July 30, 2012

An American: Application, Discipline, Focus Or "The America Would Have Happened to Me"

Henry Rollins: The One Decision that Changed My Life Forever

Rollins describes the seminal moment when he decided to leave his job as manager of Haagen Dazs to become the lead singer of Black Flag.

Posted by gerardvanderleun at July 30, 2012 6:56 PM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

You've mislabeled this one. It should be classified as "something wonderful"

One problem that many Americans have is they cannot fully appreciate just how much freedom they have to choose their own path in life, the richness of opportunity they have, even now under all that onerous government red tape.

I've said it before, but it's the air that you breathe, and the water you swim in. It's there, but few stop and notice it.

If it ever goes away, the world will miss it, and be the poorer for it.

Posted by: pdwalker at July 30, 2012 7:50 PM

It is wonderful, but a new series is coming right up on Americans here at American Digest.

Posted by: vanderleun at July 30, 2012 8:02 PM

He was a great singer with Black Flag. Ever since then, he's been a pretentious, bullying, bombastic blowhard, as well as a left-wing PC shill *par excellence*. Frankly, I wished he'd have gone back to scooping Rocky Road, rather than "reinventing" himself as a "spoken word *artiste*."

Posted by: Skorpion at July 30, 2012 9:52 PM

Good on you, Henry. Book it on back here to Cleveland one of these days.

Posted by: random coolzip at July 31, 2012 10:23 AM

Odd conclusion: that he "survived" America rather than exemplifying it. In many ways I can relate to his story, except I know that only in America would I not be what I was at 20, which was a retail clerk. But because America is America, there is a much greater chance for good luck and holy happenstance to intervene. Especially when you toss intelligence, self-discipline, delayed gratification, and persistence into the mix.

Posted by: Gagdad Bob at July 31, 2012 12:09 PM

PS -- immigrants still know this, which is a big reason why we need them.

Posted by: Gagdad Bob at July 31, 2012 12:10 PM

A classic take on success from the perpetually alienated. All the time people were approaching him asking "can you do this," "can you do that," he never realized that it was all evidence of how deeply he belonged.

Beyond that bit of narcissism it all boils down to exactly what your grandparents knew; seek out opportunity, and when it comes around be on time and be the part.

Posted by: ThomasD at August 3, 2012 7:51 AM

But he's a liar!! He is a liar!! He'll tear your heart out!! He'll burn your soul!!

Posted by: Morgan K Freeberg at August 7, 2012 4:48 PM