Ah, you certainly aren't new here.Wow, you do live in your own little bubble world don't you?
Ah, you certainly aren't new here.Wow, you do live in your own little bubble world don't you?
Fortunately, not all of us who climb out of the pit leave with the same assumptions. I have tremendous appreciation for the work you and your wife are doing, and I appreciate the perspective you bring to these discussions.While I have great appreciation for your success and the hard work you built upon the foundation of hard work your preceding generations did to help you climb out of poverty, I suspect you overlook some of the advantages you were blessed with that other may not enjoy... So when someone like you or Bodhisattva climb out of the pit, it's easy to assume others with the desire and ambition can do the same.
We have established that able-bodied adults are able to take care of their own responsibilities if they so choose. In spite of this, we have transferred trillions of dollars of wealth to poor communities. I do not see much honor in having a condescending view (treating able-bodied adults like incompetent children) towards people who underachieve.
Wow, the little bubble you live in affords you absolutely no reading comprehension ability, does it? Let me help you out: a child is not an able-bodied adult. SMH.Wow, you do live in your own little bubble world don't you? Before you can pick yourself up by your own bootstraps, you have to be able to afford the boots. What about children of all these non achievers?
Just to be clear, I don't assume it's easy. In fact, I know it's hard. I think the focus that you and your wife have on early development and nutrition is great. I have no doubt it will have more success than the government dumping money on a problem, not seeing much in the way of positive results, and dumping more money. The charitable focus of my wife and me is helping, as we know the kids we are assisting are getting an education. Hopefully, it is enough to break the dire poverty they are in.So when someone like you or Bodhisattva climb out of the pit, it's easy to assume others with the desire and ambition can do the same.
I don't think gtown was confused about that, and I believe you missed the point entirely. You proposed the dubious assertion that all able-bodied adults are able to take care of their own responsibilities, which would include their children. But in reality, many cannot. You seem to imply that any child who cannot crawl out of this crucible on their own deserves to stay there and enter a cycle of punishment for their life of, in your words, underachievement.Wow, the little bubble you live in affords you absolutely no reading comprehension ability, does it? Let me help you out: a child is not an able-bodied adult. SMH.
Point taken. They are independent issues.I know this has kind of gone into a poverty and welfare conversation. I am partially responsible for this. But, I wanted to get back to the OPs original question. I think I said my thoughts earlier but I wanted to hear the thoughts of those who may disagree.
IMO BLM doesn't need to be focusing on "black on black" crime simply because that is not the purpose of their organization. There are other efforts around the country to address crime in black communities and the inner city but that is not BLMs purpose. The push for BLM to address issues of crime in black communities can come across a way to avoid talking about the issues they want to raise. It's not that the members of BLM don't care about other crimes, that's just not the purpose of their organization and is a very different topic.
Your ability to misinterpret my position is impressive. Dishonest, but impressive.You seem to imply that any child who cannot crawl out of this crucible on their own deserves to stay there and enter a cycle of punishment for their life of, in your words, underachievement.
you ought to deep dive what Harris Rosen has done in Tangelo Park in Florida. Not that you have his resources (I assume, but who knows you might) but you may gain some ideas or even find a way to tie in. His focus is education and hope. Pre-k through college degree for everyone in the town he adopted. Guy is a bit of a hero of mine https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/26/us/tangelo-park-orlando-florida.html?mcubz=3I've spent a lot of time, energy, and money researching this - it's how I do things.
While I have great appreciation for your success and the hard work you built upon the foundation of hard work your preceding generations did to help you climb out of poverty, I suspect you overlook some of the advantages you were blessed with that other may not enjoy. While it's fun to poke fun at people here on NS, the reality is that many here are average or above-average in intelligence. I don't know how much time you've spent trying to educate inner-city youths, but I can attest to the fact that many of them are simply not equipped intellectually to climb out of poverty.
It is what it is...
So when someone like you or Bodhisattva climb out of the pit, it's easy to assume others with the desire and ambition can do the same. Sadly, from our time in the poverty stricken areas, many of these young people aren't intellectually equipped to change their trajectory. They don't see the big picture, they don't learn life lessons you and I do easily, they struggle to learn the basics to the point they can progress beyond the bare minimum.
That's the real world, and it's what my wife and I are hoping to combat through pre-natal care and education about food and how it affects development of the fetus / child. Someone with an IQ of 80 is very rarely going to have the intellectual horsepower to see the world around them for what it is, make long term plans that enable their escape, and follow through.
Perhaps you're correct - maybe we're not giving these people enough credit. But if that's true, how long do they have to live in poverty before they take advantage of the options that are available to them? We have literally generations of people who repeat the same life over and over - I'm not sure it's as simple as desire for more that's missing.
We have to figure out how to break the cycle and empower the people who are left behind. History seems to indicate that they are not prepared to do it on their own.
Thank you, this was my point.I don't think gtown was confused about that, and I believe you missed the point entirely. You proposed the dubious assertion that all able-bodied adults are able to take care of their own responsibilities, which would include their children. But in reality, many cannot. You seem to imply that any child who cannot crawl out of this crucible on their own deserves to stay there and enter a cycle of punishment for their life of, in your words, underachievement.