I was out getting a sandwich for my husband in our new neighborhood the other day and noticed an elderly, dirty, homeless man sitting with a sign that said “Need money, food.”
He wasn’t one of the professional beggars we see around town, the ones that make upwards of $40K on the street. He was clearly a troubled guy down on his luck. Maybe even one of the mentally ill people put out on the street by the California Reagan administration around 1967 under de-institutionalization. {It became a national model and caused a significant uptick in homelessness.} Yes, he looked that old. But then again, he could’ve been 40.
I bought another sandwich, side and cookie and drove back to give it to him. I could tell he was surprised. As I sat waiting for the traffic light to change, out of the corner of my eye I saw him open the still-warm turkey sandwich and begin to eat.
I completely lost it.
It’s not such a stretch to think this man could be me, or my husband, or someone we know. One bad decision, an unlucky break, a genetic tweak. There but for the grace of God go any of us.
Even after the light changed it took me a minute to put my foot to the accelerator.
I couldn’t help but think about a recent conversation I had with several neo-conservative college students. Although not in the career world (and some not even wage-earners at all), they argued the conservative party line: that liberals want to take away money people rightly earned and give it to people who hadn’t earned it.
This is the thing: conservatives are overly concerned with being cheated out of something they feel is rightly theirs. That someone else might benefit and might not be deserving.
Let’s set “deserving” aside for a minute, because in any scenario, some people will cheat any system.
Here’s what I want to say: What I never hear from conservatives is compassion. I don’t hear about what they believe their obligation is to help others. Their obligation as a member of a civilized society. A privileged member of a civilized society.
What makes me sad is that these young conservatives don’t talk about helping others. Even as some attend church and pray to a compassionate Deity.
What they talk about is someone getting something from them. Something the recipient hadn’t earned. That’s what it’s about.
I’m worried. Because if you don’t have a heart of compassion as a young person, you probably aren’t going to get it later. These kids haven’t earned much but already they’re crying “Mine! Mine!”
Maybe these kids actually pull over, buy a meal and drive the car their parents bought them back to give it to a homeless person. Maybe they do.
But probably not.
As adults and parents, we must ask ourselves: are we doing enough to model compassion for children we know?
Are we teaching them to share their good fortune with those who haven’t been as lucky?
Are we showing them that we truly are our brother’s keeper?
Can we do more to shape the kind of world we want to leave behind?
Be ye not only hearers of the word—but doers, as well– James 1:22
There are two schools of thought on this one…”give a man a fish and you feed him for a day…teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time.”
I think the resentment you are talking about from a lot of people and especially conservatives is ANGER based.
People are really ANGRY they have to work so hard. American’s are working longer and harder then ever to make ends meet. Personally I am not sure if they need to do this but that would be an entirely different blog so I will stay on task here.
Life is rewarding when you are not killing yourself and suffering to bring home a pay check. When you feel grateful and compensated you have time to be compassionate and you are inclined to be so. So angry hard working American’s get pissed off when they think of welfare queens, drug addicts and drunks are getting their money it is a concept I totally understand but do not ascribe to.
These people need to be out there volunteering instead! If you do not want to give a homeless person a hand out or a sandwich then go work in the food line that serves them meals. Go to the Goodwill and volunteer there. American’s are a bunch of whiners. I have lived all over the world and I have not heard more whining in my life!
Everyone can afford to be compassionate it is not about sandwiches and money it is about love, understanding and commitment to our fellow human beings. “What soever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me.” Jesus Christ
The surprising reality – to those who buy the Mean Conservative stereotype – is that conservatives out-give liberals by several percentage points.
The objection is not a selfish “don’t touch my money” perspective. Conservatives simply do not trust government to level outcomes. Conservatives trust people. People like you, Carol, who saw a need and met it.
Oddly you argue for some centralized clearing house for compassion – aka, the Robin Hood living in the White House. But the federal government is not efficient. If you had sent the ten bucks you spent on the sandwich meal to Washington, your grateful friend would have received ten cents on the dollar. With luck! It was never the intentions of the framers that charitable Americans should trust Uncle Sam in matters of goodwill.
The fraud, waste and corruption is appalling to millions of Americans. It is not a matter of selfish hard-heartedness. Given the state of social security insolvency, medicare fraud, and countless other government programs, what sensible argument can be made for an unaccountable bureaucracy managing medical care or programs of compassion? Honestly, after countless billions of dollars spent on the War on Poverty, welfare programs, etc, if government re-distribution was the best plan, why is your homeless person still standing with a sign on the corner? He should have been helped. He was ~ by you, Carol. Up close and personal.
Conservatives take issue with the method of helping others down on their luck. We can all agree that everyone, from time to time, needs a helping hand. We just disagree on the most efficient means of offering that help. I trust people. You trust government. That is the difference.
The surprising reality – to those who buy the Mean Conservative stereotype – is that conservatives out-give liberals by several percentage points.
The objection is not a selfish “don’t touch my money” perspective. Conservatives simply do not trust government to level outcomes. Conservatives trust people. People like you, Carol, who saw a need and met it.
Oddly you argue for some centralized clearing house for compassion – aka, the Robin Hood living in the White House. But the federal government is not efficient. If you had sent the ten bucks you spent on the sandwich meal to Washington, your grateful friend would have received ten cents on the dollar. With luck! It was never the intentions of the framers that charitable Americans should trust Uncle Sam in matters of goodwill.
Sorry, Carol, I didn’t mean for that to post twice. The notice said that my comment was too long to post so I dinked around with it and inadvertently posted half of it a second time. Sorry about the Peat and rePeat.
So true! The thing is those kids are probably towing the line their parents taught them. I don’t know how I turned out the way I did… with a father who basically made fun of “bleeding heart liberals” (you know, they’re all illiterate afterall… what????) every chance he got. My brother is the hardest worker ever, but all his thoughts on life are rote, right outta the mouth of our dad. It’s always driven me crazy… but who am I to judge. Even after all that said… my dad truly is pretty compassionate… it’s an odd combo of personalities rolled into one human.
Thanks, Care, for the comments. I just don’t think that one-person-at-a-time is the most efficient or effective way to deal with social problems. But you make a big assumption when you say I believe gov’t is the full answer. Heather, I think that’s right. I think the discordance between what these young people posit, religion and personal action is what concerns me. I want to see heart in kids because it gives me hope. I wish I saw more of it. I am inspired by adults I know who are acting: a couple has taken in a foster infant (how hard to say goodbye one day!). Another has taken in a teen. And so much more. Heart is underrated these days. But not by me.
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I was out getting a sandwich for my husband in our new neighborhood the other day and noticed an elderly, dirty, homeless man sitting with a sign that said “Need money, food.”
I bought another sandwich, side and cookie and drove back to give it to him. I could tell he was surprised. As I sat waiting for the traffic light to change, out of the corner of my eye I saw him open the still-warm turkey sandwich and begin to eat.
There but for the grace of God go any of us.
Dear Diva,
There are two schools of thought on this one…”give a man a fish and you feed him for a day…teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time.”
I think the resentment you are talking about from a lot of people and especially conservatives is ANGER based.
People are really ANGRY they have to work so hard. American’s are working longer and harder then ever to make ends meet. Personally I am not sure if they need to do this but that would be an entirely different blog so I will stay on task here.
Life is rewarding when you are not killing yourself and suffering to bring home a pay check. When you feel grateful and compensated you have time to be compassionate and you are inclined to be so. So angry hard working American’s get pissed off when they think of welfare queens, drug addicts and drunks are getting their money it is a concept I totally understand but do not ascribe to.
These people need to be out there volunteering instead! If you do not want to give a homeless person a hand out or a sandwich then go work in the food line that serves them meals. Go to the Goodwill and volunteer there. American’s are a bunch of whiners. I have lived all over the world and I have not heard more whining in my life!
Everyone can afford to be compassionate it is not about sandwiches and money it is about love, understanding and commitment to our fellow human beings. “What soever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me.” Jesus Christ
NAMASTE
You speak from the heart, sister! Thoughtful stuff, thanks.
The surprising reality – to those who buy the Mean Conservative stereotype – is that conservatives out-give liberals by several percentage points.
The objection is not a selfish “don’t touch my money” perspective. Conservatives simply do not trust government to level outcomes. Conservatives trust people. People like you, Carol, who saw a need and met it.
Oddly you argue for some centralized clearing house for compassion – aka, the Robin Hood living in the White House. But the federal government is not efficient. If you had sent the ten bucks you spent on the sandwich meal to Washington, your grateful friend would have received ten cents on the dollar. With luck! It was never the intentions of the framers that charitable Americans should trust Uncle Sam in matters of goodwill.
The fraud, waste and corruption is appalling to millions of Americans. It is not a matter of selfish hard-heartedness. Given the state of social security insolvency, medicare fraud, and countless other government programs, what sensible argument can be made for an unaccountable bureaucracy managing medical care or programs of compassion? Honestly, after countless billions of dollars spent on the War on Poverty, welfare programs, etc, if government re-distribution was the best plan, why is your homeless person still standing with a sign on the corner? He should have been helped. He was ~ by you, Carol. Up close and personal.
Conservatives take issue with the method of helping others down on their luck. We can all agree that everyone, from time to time, needs a helping hand. We just disagree on the most efficient means of offering that help. I trust people. You trust government. That is the difference.
“Sixteen months ago, Arthur C. Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University, published “Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism.” The surprise is that liberals are markedly less charitable than conservatives.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/conservatives_more_liberal_giv.html
Thanx for listening and for helping someone in need. caren macmurchy
The surprising reality – to those who buy the Mean Conservative stereotype – is that conservatives out-give liberals by several percentage points.
The objection is not a selfish “don’t touch my money” perspective. Conservatives simply do not trust government to level outcomes. Conservatives trust people. People like you, Carol, who saw a need and met it.
Oddly you argue for some centralized clearing house for compassion – aka, the Robin Hood living in the White House. But the federal government is not efficient. If you had sent the ten bucks you spent on the sandwich meal to Washington, your grateful friend would have received ten cents on the dollar. With luck! It was never the intentions of the framers that charitable Americans should trust Uncle Sam in matters of goodwill.
(to be continued)
Sorry, Carol, I didn’t mean for that to post twice. The notice said that my comment was too long to post so I dinked around with it and inadvertently posted half of it a second time. Sorry about the Peat and rePeat.
So true! The thing is those kids are probably towing the line their parents taught them. I don’t know how I turned out the way I did… with a father who basically made fun of “bleeding heart liberals” (you know, they’re all illiterate afterall… what????) every chance he got. My brother is the hardest worker ever, but all his thoughts on life are rote, right outta the mouth of our dad. It’s always driven me crazy… but who am I to judge. Even after all that said… my dad truly is pretty compassionate… it’s an odd combo of personalities rolled into one human.
Thanks, Care, for the comments. I just don’t think that one-person-at-a-time is the most efficient or effective way to deal with social problems. But you make a big assumption when you say I believe gov’t is the full answer. Heather, I think that’s right. I think the discordance between what these young people posit, religion and personal action is what concerns me. I want to see heart in kids because it gives me hope. I wish I saw more of it. I am inspired by adults I know who are acting: a couple has taken in a foster infant (how hard to say goodbye one day!). Another has taken in a teen. And so much more. Heart is underrated these days. But not by me.
Diva, I couldn’t agree more. I’m not particularly religious, but remain baffled that conservatives don’t see the hypocrisy they so fervently live by.