Thanks Lewis for a very poignant first post...

I have lived in the Appalacians & seen the poorest of the poor in this country & it is a shame that a country as great as ours cannot feed them...however, hunger is a worldwide epidemic...so thanks for your post!

The best you can come up with is "Amen" after such a terrible diatribe. The poetry was inventive, the invective disturbing. The behavior and the quotes falling to the lowest level of the politicians they rile against.

When will people understand that governments are only who we put into our office, by what we do or do not do. The pessimist complains, the optimist takes action.

The support of individuals who whine and complain while sometimes funny, and many times more, sad; takes our self-esteem as a community, and marginalizes the very nature of what so many have died for over the years. The right to choose! You can choose to do nothing, choose to whine or complain, or you can take your responsibilities seriously and make a choice to speak up.

History is full of people being the catylst, that one voice that speaks up and tells everyone the "Emperior is not wearing any cloths", and showing the rest of us the nature of our delusion.

Have a nice day....

but if your going to say "Amen", make it worth something. Your friends, neighbors and community deserve better from you.

Lewis : 0 )

Why do I feel like I just got in trouble from my father?

Lewis...you might want to use the quote feature so we know who you're talking to...

I've been lucky never been poor maybe did without a lot extra growing up but never really knew it , I've alway been rich with great friends to me that really in matter and being grateful I have job and home .

Phu....I think he was talking to Newarkjw,

Ah, I see! Well, the great thing about this country is that we're all allowed (?) to state our opinions...& no Gypsy, he ain't yo' Daddy!

Your right, in our country hunger does occur to the marginalized few, nothing will ever be perfect. Sometimes being poor is a generational thing; it was in my family, sometimes its the nature of the community that a person chooses to live in, or community you feel safe in, even if you go hungry everyone once in while.

When I was in my twenties, I spent some months on the streets of New Orleans living hand to mouth, saw the worst and the best. My daughter had developed an infection, and went into a coma and was expected to die. Somewhere along the line, I found myself walking I new not where. I had lost myself, and was not even aware of it.

Most homeless and poor fall into somewhat the same category. You live day to day, week to week, many choose drugs, others abuse, because they were abused and find a rational of sorts in that. Many of us, myself at that time, simply fade out, no will, there emotions so charged with pain that they can't see anything as a relieve; but death.

Some choose it overtly, others wonder around hoping that life will just take them.

Those who survive become weaker in there justification of the abuse they show others, the lucky few find something to live for, and slowly find there way back.

I was lucky, I worked my way back, and ultimately my daughter did eventually wake up, although she will always be a perpetually happy four year old, I still see glimmers of who she was before the incident, and that is enough to keep me working.

The nature of empathy is that you can have to much and not enough in the balance of your life. You can bleed so much, that you lose yourself, or bleed so little that you never find a connection to live for.

Being poor is the least of those things that can happen to a person; but you are right it does contribute to how a person grows and learns. The difference between the saint and the sociopath, the Dahmer and the Mother Teresa, is having that one person, at that one critical moment in each person's life, stretch out a hand in love and be what they need for that moment.

Part of our problem today, is the self-involved attitude that others must do for us what we can't. That's not to say that many do not need help at times; but we both know that for many of our society, knowing the governmental net, or community net is there, they do not challenge themselves to the level of becoming stronger. They choose the easy path that makes them weaker and weaker until they are unable to stand on there own.

What's the old saying...."God let's you fall, so that you learn to pick yourself up"....it worked for me...and it works for many others. Certainly its not a placebo or solution for all people; but it is where we should all start.

Have a nice day

lewis : 0 )

Sorry, I'm pretty passionate about life and the nature of the problems we contribute to or work against. Wasn't attempting to be a father figure; but we do become our fathers and mothers sometimes; usually because human problems and responses do not change as a rule.

From a generational prospective, the greatest conformity is the essence of rebellion. What what each generation does and compare it the previous and I think you will see what I mean.

Maybe the question you should ask yourself, like I did at one time, should be...What makes me feel the way I do to begin with. If I sounded like your father, I apologize, not here to give a sermon, just my opinion like everyone else..but if i evoked some emotion in you..maybe it wasn't what I said; but what it reminded you of.

The paths not taken, or the ideas, or ideals not thought about. I am a teacher and scientist, so I do tend to jump on the "diatribe" wagon to often. One of the reasons I come hear and other places to write, is that it pulls my proverbial chain, and helps keep my ego in check. We all need it sometimes.

Thanks for the reminder, and hope you take my thoughts as they are intended.

Lewis..

P.S.

I don't know about your father; but mine once said, that he would get smarter as I got older, I was lucky enough to reach an understanding of how good my father is, and that he was right.

Have a nice day : 0 )

Sorry about that, new to this site, other places, the reply button puts the quote and response together...did not notice this one did not...

thanks for the heads up..

Lewis : 0 )

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Let's say I was creatively venting. Let's say I'm 44. Let's say I'm a combat daecorated vet. Let's say I have 2 degrees. Let's say I worked in my field for 18 years and was wise in most decisions. Let's say I did MORE than my fair share of helping others. Let's say I've lost most everything I had worked for in those 18 years in the last 15 months due to unscrupulous corporate and dishonest government. Let's say I'm angry and find hope hard to come by when those in power are completely against you in all aspects of current life and have an agenda to destroy everything in this country. Let's say I didn't vote for any of them. Let's say I'm overqualified for any job. Let's say I'm f**ked. Let's say its hard to go from rags to riches to rags all because the elitists have decided that I don't matter. Let's say I'm not the only one. Let's say I'm ready to take myself out of the system because I don't believe in it. Let's just say I don't care anymore. Let's just say I'm one man and I alone can't save the world. Let's say I give up. Let's say that bustin my *** for 20 years for nothing and others wasn't worth it. Let's just say that.

I'm gonna re-post this in hopes of lightening up the thread...after all, without a sense of humor, life ain't worth a $****...

Rich or poor, I've always liked eating tacos.

I also!

Step down slowly off that soapbox. I will agree with whomever I wish thank you very much............

So true so true !!

Monty Python my favortive was Village idiot LOLOLO

okay how about this my parnets were so poor they reused condoms that's why their is five of us

Seems as though I've missed a bit this morning. We have a new voice of morality, common sense, reason, and authority on Mingle?

I hope not the same kind he likes!!

I despise ramen noodles, mac n cheese, and living under an overpass. I'm thankful for what I have. And I'm proud of my accomplishments. Its amazing to watch life, love, liberty, contentment, pride, respect, honor, and honesty wash away with the tide. Education is a great thing. I've learned in the last 15 months you can be the most organized, best planned, most prepared person there is. And no matter what- fate and destiny may have their own plans for you at the hands of the unscrupulous, unethical, and unmoral. And its too bad that behavior has become so acceptable in this society. Because I for one am tired of it.

I am too good looking to be poor