Reply #12: Some folks just don't understand the world - they've never had to deal [View All]

[Sinti]

with real poverty and really don't get it. It scares them, as well, and they feel the victim must be to blame. If the impoverished are not responsible for their own lot then it could happen to anyone. If it could happen to anyone, it could happen to them.

I was homeless for a long while during Bush I, and I'll tell you I worked two jobs, 6-12s every week and could not get an inch ahead - there were two of us working and we barely pulled in enough to rent a cheap motel room to get clean and out of the elements (on top of transportation to work and food). Sleeping in the car, and outside starts to wear on you damn quickly. People sneer, as if it's your fault, they're miles above you and you're not really human to them. If you were their equal, by natural law you'd have the comfort that they do. They can't see beyond that.

Empathy sometimes requires a person to accept that, but for the grace of god, the suffering person could easily be them. Whatcha gonna do.

Don't let it get you down, in a few lifetimes these folks will learn to have open hearts also.

:hug: