Humanitarian Education & Endowment of Dignity

Who are the poor? I mean, in the past it always seemed quite clear who was "poor." Now it seems that although everybody is struggling to survive, we don't consider ourselves poor. Poor of what really? In this culture we have limitless possibilities, but few jobs; lots of stuff, but no money; we have lots of houses, but nobody who can afford them. I think you get my point. What exactly are we poor of in this country?

The other day my son was in the back seat of our rental car (because the banks van broke down), and he shouted at his sisters, "you guys are making me all poor!" I burst out in laughter while my wife looked at me puzzled. You see, my wife feels sorry for our son because the girls are always picking on him, so she's constantly saying, "poor Noah." It occurred to me that even though it appears to be an innocent misunderstanding, he's on to something there. What exactly are we poor of in this country?

Human dignity.

Every time my son's sisters pick on him they are taking away his God given human dignity. They make him cry out, because he wants to be heard, to be understood, to be treated with respect. He's always being told, "be quiet Noah; go away Noah, is it jealousy, mean-ness? To me it's just life with siblings. But doesn't that sound like...you, me, life as a human?

Everytime we as intelligent educated individuals submit ourselves to the morals of corporate America and agribusiness. When we buy genetically altared fruits and vegetables, antibiotic filled milk, eggs and meats, we are allowing ourselves to be stripped of our dignity. When we put ourselves in debt for a 1/3 of our life span, when in all reality we know we will never own the property, we are being stripped of dignity. If and when we realize this truth we may attempt to change; to buck the system, but by that time we have nothing to stand on, no fire to fight with.

Like Noah we cry out to be heard, to be understood, to be treated with respect. Uncle Sam always telling us; "be quiet; go away." Is it jealousy, mean-ness? To me its just life with the oppressor.

It doesn't have to be. If there's any poor in America it's the oppressed American people that have been stripped of our God given human dignity. We've lost our riches in honor, beauty, faith, passion, character, and respect.

I'm sure you've all heard this speal before, but what have we done about it. How can we break the paradigm of our existence? I say we plant a Victory Garden, learn how to can, instead of how to can't. Eat less meat, stop eating at McDonalds! Sell what you have and get out of debt. I wouldn't be saying any of this unless it was stuff we as a family are doing. Don't give up trying to change. Get on the horn, and shout at the top of your lungs, "you guys are making me all poor!!" Then do something about it.

Vision Statement:
The Humanitarian Education & Endowment of Dignity: Helping individuals and families reclaim their dignity and livelihood by becoming stable, and self sufficient through the application of lasting biblical principles.