an end for this man - it, along with fame, appears to have become EVERYTHING.

I wonder how many of the people in that audience were touched in a way to be compelled to act. My guess is few, if any. And how many of those few will make that compulsion into a lifestyle? How many will see that this is not about the American Dream, but about the human condition?

Not everyone can or will pull themselves up by those invisible bootstraps. The real changes in the makeup of our society happen when compassion flows with consistency. Chris Gardner had a great platform upon which to inspire others to act, to create that commitment to compassion - but he wasted it.

He made it about money. He made it about fame. He made it about himself.