SHOCK

As I was reading the blog I stumbled across, I couldn't help but to be shocked. I could not believe the way someone seemed to be so heartless, so hateful, and make so many generalizations and stereotypes towards the poor. I was especially shocked when he said that most poor people were stupid and lack moral character.

Yes, it's true that many are poor because they were lazy and or ignorant. It is also true that some are low in moral character. For many, however, the story is different. Some people survived devastating situations in which they lost everything they owned, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or fire. There are others who were born into poverty. Generational poverty is hard to erase. If your mother is poor, your father is poor, and their parents were poor, it is very difficult to break the mold. If an individual does not have the drive, opportunity, or insight then the cycle will continue, and poverty will continue to be their reality.

These are Bill Cosby's very words about the poor black population. He says they are "detrimentally promiscuous, disinclined to education, unappreciative of good speech, determined to saddle their kids with weird names, and bent on blaming the white man for all their ills." This is sad because he is putting all poor black people into this description. Some poor black may have shunned education, but there are some who are educated but have endured obstacles that have stopped them from reaching their full potential.

When former President George W. Bush and his mother went to the Superdome with Bill Clinton to go visit victims and "show that they care" Barbara said "these people were underprivileged anyway, so things are going very well for them." She also mentioned that the thought of many of these people coming to Texas was "scary". I wonder what's scary about these poor, helpless people coming to Texas. Perhaps they don't fit in with the beautiful scenery, or maybe they will make Texas less appealing to tourists. Statements like the ones she made really make me shake my head.

The treatment of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Bill Cosby's words, the blog I stumbled across, and Barbara Bush's words all show how American society views poor people. When you think about poor people, maybe you use derogatory terms such as hobo or bum, or maybe you use the term "homeless". The term poor people is also used to describe not just people without a home, but also people who do not have enough money to feed their family. Whichever group you think about, it is clear that American society does not value the poor. The poor is looked at as a group of people who are a waste of time and space. America says the poor wouldnt be poor if they were not so lazy to make something of themselves. America says that poor are stupid and ignorant;if they would not have shunned education, they would have had the good life. America says why should we help the poor.. at least right away, we have more important things and people to worry about. Some say it directly while others make you read between the lines.