boybutter wrote:I was a crisis therapist for Katrina evacuees for the first few weeks after the tragedy in Houston.
My frustration has more to do with people who imagine that they have any idea what a people group on the extreme fringe of society thinks, feels, wants and needs, when they have never really wanted for anything in their life.
Being in poverty doesn't make one on the extreme fringe of society. Try going to a Christian Service in an Islamic country, or try being an American in Iran, or worse hate curling and live in Canada. That is the fringe of society.
I've been to many inner cities and most of the people in poverty have food, shelter, cable TVs, cars, health care, and want for nothing except more free stuff and a sense of ambition and respect.
Sadly enough, the real people in need are the ones who are proud and do not get the handouts but work two jobs to get ahead and due to medical or other issues cannot. This is not an issue of race, though, even though some want a pulpit of it as such.
It is the arrogance that some of the people on the board bring when they imagine that they have some clue about what is wrong with the group that does these things and that others who try to say, maybe empathy would be helpful (empathy is VERY different than sympathy BTW)..... and they get shot down.
It is the apoligism of separatism that really irks me.
Diekan gave great examples of people overcoming much, much more. Asian immigrants. Indian workers on visa's willing to do anything to succeed. These people are NOT given the opportunities that American Citizens in poverty are, and work much, much harder. Do you argue that?
So Diek. What you said is understandable and alot of it is true. But to assume about who these people are, beyond what they DO, is foolish and arrogant unless you truly know their experience, and that doesn't mean walking past whatever "profile" of a person you have and being scared shitless or being really angry....
They are Americans. We know what they are offered. What are you doing besides saying life is hard and don't judge a man until you walk a mile in his shoes, but we aren't judging anyone, but showing irritating with the never ending entitlement mentality and the continuing desire to have two Americas, which is the antithesis of what Dr King wanted, but what Black America is all about.
I volunteer in downtown Cleveland helping the poor. A lot of the poor do not have any desire or ambition. Many have multiple children out of wedlock with different men who do not support their children in any way. Is saying this arrogant and wrong, because we didn't know them?
Many on this board started with nothing. Their opinion is just as valid as anyone elses, despite your overt two Americas idea.
One of my best friend who is a damn fine DBA can't bring his wife to his family gatherings because she is white, and he's black. His son is called a high yellow and ignored, as well. His brother, who has been in jail twice considers him an Uncle Tom. When does it end? When does the black racism and 'war' against anything that attempts to be American versus being black stop?
There are a ton of cultures and they are all unique and should be respected. NONE are more important than any other, and that is the crux of the problem. You want respect, then earn it as an individual. It does not come from culture, but is a personal responsiblity, and that is where the problem most of us have with this whole scenario is.
it is a victim culture and I could tell you some jacked up stories form my weeks at the Astrodome and other shelters. I also believe that helping victims move from where they are has equal parts of empathy and responsibility given to the individual in responsible ways. And I think you make the point that you think that there has been lots of assistance without responsibility..... I certainly saw that.... though I also saw plenty of the other side in the extreme too, responsibility without resources..
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A victim culture is what is happening in Sudan. It is what has happened to the Christian Lebanese.
Until apologists like yourself quit trying to rationalize and differentiate between Americans and allow racism to be pervasive this mentality will continue to flourish. Could we give more? Sure. But much is there, and nobody is pressing personal responsibility at all.
I do not see an end to intolerance and the Black Culture that is divisive and poisonous to so many anytime soon, but pehaps one day Dr Kings dream will be true, and not perverted into what it currently is.
