chickpea
Posts: 446
Joined: 8/3/2005
From: Los Angeles Area
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MissMorrigan
That's for sure, Politesub. Poverty, by today's standards in the west, is luxury by comparison to those of yesteryear where one meal had to stretch for three days, where a continuous pot of peelings was on the stove and which served as broth, where leftovers weren't something from a person's plate, where a mother would go without not just one, but two and three meals in order to ensure her children ate at meal that day, where birthdays were celebrated by playing games and a special tea for that evening was bread with jam on, where a person walked the two to three miles between jobs they worked back to back and on shoes whose soles were so thin they were worn away in some places, or where they simply walked from one town to the next in search of work only to return empty-handed, where a bath was once a week and shared between the entire family b/c it cost money to heat the water, where a wife has to pawn her wedding ring - a ring she swore an oath she'd never remove til her dying day and lost every shred of dignity she had the moment she pawned it knowing she'd never have the money to regain it...
I am glad the author of that list has never experienced poverty and I hope they never do.
OP doesn't sound poor. That just sounds like having less than those that have more and being afraid the ones who have more will make fun of you. I've seen real poor in third world countries, spent a few months there, came back and the ghettos here in the US on the way back from the airport seemed so nice: there were complete houses (no half made houses, or houses made of steel sheets) an actual lawn in the front, fences between houses, paved streets that were driveable on, and most everyone had cars).
I passed by a seemingly very old woman (by her looks, at the very least 80) barely sitting on the hard curb of a street, parched skin on bones, with a dazed gaunt look on face, her arm perpetually and forever outstretched in a begging manner, and mumbling something weakly like ...a distant chant. Next to her, lay a little bowl for money and a few knittings she made intricate nice patterns and colors with cheap yarn not even spread out well for others to see (perhaps to sell? but i wish her luck it's hard to make money there). I felt terrible at that situation. If I gave her money, that wouldn't last forever if it weren't robbed by poor young guys on her way back to wherever she lived, and she would be back on the street eventually, there are a bunch of other old women around town I'm sure maybe some too weak to be outside begging. The thing that struck me the most was the hopelessness of the situation, and the hopelessness in her eyes. That's poor, when you don't complain about practically free goodwill shoes with holes, but just don't have shoes at all.
In stark contrast, I saw young children incredibly happy and playing in the streets, amidst this "poverty". Incredible how resourceful kids are. They were having the time of their lives playing with a long stick, a rope, and a ball. Someday they will be faced with life and have to support themselves let alone a family. And poor doesn't have to be always worse than rich. All about being happy with where you're at at the present, where you want to be, and not being influenced like the Joneses' on their eternal meaningless trap to compete. LOL can you say the Joneses next door are your puppets or monkeys to play with? making them get whatever you want them to. 
We should be blessed that in our country the government provides the resources for the poor to not live like that...unless they choose, or dont put a massive amount of effort to get out (they should shut up complaining or focusing on what others think of them). Sometimes it's not out of choice, like amputees, etc. In some third world countries, amputees are just the laughing stock biggest joke of the neighborhood. What a way to live, not only are you born crappy, you're crapped on. In the U.S. we are more compassionate and take pity on those born less fortunate and unable to help themselves. Though when someone just has too much for a person to live on, and money is no big deal after a certain point of preferred lifestyle meets resources, it becomes an excuse to waste, have five whores on your arms, and self-destruct, if you lack a meaningful direction and aren't centered. Money amplifies who you are (with problems or not), might solve short-term paying off bills making you more comfortable, but doesn't solve long term problems (like character, leeching, values).
There might be a silver lining to poor, it gives you an opportunity to test your balls. They get an opportunity to reach way deep down inside to pull yourself out of a bad situation. I'm sure at some point the human spirit, individual dignity is backed into a corner and the person resolutely becomes determined and says enough is enough... and they get infinitely motivated to change the situation they're in. (rather than FOCUSING ON constantly COMPLAINING about others at a better place than them that are looking down on them... whine whine whine). Well-to-do people who've experienced or gotten out of a bad situation are more likely to be better, stronger individuals (... obama?  )
I see a lot of the ex-poor become very strong admirable people, but sometimes their morals kind of go down the tubes when they pat themselves on their backs too much and start thinking themselves to be soo fantastic, so superior, and start turning their backs on their poor origins and start spitting on the poor. I think a lot of life is a luck of the draw, turn of the cards, and how you sit at the table and play it, do you fold? or continue on? Sometimes the cards deal you a good hand and you think it's by your own doing, divine intervention since you're the chosen one, or luck of the draw and be appreciative of you stroke of luck. Sometimes the cards make it impossible, and it is what it is. You either accept by faith that things will get better, or give up due to real or imagined insurmountable circumstances. So the poor in this country should consider themselves fortunate that they have opportunities like no other country, and should forget their whining, others, and their social status for now. Fortunately in this country, there are opportunities to change if you want to for the able-bodied...especially if there is a democrat in the white house (shameless plug).
But it's unfortunate, some take advantage of the system and use it as a way to be comfortable, lazy, and remain poor (they are often the ones that WHINE ABOUT OTHERS the most...maybe cuz they're wasting their energy on things that just don't help them. trying to prove that it's not out of choice but something external). Maybe it's lack of motivation, due to a percieved hopelessness (e.g. rich will always make rich richer and poor poorer, or blacks thinking blacks will always be discriminated against, so why even try? ...thankfully obama's nomination is changing that, even for women with hillary in traditionally male-dominated areas, also stories of Trump, Schwarzenneger). This country was built on people of a wide spread of backgrounds who seized opportunities, rich and poor, it's all about how much you want it and how much you try for whatever reasons or motivations you may have. Hopefully in this list as the country moves ahead, traditionally excluded classes will be included, such as women and blacks, and the senseless threat of being outdone by those that are "suppose to be" worse than you by virtue of what they look like, will be replaced by the fair fight mentality.
Another thing about what really is poor, are people can be comfortable rich and from fine upbringings, and can choose to go the vile path out of curiousity or boredom, or an ache as they sense there's something more to life other than just fine comforts and luxury, and meaningless gossip. A movie called "Savage Grace" on limited release now, not only is it full of the expected twisted kink, it delves into the lives of those that don't know the proper way to spend what extra blessings they had, to make their lives meaningful. There's also a bit about the poor trying to make it into wealth and how it can go awefully wrong if they take short cuts or aren't appreciative of and settle for what you gain. Perhaps the poorer person be better off mentally if she'd have stayed poor and unwealthy? Really good, plus twisted :) probably by on dvd soon. hehe
So anyway, poor can be tough and if you find a way out great, that's great...just don't fall into the water after hours of staring at your reflection. If you're poor in this country and complain, then don't complain if the government gives opportunities to get out and you're either too scared or too lazy to take advantage of them...and focus on other's possessions and either complaining/whining or loafing off of them, rather than focusing on what you have and focusing on making better of it, rather than focusing on what people say of it or how fashionable it is. Hey, popularity can get you places, but if you're not taking care of other things in your life, then quit complaining. haha
Just look at other countries, the infrastructure of getting out of poverty just simply doesn't exist. (that's why I support the Democrats so this GREAT though imperfect country doesn't self-destruct and veer off from the values it was built on, thanks to some idiot named GWB*ehrm*). I think having opportunities and keeping the door open to those who have the desire to take advantage of them is what makes this country great. Democrats will make sure this will stay open.). Hopeless situations are what is truely poor. But not having a certain amount of material possessions when you have all the opportunity in the world (like in the U.S.) is an opportunity to truely test yourself and live life on your quest to get more possessions (if that's what you really want...or is this just never-ending envy?) or taking that plunge into darkness of the unknown to get where you really want. Just read the book "The Alchemist". Poor dude goes after what he wants, doesn't get it, but gets something more in the end that he never expected. "Going back to the place where you come from, yet seeing it for the very first time..."
< Message edited by chickpea -- 6/8/2008 10:25:28 AM >
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