“As we practice hospitality, there comes a point where the suffering around us drives us to ask what it would take to reimagine the world.”
I think everyone has their own reimagination of this world. Mine would be a world without poverty, without war, and with more love and care in our everyday.
“We cannot fully recover until we help the society that made us sick recover.”
Some of our reimaginations might be solely imagination, but with mine, if we work hard enough, we can achieve. With love and compassion, each person has to be committed to help change our world and make a revolution. We need to sacrifice. The rich occupy 80% (if I remember correctly) of our things here in America. Why sacrifice so much so a few can live freely? Can’t they just sacrifice a little bit so that the people of our streets might be lucky enough to have a bite each day?
“It is much more comfortable to depersonalize the poor so we don’t feel responsible to the catastrophic human failure that results in someone sleeping on the street while people have spare bedrooms in the homes.”
Although it may seem like the most generous gift, giving money is too easy. We need to personalize these homeless. They are equal to us, and I think often we forget that. They are people too.
“There are plenty of liberal who talk about poverty and injustice but rarely encounter the poor, living detached lives of socially responsible but comfortable consumption. And there are plenty of Christians who talk about how much God cares for the poor but don’t know any poor folks.”
“Poverty was not created by God but by you and me, because we have not learned to love our neighbors as ourselves.”
“We cannot say we love God and pass by our hungry neighbor.”
Let’s do this! It starts with each of us. We can abolish poverty, abolish war, and promote love and make a revolution!
I am personally starting here in my hometown. It’s tough, but worth it!
Peace and God Bless!
*cough* Communist *cough* This is exactly the same plan (the sharing the wealth so that everyone had some) that Marx came up with. I'm not name-calling, just pointing it out first.
I agree to some point, but if we share the wealth so that everyone gets some, we lose the drive to compete. Why compete if everyone's going to win? Unforunately, human nature is driven by a sense of "winning" and "losing."
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
Your right. and youre right in the fact that its unfortunate.
Why is there competition? Is it needed?
Does it really mean something to be winning the "competition"?
There has been competition since the stone age. Prehistoric man competed for the best mates, the better caves, and probably random other assorted caveman stuff.
Yes, it's needed. Competition breeds innovation. Innovation breeds competition. Without innovation, we'd be stuck with the same technology from not until forever.
No, it doesn't mean anything, but it definately feels good.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
True, but why cant people work together for innovation?
Personally, I would feel a lot better achieving something with someone than beating them at achieveing something.
People will not do something better for the sake of doing it better. There has to be an incentive, and competition provides that incentive.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
yes. and thats unfortunate. Why cant someone outdo themselves?
No fun in it. Why don't you invent a better mouse trap? Is it that you think that our modern ones work so well? Or are you just so unmotivated that you can't?
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
So you think people should be homeless because it's more fun?
A mouse trap for what? people to help abolish slavery.
Did I say that? You're putting words in my mouth.
Ok, so do I think people should be homeless because it's more fun. Nope. I think that people should be homeless because they lack the ability to pull their shit together and not be homeless. I've done it. They can.
A mouse trap for what? Well, for catching mice, duh. How would a mouse trap help abolish slavery? I was comparing the motivation to build the better mouse trap with what it would be like it we were to eliminate competition.
People are like mice. Without the cheese at the end, they're not gonna run the maze.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
oh my goodness, i meant to put poverty instead of slavery.
im sorry haha. im working on my homework at the same time and we're on a slavery unit!
my bad!
Some do lack the will to get theirselves together, but some dont. some try and try, and some americans already have ruled out homeless people for jobs etc. and with that mindset there will be no progress.
No...there will be progress. Let me try and explain using ducks though...it'll sound better.
You know how if a duck comes to your yard, you want to feed it? But you're told not to? Well, you're told not to feed the duck because the duck will come back. You feel that it's not bad if the duck comes back, so you feed it. The next day, there're two ducks. You feed them and they fly away. The next day, there're 4 ducks. You feed them and they fly away. The next day, there're 8 ducks, with 16 the next, and 32 the next, etc.
It works the same with our homeless folks. There are cheap and cost effective houses out there that an incredibly poor person could afford. I think part of the problem is that these beggers feel that they are entitled to choose how they will live. Well, beggers cannot be choosers. If we leave them to their own devices, and let them stew in their own filth, they will quickly discover that without the "help" they were getting, it's quite easy to get a job, clean up, and start being a productive member of society.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
Well, obviously, if we leave them to themselves, nothing will happen.
We see it everyday.
And feeding the homeless isnt the only way of heping.
Listening to their stories, and in return sharing a piece of yourself with them is inspiring to them. You can talk to them, befriend them, and humanize them.
And why do you think they would keep coming back?
Because us feeding them is such a rare thing to find, thats why.
We're getting off topic. The point I made was that sharing the wealth wouldn't work because there would be no incentive to improve. You must agree as we've strayed from that topic.
(Yes, I am avoiding your question because I'm too tired to compose a PC response.)
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
or because you know im right.
you can answer it right here.
http://www.progressiveu.org/212317-abolish-poverty-create-a-revolution#c...
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
I have to wholeheartedly agree. I hate Commies, lol, because history has taught us that "shared wealth" is never going to happen--EQUALLY
Thats true, i dont know if our whole nation could survive on shared wealth.
but there are many successful communities in our nation that thrive on shared wealth. And Im convinced that it would work, again, not for something as big as our nation, but for something smaller.
It depends on how you go about implementing degrees of socialism. Communism is the complete abolition of private property and economic competition. No one is advocating that. Socialism can be achieved the way we have been achieving it for years: taxes and regulation of the market. Americans pay considerably less taxes than other nations and it shows. Europeans pay generally pay more taxes and enjoy more public services, are they card-carrying commies? 49 million Americans are uninsured and here in Los Angeles County we have the most homeless out of any other city in the nation (90,000.) Personal responsibility is highly emphasized in our culture (i.e: you're responsible for your own condition) so much so that it borders on indifference to the struggles of the less fortunate. No one takes into account that being born into poverty seals your fate because there's a disparity between avenues for betterment like public education in poverty stricken neighborhoods compared to those in suburban communities. You've hit the glass ceiling. You've been sold the American Dream but you're powerless to actualize it. Nevermind being BORN homeless. With things as they are presently, escape from that is virtually impossible.
If you're interested about what's being done here in Los Angeles check out the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness.
Gabriel
Why do you say that im powerless to actualize it?
Personally, alone, I am.
but we have created such a community of people for abolishing homelessness here. It starts with one.
No, no. I was personifying the plight of the poor. They've been sold the American dream...
I probably shoudl've put it in quotations or rephrased it. An individual can certainly make a difference.
Gabriel
ohh. sorry i read that way wrong.
but I think they can escape. Most of the time they arent born into homelessness.
They can escape with assistance from programs or compassionate ordinary people but it's arguably difficult on their own. An escape would involve giving homeless and the poor job training, helping them find employment, and building affordable housing. Expecting for them do it without assistance (which is what people who don't want to fund social welfare programs expect) is nearly impossible.
I agree with that. Its nearly impossible for them to do it without assistance.
Americans have to get over our mindset that homeless people are drastically different than us (besides the fact that they dont live in a home).
and they would start getting more jobs. Some of them are just as capable as we are.
I guess I would fall under the "Compassionate ordinary people."
socialism equals communism. The difference? A peaceful transition, not a bloody revolution. there are no utopias on earth and there never will be. the closest we have is The Netherlands.
Yes, most people aren't born into homelessness. However, homelessness and especially poverty are hard cycles to break. The problem is not that they cannot escape, it is that there are so many economic and social barriers keeping them from recovering with the speed that they should be able to considering their strong will to persevere.
I really appreciate your enthusiasm and I completely agree with your opinion, but it really isn't as simple as you make it sound. I believe that one person can make a difference and that they can mobilize a lot of people to do so, but you're not exactly preaching anything that hasn't been proclaimed a million times before. You need to find the things the lead to cycles of poverty and homelessness, and push the government to change policies that discriminate these people.
You are however correct in that we need to restore the sense of personhood to homeless people, as that is what will push people to do something, once they can't look at homeless people as a vague group or group of inhuman things. More power to you in pushing for that in your community. You should use your blog to keep us updated on your activities and I'm sure people here can lend you support in your efforts.
Thank you for being supportive!
and I aggree, they have to have the will to persevere.
and It is a hard cycle to break, but most Americans are so se t on the fact that they arent equals and that they arent capable. With this mindset, there will be no progress.
We have to break these stereotypes.
And I will keep you updated! Thanks again!
No, I do not agree with you.
Giving money to the poor is like giving the bread to the ducks. It makes them dependent and stupid. We're giving the man his daily fish.
However, if we simply ignore the homeless, they will eventually have to find a better way of living. We need to stop feeding them. We need to stop offering welfare. We need to stop handing out money and force people to earn it.
This isn't to say that families that do not have a lot of money should be punished: stores like Good Will and the Salvation Army are important and very necessary, and a god send to some. However, by removing Welfare entirely, we stop giving our money away.
Call me a selfish bastard (you wouldn't be the first) but you've got to understand...People are inherently unmotivated. If you were homeless and you knew you could eat, drink, and sleep for free, where is the motivation to get a job and work for your food? Honestly, if you can sit around and be lazy all day, why not?
Now, when we share the wealth, we make the many pay for the laziness of the few. Why should I get to work hard, earn money, and have a good chunk taken away by the Government? Taxes are evil and no good can come from them. Therein, we lose the ability to take the money to share it. Should we just print some more and give it away? No, that'd cause inflation.
This topic in and of itself delves into many others; Welfare, Socialism, Capitalism, Taxes, and Government just to name a few. So let me offer one final thought: No solution lies with the Government; solutions lie within the people.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
So you dont think we should feed them or give them money and leave them alone completely.
that's clear.
But why cant we listen to their stories and give them inspiration?
You say eventually, they will figure out that they have to do something themselves?
Eventually when? This has been an issue for many many years.
and they havent figured it out.
We can listen. We can inspire. This does not mean "give money." Why haven't they figured it out? Because we keep offering the bread with no strings attached.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
You must live in a completely different city than I do. People here rarely give homeless people food, and there are homeless people on every corner.
I live in Lexington. And the bread of which I speak is the money that these homeless folks and get from the government. It isn't enough to get an apartment, but it's enough to eat from time to time.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
Lexington Kentucky?
Yeah, I guess I forgot that most people don't assume Lexington to be in KY...lol.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
haaa I was just clarifying...I live in TN.
Is lexington a city?
I'd hope so. O_o There's a down town area, to be sure. Not city as in NYC, but more like Cincinnati city...
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
Thats the same as in Nashville.
I've been. It's a cool place, Nashville.
Nicholas Aden
Self-Promotion
yeaah, its a pretty cool place.
I like it. Not quite as big as I'd like, but i like it.
I think we should help peopel in poverty not make it equal - not communism but generosity. Help them help themselves. No one deserves to be malnutrished no one deserves to go hungery or uneducated. In our country it's a given to be able to eat to live to learn.
http://www.progressiveu.org/191244-help-make-poverty-and-hunger-history