Are You Jamaican? Because Ja'maican Me Reconsider the Status of America's Social Classes

Though this may sound dumb, it's kind of weird to think that other countries have their own economic and social issues. It's not because we're so self-absorbed that we Americans think we're superior and don't bother educating ourselves on the functions of other countries (hollaback, in-group!), but the American economy is such a talked-about issue in modern America, we haven't quite had time to evaluate class structure in other countries with our full attention. That ends now: let us take a metaphorical plane ride to the island of Jamaica, a country that awards people from all classes equally on National Heroes Day. In this  letter to the editor of The Jamaica Observer, a Jamaican citizen proclaims that the working class of Jamaica should receive awards, along with members of the other social classes, for rendering "Herculean service in various communities." He also calls for special recognition to be awarded to "those who have climbed the ladder of success and have experienced upward mobility into the middle-class group."

I was interested to find that the idea of social mobility was described in terms so similar to how we view it in America; it makes me feel like we have more in common with other countries than I previously could have imagined. Also, I think it's nice that Jamaica uses one of their national holidays to praise people of all classes for their hard work.

Four for you Jamaica, you go Jamaica!

Can you think of any holidays or mediums that we use to reward members of the working class in America? What do you think of the similarities between Jamaican social classes and our own?