There was some scuttle this week among a few clients about the injustice of funds being sent abroad to Haiti when they are in need. They feel neglected, take the toll of Katrina to heart and remain hopeful that a break will come that will lessen their anxiety about opening their eyes in the morning, provided they ever closed in the first place.
This viewpoint may stir something in you; something of wishing our own poor could see the bigger picture of helping others and receiving in return. It's a poetic notion but I sense Jabbari and Karmen aren't buying it. After all, their needs are immediate too. Shelter is nebulous, food is got through any means necessary and the will to live and prosper wanes with each passing day without progress. It reads like today's script from CNN's Headline News, but it's happening here.
So what should I tell them? That these are extraordinary circumstances that require immediate action or death is certain, moreso than the devastation already endured? That among those Haitians who are surviving, there are many dying still? Everyday? That they remain closer to life, clothed and clean, even if their deepest agony is never washed away?
How do I instill the idea of global giving, the understanding that we're all connected, when Americans are inherently individualist from the time they are kindergartners? You're graded on your own merits. You advance to the next grade because you got enough points. You graduate based on your own successes and failures.
We don't raise American children in a community. Wait. We don't raise poor American children in a community. They are taught to survive, and survive alone. It's no wonder they are bitter. Global giving, fundraisers with stars and Obama's blessing are something they've been waiting on and feel they deserve. Perhaps if they, and we, understood that the betterment of someone else makes everything better it wouldn't be such a slap in the face to see money they need go overseas.
And so it is. . . me? I told them to write about it. And I may just post one of their essays on my blog. Stay tuned.
A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said,‘Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’
ReplyDeleteThe Lord led the holy man to two doors.
He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms so they could not bend their elbows. Each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, ‘You have seen Hell.’
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, ‘I don’t understand.’
‘It is simple,’ said the Lord. ‘It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.’
Greed isn't reserved for people in a certain economic status. "Poor" people just like "rich" people can be stingy. If this is true than wealth is a matter of perspective. We all must find a way to be effective, happy,generous,fruitful people while living in “less than ideal conditions.” Having said that, Maslow would say we must have certain needs met before we are self-actualized. “Needs” must be a matter of perspective. Consider the works of deceased artist Wantanabe. http://artfoundout.blogspot.com/search/label/Watanabe He was homeless, but was spiritually self-actualized. His vision allowed him to create art from other people’s refuse. He rarely accepted money for his work. Money was of little value to him. Yet when he gave his work away he felt he was giving something of extraordinary valuable because it was tied to his soul and good wishes.
Sorry I'm long winded. I LOVE that you make me THINK with my heart.
Interesting piece and a similar thought on the Anderson Cooper 360 blog today. http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/25/haiti-is-not-our-long-term-responsibility-detroit-is/
ReplyDeleteAlso had friends last night echo a similar sentiment. While I understand, I think it is still in our nature as humans to try and help, I think where we fall short is actually doing anything to help those in our country (or doing the right thing).
i was at the gym the other day, the tv was on in the locker room. a woman says to me "can you believe how awful this is?" and I said "i can't imagine, and we just keep...." and she finished my sentence with "giving? i know, it's getting out of hand." but what I wanted to say was "..going on with our own lives, really like nothing has happened." I feel guilty for not understanding what they are going through. I gave my $10.00, but am still living life as though nothing has happened.
ReplyDeleteThank you for these comments, friends. I love the perspectives and empathize with the sentiments. It's a powerful time to reflect, and an even more important time to act. Doing nothing is really the only thing OFF the table at this point.
ReplyDeleteI heard a quote today from Mark Twain, "Better to regret the things you've done than to regret the things you didn't do."
ReplyDeleteNo more shoulda, coulda, woulda!
Lately I can't seem to get near what I want to do!!! I hope the barriers break soon.
Love the video. Well done! Very inspiring.