It's Long, Hard To Read, But Important...

PEEVE 168-ISH: HAVING NO REAL PERCEPTION OF POVERTY (I have many peeves…)

Young Lovers, I have to tell you there is not much that bothers me more than seeing my brothers and sisters of the world who are of lesser means disenfranchised. I recently posted one of my AureliaBluesDay TUESDAY Facebook updates on this subject. In my post I touted my talent for being able to make a meal out of whatever is available in my fridge and cupboards. At first I was excited to share this accomplishment. I wrote that I typically feed my family of six on about fifteen dollars a day. I’ve always been proud of my ability to keep a strict budget when, and here’s the caveat, there has actually been money in my household to budget. Now that thought brought me right back down to Earth to my humble roots and activist upbringing. I began to think that I was bragging. I don’t want to be that person. I want to be the one that uplifts and prospers others. Or failing that, the person who shines the light on those who are living in darkness, ignorant, spiritual or physical.

While being one who likes to grow good in the world, I have, on many occasions, been unable to do so due to financial constraints. I have also been on the receiving end of hurtful comments and the thoughtlessness of those who have never experienced poverty, and do not understand that it is not only NOT a choice, but almost impossible to get out of without help.

This led me to dig up some old blog posts on a site regarding the “Food Stamps Challenge” of 2007 that was issued by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JPCA) which I also posted on Facebook. The premise of this project which was to raise awareness of the struggle impoverished Americans face in feeding their families, challenged members of Congress to try feeding themselves for a week on a mere $21. That breaks down to $1 per meal. Their hope was to influence the 2007 Farm Bill as a means of raising food stamp allowances. In the interest of furthering poverty awareness:

Here are some quotes taken from the site containing the blog I cited (the link is: http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/ ) :

From the blog entry entitled: Existing on food stamps: Reporter Sarah Barr joins Chris Van Hollen in learning how to live on the bare minimum , authored by Sarah Bar who shared these comments:


“From my end, the lessons have been similar. I'm sick of peanut butter, craving fresh vegetables and was frustrated by my options within the grocery store as I had to buy more than I needed of certain items, forcing me to neglect others. I don't need a full box of pasta for the week or a whole bag of rice, and that money could have gone to other items like vegetables.”

In another entry: Congressman Chris Van Hollen Takes the Food Stamp Challenge , Congressman Van Hollen states:

“The Food Stamp Challenge brings home the struggle that many Americans face on a daily basis. It quickly focuses your mind and your stomach on just how little food $21 a week buys. It also demonstrates that it is difficult, if not impossible, to eat a balanced diet on $21, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. I was feeling very cranky by the end of the week.”

*Raley BlueNote ~ I’LL BET HE DID FEEL CRANKY. NOTHING STRESSES ME OUT QUITE LIKE GROCERY SHOPPING. GIVE ME A SCREAMING BABY AND THREE OPINIONATED TEENAGERS ANY DAY!

From the entry: Food stamp diet challenge was an unhealthy exercise :

“Feeling full on $3 a day is one challenge; eating nutritionally is virtually impossible. Illinois Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky's week's worth of fruits and vegetables consisted of one tomato, one potato, a head of lettuce, and five bananas.”

“As Schakowsky put it, "Healthy food should not be viewed as a luxury."

*Raley BlueNote ~ AS MY KIDS (WHO WERE RAISED AS GOOD UNICORNS AND MERMAIDS AND THEREFORE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SWEAR), LIKE TO PUT IT, “No ‘it ‘Erlock!!!”

And then there’s this from the post, Editorial: Feigning poverty :

“Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan didn't last the week. Jars of peanut butter and jelly he'd stuffed in carry-on luggage were confiscated at an airport, leaving him with nothing but a bag of cornmeal to carry him through the challenge's final days.

He was caught eating a pork chop in a hotel restaurant because he feared he'd be too weak to deliver a commencement speech.”

*Raley BlueNote ~ STUNNING. ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, AWE INSPIRING AND DOWNRIGHT CRIMINAL THAT MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY JOBS, JOBS THAT ARE THE BACKBONE OF AMERICA, THE ONES THAT KEEP US ROLLING, CLEAN, HEALTHY, AND YES, EVEN WELL FED, ARE CARRIED OUT EACH DAY BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL NEVER EVER HAVE ACCESS TO AN EMERGENCY PORK CHOP. AND YET, THE WORK STILL GETS DONE. WAKE UP, AMERICA!!

To Mr. Ryan’s credit, he did have this to say:

"It just showed me that when you're living on food stamps, you're really one event away from disaster," Ryan told The Washington Post. "Some people are constantly living on that edge.

Now I know some of you Young Lovers have never known any more in your own lives. And at many points in my life, I have been able to count myself among you. I am also aware that some of you live in other parts of the world where poverty, and it’s definition, is irrelevant to that of my country’s. I hope you’ll forgive me if this post feels crass to you. I am truly sorry and would never mean to hurt you or diminish your own struggles. I simply hope that by raising awareness in the context with which I am familiar, I can plant the seeds of change into the minds and hearts of those who can do something to flourish these seeds into trees of hope.

For we who are able, this is the challenge. Although the 2007 Farm Bill did pass and there have been several steps forward, and unfortunately a few steps back over the past five years, we will always be faced with the challenges which leave those unable to do, or speak for themselves, out. I hope this post leavesencouraged to go out into our world with the intention to grow goodness.

                                 <3From Me2U Luv Raley Blue <3