EL GUAOW- today i was reminded of my pooredom/ blessings and need company on this guilt trip :), come along friend.
i met with some attorneys with some people I'm helping at work and went to their offices. 39th floor of 50th and 6th Ave. 'nuff said. i was struck by it all. then saddened. honestly we live in an amazing country (even tho I have my reservations about it). we have "systems" in place that millions of people will never know or benefit from, 24-7 that make our life easier than i can even explain. (and lord knows i have my reservations about them too). think about it, we live in a country... - that can afford to use electricity 24/7 (street signs)
- that has the luxury of displaying fresh water running in public for aesthetic reasons 24/7 (water fountains)
- one in which people have the luxury of throwing away left overs
- where for the most part, humans r fully clothed and when they are not, its by choice
- in which one person every three and a half seconds dies of hunger or hunger-related causes (poverty.com).
- that hosts roughly 3 billion people that live off of less than $2 a day.
So this is how America works think about it. we educate ourselves for a price and spend the rest of our life paying back that debt in search of eventually being "comfortable" financially. What does that even mean Some will go as far to say that they want to be rich. What for What happens when you have all the luxuries this world can offer Then what
2 some, the answers to these questions might be obvious. Not for me. I'm supa poor and sup ignorant to the rich lifestyle. My dollar value is zero. I've never been to a country club, I don't own any property, a car or even a computer. I don't really know how to use the different sized forks at a "properly set" table, and recently discovered rich people actually have "dinner jackets". LOL. - Just a few examples.
But who's to say that's life Who sat down and designated what the "finer things in life" are! Who said that life is about being able to eat at the expensive restaurants, buy expensive things and wear expensive clothing I can't answer that, I don't know rich/wealthy people nor have lived a rich/extravagant lifestyle. Plus you should see what I consider expensive/extravagant LOL.
I guess my question is what's the point of wealth Is it the access to power Why is wealth attached to power Is economic prosperity is the only way to have access to life
Makes me sad to contribute to such a country. Unfortunately, its what I know. I'm calling out my hypocrisies in search of redemption. When my mother speaks of her upbringing I cant help but get emotional. She owned her first pair of shoes at age 12 or so. How many shoes have we thrown away by that age And how many times have we been angered for not being able to purchase a certain pair of shoes I know I have.
the little things...thanks to this blog I will be reevaluating how my actions impact someone else's life. Eventually I will be able to help at the level I want to. and dont get it twisted. if $ comes my way, I'd gladly welcome it. I'm under several financial pressures the systems in this country gladly distribute to the financially illiterate- like presents! But then what happens cuando yo salga de mis lios
See where you can help. Think of this is like my own anti-poverty PSA.
Pa'Lante -me
2 comments:
Standing Ovation!!! and Encore! Welcome to my world a world where you live below your means because you choose to do something greater than yourself. That which is giving back. Material wealth will only get you material things, wealth of character will get you a happier life.Mos Def said in one of the Def Poetry jams that his father said "If there was a town square where people can take their problems, you would reach in and grab yours to bring another one." There will always be someone in a worse situation than us.
In the US we complain, as you said about not buying the shoes you wanted, meanwhile in places like Brasil, politicians bribe the voter with shoes for their kids to go to school in; they give then one of the shoes and wait till the election is over to deliver the second one. Most issues in the US are pitiful compared to the rest of the world. Listen to Immortal Techniques "3rd World" Single.
I commend you for having taken the time to put your thought on this down, not many people think this way let alone write their thoughts for the "world" to see.
Best Regards
J
I started reading and then I got depressed. I guess that is why you majored in social work, I tend to dwell on the bad but if allow that to be a daily routine then I end up with a jaded type mind...
=/
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