I got this from Joan's blog. It doesn't look like much when you look at this number, but considering I'm in the top 3.17% richest people in the world... hmmm, who'd-a-thought?
Go ahead and click on the yellow box and see where you stand. I bet you're richer than you think.
Don't worry, though, the moral wasn't lost on me. I'm fortunate. I'm fortunate to be an American and fortunate to be able to have a job and make a living. And whereas my awareness of that good fortune grows, I should be aware of those less fortunate; the poor in America, such as those your kids help out (good job on the kids, by the way, that's a far cry from video games and Doritos) or even worse, poor anywhere else in the world. I think poor in America is predominantly a synonym for mentally ill. And with that illness is the need to stay away from those who could diagnose them in seconds and take what they feel is their "freedom" away from them. The last documentary I saw on homelessness had a good story to it: They traded a guy lunch and new clothes, etc for an examination. He was then prescribed medication, sort of, they knew he wouldn't take it, but he always stayed in the same area of town, so they took it out to him, with a sandwich or whatever, every day. After a while, he was more willing to be around people, and integrate. He started showering and shaving, and eventually went back to his old job that he had years ago. He still occassionally goes out to the area where he used to "live" and talks to his old friends, although now he doesn't quite understand them like he once did. I'd be willing to bet that most homeless are this way, but if you've ever known someone on this kind of medication, it takes maintainance. Even taking the right doses at the right time, they can build up a tolerance and slip back into euphoria and withdraw from society. Kind of a catch-22, they need to be around people who will notice when something is wrong, but their illness drives them away from people. As elephants go away to die, so do the mentally ill withdrawl to be with their illness. And but for the flip of a chromosome, but for the grace of God, there go I. Or any of us. The truth is, I don't need the javascript to tell me I'm lucky, the realization of it is a constant contributor to my contagious good mood (most of the time - I reserve the right to be grumpy if I am underfed or underslept..ed...ism.) So, who do we owe for this good fortune? I think we just need to be good people. To avoid inflicting upon our fellow man, and quite to the contrary, adding a positive influence to the situations we encounter.
5 comments:
It said I should become a Pastor.
What, and give up your chainsaw-sellin' gig? I don't know...
I could combine the two. Maybe move down to the Lone Star State and hold the Texas Chainsaw Mass.
(rimshot)
long way to go for that joke.
...so what was this you were saying about your content going downhill? I feel... SOMEhow responsible. :)
lol. Actually, 'the texas chainsaw mass' is good. I don't know about 'redeeming value'... but I like it. :)
Don't worry, though, the moral wasn't lost on me. I'm fortunate. I'm fortunate to be an American and fortunate to be able to have a job and make a living. And whereas my awareness of that good fortune grows, I should be aware of those less fortunate; the poor in America, such as those your kids help out (good job on the kids, by the way, that's a far cry from video games and Doritos) or even worse, poor anywhere else in the world. I think poor in America is predominantly a synonym for mentally ill. And with that illness is the need to stay away from those who could diagnose them in seconds and take what they feel is their "freedom" away from them. The last documentary I saw on homelessness had a good story to it: They traded a guy lunch and new clothes, etc for an examination. He was then prescribed medication, sort of, they knew he wouldn't take it, but he always stayed in the same area of town, so they took it out to him, with a sandwich or whatever, every day. After a while, he was more willing to be around people, and integrate. He started showering and shaving, and eventually went back to his old job that he had years ago. He still occassionally goes out to the area where he used to "live" and talks to his old friends, although now he doesn't quite understand them like he once did. I'd be willing to bet that most homeless are this way, but if you've ever known someone on this kind of medication, it takes maintainance. Even taking the right doses at the right time, they can build up a tolerance and slip back into euphoria and withdraw from society. Kind of a catch-22, they need to be around people who will notice when something is wrong, but their illness drives them away from people. As elephants go away to die, so do the mentally ill withdrawl to be with their illness. And but for the flip of a chromosome, but for the grace of God, there go I. Or any of us. The truth is, I don't need the javascript to tell me I'm lucky, the realization of it is a constant contributor to my contagious good mood (most of the time - I reserve the right to be grumpy if I am underfed or underslept..ed...ism.) So, who do we owe for this good fortune? I think we just need to be good people. To avoid inflicting upon our fellow man, and quite to the contrary, adding a positive influence to the situations we encounter.
Dan: "I just thought it was cool." :)
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