We put up our walls and tune our televisions to “Reality TV” to escape the reality of our depravity.
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Since when has caring about other people been a character trait to belittle and devalue? Since we’ve been told they’re freeloaders. Takers. Usurpers. Useless. Undesirable. Worthless. There are a host of names we call people who need help. We lump them in with the very few people abusing the system. It makes us feel better about their lot in life. Belittling them makes us feel better about how much we have and how much they do not. We dehumanize the most vulnerable to make us less likely to feel pity or remorse for the way in which we look past them on our way to get another Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Not long ago I had the opportunity to visit Las Vegas for the first time. I saw the fountains, the lights, the splendor and magnificence of the architecture and man’s triumph over Mother Nature. I witnessed people by the thousands gambling away their money and drinking away their sorrows. I watched in horror as the wealthy carrying their Michael Kors shopping bags stepped over seemingly near dead homeless people. I saw indoor canals full of water while people in California struggle through a drought. While many look upon Vegas with starry eyed wonder, I felt horrible for my inability to reconcile the wealth and staggering poverty both on display in equal amounts. I feel worse for having done nothing to help.
Our culture, the American Way, tells us to pull ourselves up by our boot straps.
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My trip to Vegas touched me deeply. I live in relatively rural areas of the country where poverty abounds but homelessness is rare and hidden. Our culture, the American Way, tells us to pull ourselves up by our boot straps. Get in the game or get out of the way. It has always been about being successful in life on our own, without recognition that everyone needs help along the way. I think that may be where things went wrong for us. We began to look upon asking for help as shameful, internalizing that feeling and realizing increased pressure and stress in our drive to achieve the American Dream.
Perhaps that’s why we have such deeply entrenched feelings of pride and scorn. We’re proud of ourselves and those who achieve materialistic success. We idolize and emulate them. Whole industries have sprung up around the idea of coaching to success. Conversely, we scorn everyone who cannot succeed. We deride them as losers and lazy. If they just tried harder or dedicated themselves more they’d manage too. We call them usurpers. Leeches. Criminals. Takers. Anchors.
Bleeding Heart Liberal. Wimp. Sucker. Naive. Stupid. We’ve faced derision and criticism from very vocal people who often bully us into silence.
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Those of us that recognize the need to care for and prop up those falling behind are often criticized as well. Bleeding Heart Liberal. Wimp. Sucker. Naive. Stupid. We’ve faced derision and criticism from very vocal people who often bully us into silence. We cannot afford to be silent any longer. It isn’t OK. Turning a blind eye to suffering is creating a society of isolationists. We are walling off and stripping away at a trait even animals manage: compassion.
Humanists and most religions preach peace and compassion at the very cores of their institutions. Somehow though, we look at the world through the prism of supremacy. When single moms need ChiP or public assistance they become Welfare Queens. When refugees and immigrants cross our borders seeking a better life away from war ravaged homes we call them illegal aliens or rapists and murderers. The mentally ill do not receive treatment. They are instead thrown in jail. Senior citizens that carried our society on their backs starve or are evicted from homes they have known most of their lives. We don’t care. They should have worked harder or planned better.
We have lost the concept of connection. Sharing has been replaced by greed and acquisition. We step over the homeless, walk away from the broken, and lock out the needy. When we allow children to drown while their families flee horrific violence, we have become broken as well. We put up our walls and tune our televisions to “Reality TV” to escape the reality of our depravity. All people are worthy of help, and there is no shame in asking or giving it. Don’t change the world: Change your little corner of it.
Photo Credit: Montecruz Foto/flickr
Thank you for coming out of the closet and admitting you actually care about other people. Being selfish and self centered IS the American way. For those of us who try to do what “Jesus” requested, we are ridiculed and shamed. Hey CINO’s (Christians in Name Only), try reading the New Testament. The words in Red are what Jesus said, and more importantly, what Jesus did.
Bravo!
Liberals feel good doing good with other people’s money. In addition, they prefer the whole thing be run through the government which takes a third off the top, at least, and then screws up the results as with the VA. They don’t see the problem with Rotherham–“It’s their culture,” but they do have a problem with people who object. As I said earlier, the headline tells us this is “the truth”. What do we have to demonsrate that this is, indeed, the truth. Jennifer. I was there–being older than you are–when you were being taught what Reagan’s view was, what… Read more »
Very well written. I’m a “bleeding heart liberal” and I wear that as a badge of honor. I’d rather be “naïve” and care for others than worship at the altar of money.
You’ll get a lot of people coming at you because the callousness is already so ingrained in America. But there are many of us who are with you. I remember when Democrats and Republicans were different ideologically, but all considered Americans. Then, beginning for me with Reagan (I was 18), instead of the American Dream involving the pursuit of success (as a PART of happiness), it became the worship of wealth and the scandalizing of any economic heathens who did not bow to that altar. While this was being “taught” to us, those in the best position to gain wealth… Read more »
Hearing people try to shame me into supporting refugees or illegal immigrants or whatever is the tearjerker of the week just makes me despise them more.
Is there any cause I’m not supposed to be donating my hard earned money to?
You proved the author’s point and showed your character as a person. Sadly you probably consider yourself a Christian.
The headline tells us this is the truth about several things. On what basis are we to believe this is true?
Who is “We”? Speak for yourself and don’t generalize.
We are allowed to use our judgment.
http://hotair.com/archives/2015/09/27/so-hows-that-flood-of-migrants-working-out-for-germany/
Next to you first, just to show you have heart.