Well our topic today was on poverty. And I must admit I got sucked into the debate of two of our group members...
The question is poverty ever ok for our society? The debate when in such a way that I still don't know what my answer to that question is. I am a strong believer in a person's choice. And I get mad and frustrated at the government for continually taking our choice out of matters that are irrelevant to their concern. Examples of this would be wearing my seat belt, or wearing a helmet, or even health care. I should get to make choices in my life that matter to me.
So if a person is content with living in poverty and feel a normalcy with this should we try and change their perspective? If it is working for them, why should it matter to me. But then you have the second part of the debate. Are they really content? Sure people are going to say that they are, but are they really. If they are really happy why do impoverished areas have a higher criminal and jail rate, a higher child abuse rate, and higher domestic violence rates?
Lack of resources in a families life only continue to add stress to their current situation, which in turn increase these above situations to occur. If you don't have resources, you are going to use what you have regardless of the legality of the situation. You are going to do what you need to do... even if it's wrong... These people I don't believe can be content.
That being said I think I need to have a more open mind about it all together. I think that the answer to this question is that there isn't going to be an answer. Some families in poverty are content and are happy and don't have the above problems. And some aren't. That doesn't mean we don't need to help the ones that want our help, because some people do want our help. That also means the people that are fine in their current situation we shouldn't look down on because they don't fit into our preconceived notion of what is acceptable.
Life is what we make it... not what somebody else makes it for us...
I would like to hear about someone who is in poverty and doesn't mind it. I think we'd struggle to find many if any...
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it would be too difficult. Especially if they were like Mr. Supertramp. Yes I used a movie reference. Let's see if you can figure it out.
ReplyDelete