Walk a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes

The much awaited 2014 finally arrived and without much fanfare.

Where I live, there were not that many fireworks or idiots firing their guns, which is always a good thing, at least for my pets that are terrified by those menacing noises and even when I hate to admit it, I am too… there is always that little voice in the back of my head warning me that a bullet might come clashing through the walls or windows and hit someone in my household, for some strange reason, that someone, in my mind, is always me.

As most of us do, I waited for the stroke of midnight to eat the customary grapes and drink cheap champagne… I busted in cheers, kissed my loved ones, called those I could and sent a text to those far away. I was so happy to see that 2013 was finally a memory, I was filled with the beautiful idea that the nightmare might be over.

But today, a friend posted an article by the Huffington Post “Florida Law Mandating Drug Tests For Welfare Struck Down By Federal Judge” and immediately the venom began to flow freely… the vile comments were, for the most part, done by democrats!

It surprised me to know that there are democrats that have joined the crazies in assuming that the majority of people on welfare are drug users, thieves, opportunists or lazy people that prefer to live in poverty as long as they don’t have to work. It cannot be denied that there is a small number that might fit that description (less than 2%) but it is not the majority. Most are families that by no fault of their own find themselves struggling to survive, to keep a roof over their heads, to feed their kids and are desperately looking for a job or, as it happens with most, they already have a job but even when working can’t make ends meet.

Some people went as far as to suggest that if they are poor, they should not have children. I do not agree but for the sake of argument, let’s say OK… However, what should people that were working, with a decent paying job and had a child before they lost everything… what should they do? Give their child up for adoption? Kill them? We have always heard that Americans love the underdog… that might be true in many instances (sports, politics, competitions, etc.) but it is not true for a regular Joe, for the poor. When it comes to people in need, in our own backyard, they are open game to be kicked, denigrated, ignored, abused and neglected. If the needy is in a faraway land, then we must show the world there is no other people more caring, compassionate and giving than Americans! The hypocrisy is sickening. The poor in our own country is the pushing bag for most – not all – of the American populace. The poor is the tool for those that have accomplished nothing to feel better about themselves, about their mediocrity… and as bullies usually do, at the first opportunity they will happily talk about the poor with disdain and in a nauseating tone, while claiming to be Christians!

There is a collective madness going on in this country and most of the world. The Conservative Right and the Religious Right is outraged at Pope Francis, because this Pope has the audacity to say that being selfish, self-centered and greedy is a sin. How dare he? Thus, they have labeled the Pope, as a Socialist, as if being a socialist was such a bad thing! I have news for them… their beloved “Jesus” was a socialist.

To grasp the concept of compassion, of loving “thy neighbor as thyself,” you don’t need to walk on water… you just have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

Give Peace a Chance!

Today I read an article about what the defense budgets for the top ten countries in the world are. Each of the defense budget of any one of these countries is outrageous but if you add all of them the result it’s an obscene amount especially during these tough economic times and particularly with so many people struggling to survive and being sucked into the vortexes of poverty.

This past Sunday the NATO (OTAN) Summit was held in Chicago, where the leaders of many of the European Nations, Canada and the United States discussed defense tactics against the never ending threat of terrorism as well as securing deals in the acquisition of “new and improved” armaments that will aid them in that war. Most likely, these countries will sell their old armaments to those they oppose through negotiations with second and even third party countries, disengaging ourselves from the ultimate buyers, which most likely will a “terrorist” group. Terrorists acquire their weapons from somewhere, usually from the countries that purchase the old armaments from our allies and from us.

The yearly budgets reserved by these countries for defense could better serve to pay their national debts instead of increasing it as they are doing. These funds could help each of those nations to come out of the recession they find themselves in or better yet, it could help eradicate famine and extreme poverty in the world. I know that I am not being original when I mention this, it has been said many times but I never compared these figures vs. the rough figure that would be needed to end famine and poverty worldwide.

To help everyone understand what I am saying, these are the defense budgets for 2011 of the top 10 countries:

US	739,300,000,000
CHINA	89,800,000,000
UK	62,700,000,000
FRANCE	58,800,000,000
JAPAN	58,400,000,000
RUSSIA	52,700,000,000
SAUDI ARABIA	46,200,000,000
GERMANY	44,200,000,000
INDIA	37,300,000,000
BRAZIL	36,600,000,000
TOTAL	1,226,000,000,000

Now, let’s assume that half of the budget of each country its used for defense and the other half for eradicating famish. There would be $613,000,000,000 exclusively dedicated to help the millions of children, women and men that starve to death every single day. According to Jeffrey Sachs, the amount needed to completely eradicate poverty and therefore hunger would be of 175,000,000,000 a year for 20 years or a total of 3,500,000,000,000. If the top 10 countries would reserve half of their defense budget towards this goal, we would eradicate poverty in SIX years!

It makes sense to me that no country should be defenseless, as long as there are enemies we should and we must have the capability of defending ourselves but… how much is too much? How can we, as civilized nations, be at peace with our conscience when there are so many suffering because they don’t have drinking water, basic nourishment or even shelter? How can we consider ourselves civilized when we know of these injustices and are witnessing our own governments waste so much money buying the latest war machine while a child slowly dies from starvation? Do we really need to invest so much in destruction instead of edification? Must we see our own countries go to shambles with a growing population of homeless families that have no hope for a better tomorrow while we, as citizens, allow our countries to use our hard earned money in this frantic obsession of war and the over expenditure in armaments?

The time is long overdue when we, the people of the world, demand from our leaders a more sensible approach. An approach towards peace, which could be accomplished if we all contribute to the betterment of the world and not its destruction, where we help everyone to have a decent life, where no child ever dies of starvation. If we, together as one planet, help each other without reservation and discrimination, without demanding any changes in the traditions, beliefs or politics of those in need in exchange for that help, we will not only eradicate poverty but we will accomplish the ever so elusive peace that has escaped us since the dawn of times… No one hates those that helped them and didn't ask for anything in return, it’s simple logic… It’s a matter of the heart, it’s a matter of kindness, it’s a matter of humanity and ultimately it’s an action of love.

Defense Budgets by Country