CONTRASTS - Andrew Carnegie, Edinburgh, English Headlines Scotland July 14, WTRD 38

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Today, we start a 30 day contract with our rental car company. Either by rental service, national law, or insurance regulations, we could not rent a car for 45 consecutive days.  The car we picked up in Dover must be returned in Edinburgh for another.

From Saint Andrews we drive back to  Edinburgh, but not without a little sight seeing along the way.  We hope that our car exchange at the airport will go without a hitch as we had not wanted to return to Edinburgh on the day that there was a large scale anti-Trump protest.

We stop at the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, a penniless Scottish emigrant who came to America with his family as a youth.  With his brilliant mind, industriousness, and moral compass pointed in the right direction, he made his fortune in America becoming the wealthiest man in the world and then returned his wealth through philanthropy to noble causes.  His story is inspirational.  We would be so much better off in the world if there were more heroes like this.  Andrew credited his mother, education,

and his wife for becoming the man he became.

Andrew's father was a weaver and had a small scale at-home business weaving fine linen.  Apparently due to a dire economic situation in Scotland, the advent of industrialization of weaving, and the senior Carnegie not being an astute businessman, the family finances collapsed.

Fine Linens

Humble Beginnings

 By selling the loom and borrowing some money for passage, the family emigrated to America.

Upon reaching America, Young Andrew got a job with a telegraph company as a runner.  He soon applied his mind and keen ear to translating Morse code without writing it down.  He was also able to translate private "secret" codes.  He soon became indispensable to his employer.  When his employer, Mr. Scott, accepted a job with the new railroad industry, he took Carnegie with him.  He mentored Carnegie, paid him in railroad stock, and encouraged his own investing.  Andrew became a successful stock holder.

Andrew Carnegie chose to use his new capitol to start his own business furnishing materials for the building of railroads....rails, engines, sleeping cars, etc.  His steel industry grew quickly.

 While building his industry, Carnegie kept in mind his responsibility to pay back and to pay forward.

Eventually, Carnegie sold his steel industry and became the wealthiest, most socially responsible men in the world.

Having known poverty, emigration, the importance of education, opportunity, and the kindness and encouragement of a mentor, Andrew Carnegie who had always be generous, became a full time philanthropist, developing free libraries, funding endeavors in science, music, and education (including the Sesame Workshop and Sesame Strreet).

How fortunate for America that immigrant Andrew Carnegie came our way.   He is a prime example of how our country benefits from those who come poor and desperate come our way.  They of all people know how to pay back their opportunity with generosity and to help others, unlike those who have never known financial adversity, insecurity, and honest hard work.

Visiting Carnegie's birth place and museum, we were inspired.  By contrast, when we reached Edinburgh Airport and perused the headlines in the numerous UK newspapers, we became dejected by the antics of another very wealthy and spoiled individual who happens to be the president of America.

How is it that the majority of Americans who did not vote for this man are now being held hostage and in contempt for believing in freedom and justice for all. This is not FAKE news. Only we as voters without privilege and wealth, but with working brains, must work to distain lies and propel truth and justice over greed and irresponsible power.   It's been a day of contrast and tears.  America, where are we going?  My mother would have said, "To hell in a hand basket."

Worrall Travel R's in Scotland