Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: There's A Reason Americans Pass By Homeless People In The Street Without A Second Glance [View all]
SemperEadem
(8,053 posts)48. it is competely a puritanical mindset
that it's only because one has moral failings that one is not prosperous and nothing outside of that person's moral structure can bear any blame to said person being destitute, sick, jobless, homeless, etc. Which is why, being that this country was founded by puritans and their flavor of xtianity that we see this ingrained, inculcated notion alive and kicking today.
"I can't relate, so it must not be", is pretty much their creed.
If one calls themselves a christian and if one believes in Jesus and if one believes what He said is true and if one believes that the bible is true, then one is commanded to take care of the less fortunate. He didn't command His followers to "sit smugly and pass judgment on their condition or how they got there".
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
169 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
There's A Reason Americans Pass By Homeless People In The Street Without A Second Glance [View all]
xchrom
Jun 2012
OP
"people are destitute and others are well-off because of personal choices" is RW mentality.
DCBob
Jun 2012
#1
I'm reminded of a statement from the German philosopher and polymath
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#67
There was a best-selling book a few years ago called "The Secret" that espoused the
TheDebbieDee
Jun 2012
#99
You are so right about that, and it's something people are almost conditioned to ignore.
Raksha
Jun 2012
#139
"People are destitute and others are well-off because of God's will" is also
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#62
And many of them, if not most of them, use the "god's will" argument to justify
Arkansas Granny
Jun 2012
#71
Not to re-fight the 30 Years' War, but the difference between Protestant and Roman Catholic
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#77
not to mention that the table of "choices" itself is laid by larger forces.
HiPointDem
Jun 2012
#115
Well put. I hope you get a chance to read the wonderful novel by Tom Wolfe "A Man
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#69
Yes. I always stop and give the homeless money, even when they are obviously drunks.
LiberalLoner
Jun 2012
#21
I'm the same way, whatever the reason they are down and out, the fact is that
smirkymonkey
Jun 2012
#30
My sister fed the homeless man on the city grate each morning on her way to work.
CarmanK
Jun 2012
#156
We used to deliver babies with hands that had been in a cadaver and not washed. Mothers died.
jtuck004
Jun 2012
#153
I still remember the DU post about giving incapacitated women birth control so they can't get
dkf
Jun 2012
#161
Evil is never going away, but that's no reason to throw the hands up in the air. n/t
jtuck004
Jun 2012
#162
People in the grip of severe mental illness and/or addictions almost always make bad choices, due to
LiberalLoner
Jun 2012
#43
Some people have a regular, safe & comfortable place to sleep outside free from harassment...
Luminous Animal
Jun 2012
#102
It's not just that they're homeless. I wouldn't invite ANY stranger into my home.
Honeycombe8
Jun 2012
#148
DKF, I'm curious, which of the traditionally Democratic positions do you embrace? r/o
LiberalLoner
Jun 2012
#29
Ditto. Inquiring minds would like to know. Thank you for putting into words
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#73
You refer to "traditionally Democratic positions" and raise a good point especially with any
AnotherMcIntosh
Jun 2012
#107
Oh, okay! So it's not against the rules to do the right-wing thing if done politely, thanks! :)
LiberalLoner
Jun 2012
#133
Another side can sometimes make people deal with things their friends won't. That doesn't mean
jtuck004
Jun 2012
#154
I don't agree. We as individuals are not trained to take care of mentally ill or
LiberalLoner
Jun 2012
#39
The person you are addressing seems to espouse only right-wing talking points. If you look at the
LiberalLoner
Jun 2012
#95
The people at the top get loopholes, the people at the bottom get vicious circles
ck4829
Jun 2012
#34
You seem pretty pertured that somebody is skeptical of alleged "homeless" people.
GarroHorus
Jun 2012
#101
You asserted "fact" and by doing so you are basing everyone's reality on your anecdotes
TheKentuckian
Jun 2012
#108
Awesome post. Wish I could DU Rec it. Can't rec it highly enough - n/t
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#84
Yesterday saw a woman who appeared to be homeless hunting cans from the garbage at a store.
jwirr
Jun 2012
#104
Still looking but they have put me on the waiting lists for all the low-income housing in the area
jwirr
Jun 2012
#109
Yes, I love to baby sit but I want to have my own time also. Oh, well at least now I have an option.
jwirr
Jun 2012
#121
I talked with my daughter and we realized that I would need to ask for too much for a student to
jwirr
Jun 2012
#146
I figure mostly what is going on is they can't look the homeless in the eye
TheKentuckian
Jun 2012
#111
Whether we help a needy person or turn away is one of the real choices we really still have.
leveymg
Jun 2012
#128
I for one would rather be wrong and inadvertently give a scammer a few bucks
NYC Liberal
Jun 2012
#144
There are such things as 'forced' choices. Which end up not really being 'choices.'
freshwest
Jun 2012
#149