Homeless & Wealthy Sit Side-by-side at TG Dinner

[NJCher]

There's a very interesting paragraph in this story. I'd like to see if anyone else spots it. Tell me what you think it is:



http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/homeless-wealthy-sit-side-by-side-nyc-church-dinner-article-1.2027516

'When the food was passed, we all became equal': Homeless, wealthy sit side-by-side at NYC church dinner

Well-off Manhattan residents paid $100 Friday to have a holiday dinner with homeless people inside Bartholomew's Church. Chefs from The New York Palace and The Waldorf-Astoria hotels provided the meal, which was meant to bring people from different socioeconomic backgrounds together.

NEW YORK — Some well-off Manhattan residents paid $100 Friday for the honor of eating a candlelit holiday dinner with homeless people at a church, an intersection of two worlds that left one down-on-his luck man thinking the seemingly impossible.

"What if a love connection happened tonight between the haves and the have-nots?" 44-year-old Craig James said before guests arrived. James, who has been homeless since losing a security job four years ago, also volunteers at St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan, where the dinner occurred.

The Rev. Edward Sunderland called the unusual mealtime gathering a "smashing success." He said he hopes it will become a nationwide trend.

"When the food was passed we all became equal," he said.


Cher

p.s. the pictures are beautiful!

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. This line is very naive

"When the food was passed we all became equal," he said.

and love this

"Both groups tend to be a little high maintenance," Sunderland said. "Many wealthy people have mental illnesses. Many are addicted to substances, and it's probably at the same rate as homeless people. It manifests itself differently and it's treated differently."

[Scootaloo]

3. And when the food is past the inequality returns n/t

[NJCher]

5. Bingo

You guessed it. The latter was the paragraph I found interesting. It certainly is food for thought, yes?


Cher

[LiberalEsto]

2. "Many wealthy people have mental illnesses"

I should say SO!
Compulsive money-grabbing and hoarding, with its accompanying lack of empathy, should be written up in the next DSM.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. There are two that I found interesting...

James, who has been homeless since losing a security job four years ago, also volunteers at St. Bartholomew's Church in Manhattan, where the dinner occurred.

This homeless man still finds it within himself to give to others while so many of us who actually have homes keep it to money donations or nothing at all.

And this one:

Artie Stone, 58, another guest, said: "The idea of well-to-do and struggling people side-by-side is like having the lion and the lamb lay down together."

This is an interesting look at perception. Isn't it?

[azmom]

6. I'm sure the rich

Were very entertained. Gives them something to talk about at the country club. Ugh!

[LiberalElite]

7. I thought it was this:

""Both groups tend to be a little high maintenance," Sunderland said. "Many wealthy people have mental illnesses. Many are addicted to substances, and it's probably at the same rate as homeless people. It manifests itself differently and it's treated differently."

I thought: NO KIDDING.

[NJCher]

8. it's not just wealthy people, though.

The headline is misleading.

There's a paragraph that explains that it's teachers, artists, musicians, etc. I think it was explained that at least one couple saved up for the event.

As far as the equality remark, there is an old custom and belief about "breaking bread" being an equalizer, so maybe it's not so naive. Coming from a family that is culinary-oriented, I think the idea is that pretensions fall away over the true enjoyment of good food.

I enjoyed my own Thanksgiving, but having read this, I think I might like to try it sometime.

And yeah, I'd have to "save up."


Cher