Photo Credit to Lumaxart http://www.lumaxart.com/
My life savings have shrunk by about 40 percent since I retired eighteen months ago. I am sympathetic with folks who are worried about the state of the U.S. economy. I just don't think it is a crisis.
We use the word crisis far too freely.
Second by second, throughout the world, individuals have crises. Death of a loved one. Crippling accident. Debilitating disease. Starvation. Innumerable types of suffering.
There are almost seven billion humans on this planet. The majority live what most Americans would consider a wretched existence. The Miniature Earth Video illustrates their plight vividly.
When I walk into my local Safeway, I find the amount and variety of food overwhelming. I grew up in this culture. Imagine how it would seem to someone who eats only a bowl of rice or a plate of cornmeal mush every day, if they are fortunate.
I know that millions of people in this country are losing their jobs. Many are losing the houses they worked hard to acquire. I know that is painful. But I refuse to call it a crisis. To do so is callous in a world where children starve for want of a few cents worth of grain each day.
Let us work long and hard to stabilize our economy, but let us not forget that we are incredibly blessed. And let us remember those truly in crisis.
4 comments:
I couldn't agree more with your "reality check." Cool photo, too!
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I've been muttering the same thing under my breath for months. I know things aren't as amazing as they have been for the past decade or so but hearing people compare our financial straits to the great depression just makes me cringe. I wish we could put things in better perspective as a nation, and calm down everytime a tribulation finds us.
Preach it Dad. Great post.
I agree that even amidst this economic tailspin, we are a privileged nation. However, I am more hesitant to question the legitimacy of the use of the word crisis. Certainly, I am not in crisis. But I'm not going to deny the reality of the crisis for the families out there who are on a waiting list for shelter that is 100s of people long. Some school districts have experienced a 20% increase in the number of homeless students. Food pantry usage has grown by 40%. I still have the privilege of sleeping in a heated, safe space and entering safeco store knowing I'm not going to be escorted out. Crisis for me no? But, then again, I am one of the lucky ones. Who am I to judge?
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