In the Giving Mood

So here is some food for thought, or rather some thoughts about food....

All over the news all we hear about is Haiti. You cannot escape it. It is the biggest news right now. What a horrible thing happing to people who do not deserve it. No one deserves to have to live through such a catastrophic event. How scary and traumatizing it has all been.

I am proud that so many Americans have eagerly been reaching out and giving help to those in need. It lightens my heart to know that there are still good people in this country who want to help.

But why are they so reluctant to help their own country men and women?

How many food banks are struggling to stay open due to the lack of donations? How many of our own country peoples are going to bed hungry every night? How many are losing their homes and jobs, still, every day, right here, on our own soil? How many people still in Louisiana are living in shelters since they are still without homes? Why are we not so rapidly helping ourselves?

I heard on the radio a comparison regarding the amount of money raised for Louisiana verses Haiti in text message donations alone. Thousands verses millions.... Think about it.

Why do our former presidents not go on television and ask our country to get together and save those in need from this disaster of greed and hunger. To feed and protect each ones neighbor. Yes, the neighbor that is not just across the ocean but across the street as well... Instead of bailing out the big honchos at the top, why aren't we starting with the little people at the bottom. To me that makes more sense. When you build a house you always start with a good foundation. When you start a company you first need a good collection of healthy, well educated, happy employes to make it all work right. Oh! That's right! They are all the little people working three jobs to afford their rent. Not able to afford the continually rising prices of food. And walking around with the persistently nagging feeling that tomorrow will be the day that their pink slip is served.

I am proud that America is known for its humanitarian efforts for other countries in need. I just wish it would do for its own what it did so well for others. America, when will you start really rallying to better feed and shelter your own? When is it our turn? How big of a disaster has to occur before we will make a change? Even though I want to make sure we help all other countries in need, I don't think we should do so until we have first taken care of our own.