Last Friday was the Fourth of July, Independence Day, and a vacation day for all of us interns! It was a really great day. We went to the resevoir (really big, man-made lake) in the morning, grilled out there around noon, got caught in a short rain-storm (that was SO much fun), and many of us turned really bright shades of red. Then, we headed back home, cleaned up, and went to a Mississippi Braves baseball game. It's minor league but, baseball on the Fourth of July - can't get much more American, right? It was a great game (even though we lost) filled with fireworks, festivities, fun conversation, and of course - our national anthem.
I have spent the summer realizing how strong of a role systemic poverty and racism currently have in our country. I am learning and seeing first hand how difficult obstacles are when they are set up by your own government. And though slavery may be illegal, I am really beginning to question if we are a "land of the free".
I have heard poverty be described as the "lack of having anything valuable to exchange", a lack of options, and a lack of choice. If you are poor or homeless what options do you have but to slowly try and climb your way up a slow moving, governmental escalator to try and find food, health-care, and a place to call home? I know that people are nervous about helping the poor because they believe (ignorantly, I think) that the majority of their "help" will be used to buy more drugs and alcohol - do we really believe that addicts are the only people living in poverty??
Why are we not more consciously seeking a way to empower and provoke people to grasp their dignity? It may take a little more effort and a lot more time but, it is not impossible to actually develop individuals and not just feed a cause.
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