Wednesday, 14 January 2009

Life's Little Contrasts...

While I was out getting some exercise, this morning, I walked past a sad little scene.

The bailiff's were removing a young Mum and her two kids from their house.

Both kids were clinging to their Mum and screaming and she was tearfully asking if she could please go back inside and get some of their things.

One bailiff was telling her no, that she would have to talk to the judge to arrange a time. The other bailiff was standing by while somebody hammered an 'Owned By Bank' sign into the front lawn.

Sadly, this is a situation that is being enacted, all over the country, to good, honest, hard working people.

People who, often through no fault of their own, have fallen on hard times.

I see this at the school I volunteer at. More and more of the kids, that I work with , are living in shelters or motels. Listed in the ranks of 'homeless'.

Most of them eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at school. Because the school has a high percentage of children who qualify, all the meals are free. Without those meals, many of the kids would not get three meals a day. I'm not going to start on the quality of those meals. I'll save that for another post. Suffice to say, that if that is the only food those kids are getting, it needs to be nutritious!!

The school has a store of clothing, school supplies, etc, that is donated to help these kids. Some of them get their first pair of socks, when they start school..

It's heartbreaking..

Then I came home and read, online, all about how Josh & Fergie had tied the knot.

Apparently their wedding cost a rumored $1.5 million.

I wish those two all the happiness in the world.

I also realise that it's their money. They earned it. It's theirs to spend whichever way they want to...

However, there is also this little voice inside me that is asking 'How much food and clothing, would that $1.5 million have bought for these kids?'

9 comments:

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I agree it's obscene. But...this is what I have to do. Remember that that 1.5 million went to pay people. And maybe through some Ronald Reagan, trickle down, voodoo economics...some family was able to pay their mortgage for whatever hand they had in helping to pull off that wedding...

Anonymous said...

I agree totally, Karen. It IS their money, and maybe they give alot to charity that we don't know about, but that WOULD feed alot of people!

Having said that, I like Kat's take on how the wedding might have helped the local economy. Good thinking, Kat.

Chris H said...

No matter how 'unfair' it is... it's just how it is and we have to accept it.. unless we CAN do something. Life can be so awful sometimes eh?

Jennifer said...

Oh that's so sad.

And that a LOT to spend on a wedding!!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I often think of those same kinds of things. Don't even get me started on the money that professional athletes make.....

Mrs4444 said...

Wow, that's terrible. Soooo sad.

Gramma 2 Many said...

And the upcoming inauguration is costing in excess of 150 million. Enough to pay for several young mothers to keep their homes, buy socks, school supplies etc.
There truly is an imbalance.

Jen said...

I agree with you... it's really sad, isn't it? It breaks my heart to see children grow up like you described, & then see all of these stars throw millions away on unnecessary things.

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