Posted by
Pierre on Thursday, September 24, 2009 1:46:58 PM
Dr. Sowell...thank you for your fortitude in continuing to share your wisdom.
Joel, thanks for your comment to William about the GI Bill...
To William in Washington:
I,
too have used it to further my education...if you've been in the
military you know it is not a handout but a benefit. Many have not
taken advantage of that opportunity.
I too was born in the 1940s.
Grew up in a similar situation as Ray (from Tx). I have several good
friends (one very close) who have African heritage. I have a great
niece who is by-racial (white/black). I have a nephew who is by-racial
(white/asian). My great niece's father is a "zero"...has nothing to do
with his race...it has to do with him as a person. He prefers to figure
out how to live off someone else. I have first cousins (white) who,
though very intelligent, use the governments socialized institutions to
live on. They use their intelligence to figure out how to get around
issues that would prevent them from getting food stamps and/or welfare
monies.
Several
years ago, before he died, my father gave a car to one of these
cousins, because it seems he had really been trying (working at a job
for several years) than got layed off. They had very little
money...then his truck broke down. This first cousin by the way is one
of very few of his siblings who ventured out, away from welfare. My
father, not a very well (living on social security --- about $1500 a
month) gave him a car he had fixed up. My first cousin who has sense
died did alot to turn his family around. The story continues...please
bare with me. My daughter works for large "Oil Tool" company in out
area. The other day this young man comes to her and introduces himself.
He happend to be the grandson of this first cousin whom my father,
years ago, gave a car too...in his need. Well, this cousin's grandson
proceeds to tell my daughter the story of when her grandfather gave his
grandfather a car...just because he needed it. Requiring nothing in
return. This young man was not born yet when this event happened.
Another story...hang in there with me guys and gals...we have this
janitor lady who cleans up after we leave the office. Her name is Ms
Mary. Ms. Mary is a very sweet, hard working person...she's older than
I am and not very flexible in her movements. When I throw paper in the
trash sometimes in will go behind my map rack, in a very difficult
place to get. Ms. Mary would tell me "Ohh don't worry about that 'cher'
I'll get it."
I
know it pains her to have to reach back there to get it, I will pick it
up and put it in the trash because of Ms. Mary. It would be very easy
for me to justify leaving it there because (I'm a busy
supervisior...that's her job...she's getting paid for it anyway, etc.,
etc.).
Now to the point of these stories:
Human beings are
social beings, we need interpersonal relationships ( a hands-on
experience with other humans). Government handouts (no matter how pure
the motive) removes the interpersonal relational experience between
those in need and those who can give.
I work with many very rich
people, in the oil industry, and (not all, but most) they much prefer
to give $100,000 to a charitable cause than spend a week actually
giving it to those in need. We can not let this mentality set our
president for how we should interact with our fellow man. Don't you see
how big government takes that away. Social workers should not be
carrying the load that belongs to each one of us. Charity and love
changes hearts when it is given on a personal basis and not when
institutions attempt to replace that personal relationship.
I hope I haven't bored too many of you...you see I used to be a Democrat.