Dear Michelle,

It truly saddens me that we live in what is supposed to be the richest country in the world, yet we have so very many people without health insurance. How is it that we can help take care of other countries but not our own? Why is it that we have people starving and living on the streets but can afford to pay another country billions of dollars to let us set up a military base in their country? That would be like me feeding my neighbor's children while mine are at home starving. If I did that DCFS would be investigating my family and me, but because it's the government it's ok? I believe that we should help others but not at the expense of our own.

While it is true that those who choose to start whatever habit it is that they are addicted to should;take responsibility for their bad choices, that doesn't mean that they should be treated any different than anyone else. I am sure that we have all made bad decisions in our lives. Fortunately, for some, certain circumstances are easier to change than others. I don't believe that those who are addicted should be left to fight the battle on their own. We are all God's children. We should help one another whenever and however possible.

So very many people desire to change their lives but don't have the money to get the help that they need. Does that mean that we just let them suffer because they made a bad decision at some point in their life? How do we ever expect our world to be any better if we don't do anything to help make it happen? We really need to take inventory of our priorities. If we want to talk about responsibility, then it is all of our responsibility to help one another. Furthermore, it is our government's responsibility to take care of the people in our own country BEFORE we take care of other countries.

The vast majority of those who feel that they shouldn't have to be responsible to support those who are addicted, homeless, hungry, etc. are those who have never been in any of those positions. We shouldn't judge others and their decisions when we have no idea what it is like to walk in their shoes. It's easy to say what we would or wouldn't do but the truth is that you really don't know until you are in that situation because you don't have a clue as to where you will be in your life at the time that situation presents itself. Do you truly believe that those who are homeless chose to be? They are people, just like you and me, whose situation forced them to live on the streets. Do you truly believe that those who are addicted to a certain substance grew up desiring to be addicted? Somewhere in their lives they made a decision, for one reason or another, to try something that I am sure they thought they had control over. Then one day they realized they were no longer

 in control. Should we punish them for the rest of their lives for making a bad decision? No, we should work together as a family to help those that want help to change their lives. No one person's life should be valued more than another's.

Thank you for allowing;me to share my thoughts and concerns.

Jamie

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Dear Jamie;

Your comments are quite eloquent. Our world can only benefit from more compassion and understanding. Remember that quote from John Dunne,
"Don't ask for whom the bell tolls, the bell tolls for thee". We are all in this together, and just reminding us of this makes the world just a little better.

Michelle

Reader Contribution

EPHEMERAL 
 
Ash... 
soot in the empty ashtray. 
I liquidate tiny 
(almost anything) 
of fire that existed. 
 
 
The moment happened 
he/she/you had presence 
it occupied some time 
some thing was worth. 
 
The reason became exhausted 
the smile vanished 
the moment ended. 
 
Moment. Cigarette. 
 
Moments pass 
Cigarettes fade 
And dreams... 
 
Ash.

 

 

EFÊMERO 
 
Cinza... 
fuligem no cinzeiro vazio. 
Saldo diminuto 
(quase nada) 
de chama que existiu. 
 
 
O momento aconteceu 
teve presença 
ocupou algum tempo 
alguma coisa valeu. 
 
O motivo esgotou-se 
o sorriso esvaiu-se 
o momento acabou. 
 
Momento. Cigarro. 
 
Momentos passam 
Cigarros se apagam 
E sonhos... 
 
Cinza.

MJSP


All Good Thoughts

What appears to be your biggest problem in life may disguise your greatest opportunity.
 Brian Tracy

If you let your fear of consequence prevent you from following your deepest instinct, your life will be safe, expedient and thin.
Katharine B. Hathaway