There is an oft quoted statement made by one Jesus of Nazareth that goes something like the poor will always be with us. Many have taken this sentiment to mean that, regardless of human society's arc or direction, poverty will always remain. It doesn't matter what type of political system is employed or what ideology holds sway; poverty is a fact of life.
While I won't dispute that poverty is a pervasive scourge in the world today, does this mean we must necessarily accept it as a given? Shouldn't the goal of ANY society be to care for all of its people, to work to insure that every person has sufficient food in their belly, a roof over their head and the capability of meeting their most basic needs?
On Thursday, here in the US, individuals and families will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. It's one of those special holidays in which people generally gather together around the dinner table to give thanks for what they have. Unfortunately, in these bleak economic days, there are far too many families who have little bread to break.
The technology exists right now to feed the world. We grow enough foodstuffs right now to feed the world. So, why is anyone hungry? Why does anyone languish in poverty?
In my opinion, it all comes down to will. If we had the will to end poverty and hunger, we would do it. Simple as that.
It would seem that the will is lacking.
While I won't dispute that poverty is a pervasive scourge in the world today, does this mean we must necessarily accept it as a given? Shouldn't the goal of ANY society be to care for all of its people, to work to insure that every person has sufficient food in their belly, a roof over their head and the capability of meeting their most basic needs?
On Thursday, here in the US, individuals and families will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. It's one of those special holidays in which people generally gather together around the dinner table to give thanks for what they have. Unfortunately, in these bleak economic days, there are far too many families who have little bread to break.
In Loudoun County - the nation's wealthiest county measured by median income - the food pantry is distributing its first-ever Thanksgiving meal, giving food to 2,000 families. In Montgomery County, the Manna Food Center added some Saturday hours for the convenience of working families. And in Fairfax County, the nonprofit Our Daily Bread is facing the grim reality that, although it will feed 2,400 people, it may not be able to help as many 650 needy families at Thanksgiving.At this juncture, I could opine that in the richest nation in the world...but it goes beyond that. I don't care which country a person calls home. I don't care if the nation is an economic powerhouse or one of the poorest nations in the world. People should not go hungry, period!
Lynn Brantley, president and chief executive of the Capital Area Food Bank in Northeast Washington, said this year was the most difficult in the organization's 30-year history. The food bank - the main supplier of food to more than 700 agencies and nonprofit groups around the Capital Beltway - will distribute a record-breaking 30 million pounds of food, up from 27 million last year.
"With this economy, things are pretty bleak," Brantley said. "People on Main Street are not rebounding."
Bread lines have become commonplace, including the 3,000 people who waited for groceries and personal-care items in Northeast last week at a giveaway co-sponsored by PepsiCo and the dozens who gathered in front of the Loudoun Interfaith Relief center Friday.
Many are unemployed or underemployed, and their desperation is palpable...
The technology exists right now to feed the world. We grow enough foodstuffs right now to feed the world. So, why is anyone hungry? Why does anyone languish in poverty?
In my opinion, it all comes down to will. If we had the will to end poverty and hunger, we would do it. Simple as that.
It would seem that the will is lacking.
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