Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2019 04:14:21 -0500
From: Shannon
Subject: School lunch
>> Before everybody goes bananas responding to the Taylor Kish post about free school lunches and negligent parenting, step back and think.
>> First incite, then blame in an attempt to divide. That movie’s become a classic.
>> To equate not having enough money with character flaws, bad habits and mistakes is to make reckless and condescending assumptions—-simply not a reliable measure of the parent, their parenting skills, or their situation.
>> In true sweeping, judgmental fashion, Kish condenses John the off-ramp guy’s predicament into a snapshot of a lazy guy getting over on people, proud of not breaking a sweat. Truth is, we don’t know why he’s there. Maybe he just put on a brave face. Anyone who has had to rely on the kindness of others in the past or present knows help sometimes is served up with a side of shame, intentional or not.
>> I choose to share a parable of a different kind—–
>> A man sits on a bench outside of the pharmacy. As my son and I enter, he says
>> “Excuse me, can you spare a dollar or two? My daughter is sick and I can’t afford her medicine.” I give him $10 and say I hope she feels better soon. “Mom, you know he’s probably just going to buy alcohol or drugs with that $10, right?” says my son. I respond “You may be right, but that is a reflection of his character. If I can help and say no, it will be a reflection of my character.”
>> Don’t bother to argue with T. KIsh—-deny this person what they crave the most–the trollish glee of getting your goat. Buy somebody lunch instead..
>> Shannon in PIttsboro (where empathy needs no quotes)
2019-03-06