His wisdom and common sense have helped millions of people achieve a better life.
He deserves better than flan.
Yes, the peculiar latino dessert. Flan.
You know, that DELICIOSO dessert nobody eats.
Back in 2017 our United States Post Office decided to salute...South American, Mexican and Caribbean foods with a set of stamps.
Yes, the AMERICAN POST OFFICE saluted FLAN. As well as empanadas and SANCOCHO...
I've had flan a few times. I was not impressed.
I've read the books of Dale Carnegie. They have had a positive impact on my life, and both the books and adult education courses Carnegie pioneered have used American values to enrich not only Americans, but people in South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and all over the world.
"How to Win Friends and Influence People."
"How to Stop Worrying and Start Living."
"The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking."
"Develop Self Confidence Improve Public Speaking."
"The Leader In You."
And more.
Dale Carnegie practically invented the "self help" genre. He also wrote "Lincoln The Unknown," his salute to another great American.
WHY HASN'T HE GOTTEN HIS OWN STAMP?
A check of current U.S. Stamps shows us a lot of semi-known and fairly insignificant people getting this honor.
"Little Mo?" A tennis player? Why? And why NOW? How has a dead tennis player influenced anyone? Compare her to Dale Carnegie, and the books that, every single day, give people the tools they need to make their lives better.
Oh, compare HER. Ah, got it. DIVERSITY. Mo is a FEMALE.
Who else has been honored recently?
Gregory Hines. Anyone able to instantly name a film or a show he was in? Anyone care? Ah. DIVERSITY. He's BLACK.
Fine, we must give minorities something to stick on their envelopes and feel proud.
But explain THESE recent stamps...
Perhaps, PERHAPS, a good reason to put somebody on a stamp is to call attention to his or her good deeds.
As in: "Never heard of this person. Let me go to wikipedia and find out why this person is on a stamp."
That would include THESE PEOPLE:
There's nothing wrong with pandering to the race card in some cases, but a BIT of equality would be nice. An ordinary white guy who did an extraordinary job of making lives better for people ALL AROUND THE WORLD...isn't that a GREAT AMERICAN?
Is it more important to remind Americans that fruit tastes good?
How about this: Dale Carnegie wrote several best sellers. Ezra Jack Keats wrote a book most people never heard of:
Fact: none of the stamps above involves anything as far-reaching and meaningful as "How to Win Friends and Influence People," a Bible of good advice, a Koran of wisdom, a Rumi-roomful of good advice for getting along with everyone socially and at work. Few authors have had the wide-reaching influence of Dale Carnegie. Dale Carnegie's books have been in print continuously, and selling among the best in their category, for close to 100 years.
How somebody or some THING gets nominated for a postage stamp is a peculiar and secretive undertaking. Nobody has been able to explain what kind of lobbying or salesmanship is involved.
I used to think that Dale Carnegie's honor was being held up because there are Carnegie schools around, and his "PRODUCT" is sold in bookstores. But the post office is VERY commercial about putting rock stars on stamps, even rock stars with very questionable lifestyles. The post office has routinely put cartoon characters on stamps of which "Scooby Doo" is just the latest.
Would it help to say that Dale Carnegie was handicapped? Would that aid in the DIVERSITY needed to put him on a stamp in the 21st Century? OK, he ripped out his ring finger during a climbing accident. Still, that's a reason to feel sorry for him. He achieved so much despite this mutilation.
So, U.S. Post Office, celebrate a white guy who overcame a handicap. From humble beginnings, from failed careers as a biographer and a door-to-door salesman, Dale became an inspirational book author, a "self help" guru, and a leader in education. He did it all while missing a finger. And for taking so long to honor him, and for probably continuing to put him behind fruits, vegetables, and unknowns of color, YOU get the FINGER from ME.
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