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After the last video I posted, many people have expressed their thoughts as to how people should try to help those in poverty in America during Christmas rather than focusing on helping those in poverty internationally. I very much agree! For anything to succeed, it has to begin small, on a local level, and then expand to a broader level. The truth is that another way in which you can show someone else that you care for them is through personally showing them the true meaning and spirit of Christmas: helping others. When I was in the seventh grade, I was given the opportunity to provide help at our school's Toys for Tots delivery. At first, I was reluctant to go on the trip because I was not sure what to expect. We were traveling to Camden Street School, in Newark; a school in which a lot of students live in poverty each and every day. I eventually decided to go to Camden Street School to deliver the Christmas toys to the students, and in reality, this trip showed me how grateful I should be for the wonderful life I have. Not only the students, but the teachers also expressed a great amount of gratitude for not only the toys we brought for the students, but for the Christmas spirit and hope we brought to them. Truly, those students showed me the true spirit of Christmas. One ride to Camden Street School taught me how the importance of Christmas is not about receiving the newest Coach purse or the most recent iPod. Christmas is about showing appreciation, happiness, and love towards those who are important to you. During Christmas, it is also extremely important to help others because it shows how much you care. I will always be grateful to my middle school for their trip to Camden Street School.
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So many people in America are struggling during this time of year. It saddens any person to think that there are so many families who will not be having "A Very Merry Christmas." According to Jason Easley, author of the article, "Just in Time for Christmas Glenn Beck Calls the Suffering of the Poor A Lie," of the website, politicsususa.com, Easley explains how in Christmas 2010, so many people will go without having a joyous day on December 25th. Easley argues television and radio conservative personality Glenn Beck, who stated "the poor are suffering a lie." Jason Easley states how "two million Americans are set to lose their unemployment benefits by Christmas" (Easley). Jason Easley shows how there are so many families right here in America that can be helped because as of Christmas, they may have absolutly no income. If you have a friend or family member that you feel needs a wake up call of the Christmas spirit, give them the best gift that I was ever given when I was in the seventh grade. Bring them to somewhere as local as Newark or New York City, and personally donate money or gifts to those in need and see how happy they are that they can provide some form of a Christmas for their family this year. Showing the true meaning of Christmas to a loved one is the best give they can ever receive, and I can also vow to this through personal experience.
Before I comment on the blog, I have to express my outrage that Glenn Beck is using his power to encourage people to think that "the suffering of the poor (is) a lie". This reminds me of how I responded in my comment to the AIDS/Poverty blog when I encouraged Prashant to continue to talk about the connections between AIDS and poverty since there are authority figures out there trying to promote the idea that AIDS is a lie. Now I hear Beck suggesting that poverty and suffering is a lie? So I think what you're doing in this blog, especially at Christmas, is very important. It's also important to know that media figures like Jason Easley are challenging Beck and I'm glad you're sharing that information as well. My goodness, all I have to do is walk down the street and I can see that people are having to sell their homes or are actually living on the streets. I think it's time we fill the media with stories like the Camden Street School stories rather than stories like Beck's suggestion that poverty/suffering is a lie.
ReplyDeleteGiving to others is the true meaning of Christmas,and I'm glad you do all this kind of service, it makes you such a good hearted person
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