Twenty-some-odd years ago, Pontiff-hating songstress Sinead O'Connor was on fire as she released her second smash album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. I remember thinking at the time what a great title that was. As somebody attempting to lead a life guided by Buddhist principles, not wanting what you haven't got is an important concept to buy into.
But it's also a crock of bullshit, because human nature is all about wanting the stuff you don't have.
And I don't mean material goods either (though here in the United States we've built an entire culture around that). What I'm talking about is wanting health when you're sick. Wanting peace when you're in conflict. Wanting calm when you're in turmoil. Wanting love when you're mired in hatred. That kind of stuff. Wanting those things isn't really a bad thing at all.
Or so you'd think.
Apparently wanting something like food when you're hungry is wanting too much.
At least according to the conversation I overheard. Two women were discussing school starting up again and started railing on the free-lunch program. Such chatty gems as "Those kids need to learn that there's no free lunch in life!" (ha ha ha) and "We already pay for their food stamps, we have to pay for school lunches too?"
I can only guess that these pathetic excuses for human beings follow the Rush Limbaugh Theory of Child Hunger.
And I can't for the life of me understand what makes these people tick.
If they were talking about adults, I guess I could attempt to rationalize such callous behavior... but hungry kids? Like a child has any control over their situation. Like it's their choice that there's nothing to eat for whatever reason.
Look, I totally get not wanting to pay taxes for crap that you don't approve of. As a vegetarian, I highly object to the meat industry getting billions in subsidies for a substance that I feel ruins the planet and makes people unhealthy. Yadda yadda yadda.
But, I ask again, hungry kids?!?
You don't need to go to a horror movie to see monsters anymore. They're all around us.
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I just posted to my FB. Those comments just make me sick at my stomach. How dare you attack hungry children. You know, in my lifetime, I qualified and took advantage of the programs to feed the children.
For my 50 years on this planet, I did not know about hunger or poverty. Now, being the victim of a celebrity who stole my life savings, I now benefit from both food stamps and the free school lunch program. Not for me or my wife, but for my 3 children. Without these programs, my kids would not have enough food to be without hunger. Oh, by the way, we don’t sit on our ass getting a handout. I run a business that pays well, but not enough to cover rent, utilities and transportation in the region where we live. I thank everyone who makes these programs exist everyday, with the exception of the BITCHES who you overheard. May they encounter a circumstance that forces them to use public assistance and THEN I want to hear their opinion of food stamps or free school lunch programs. It’s always OK to slam those in need until you have joined their ranks.
What a couple of miserable bitches. UGH!
I didn’t know until recently that this is also a way to evaluate schools: the percentage of kids on reduced or free lunches. I was floored at how high this percentage was where we used to live (in the city) and even where we currently live (about 2 miles north of the city), though the percentage is much smaller here. I’m sure if I spent some time researching it, I’d find out why this statistic is mentioned on all the websites that grade and evaluate schools, but all I can figure from a cursory look is that parents who can afford to keep their kids away from poor kids will be better equipped to do so. When we narrowed our school district house hunt to two areas, we deliberately chose the 2nd highest ranked high school in GA over the top one, because the highest is known for having a bunch of spoiled kids with next to no diversity (and, if I remember correctly, 4% on reduced/free lunches). But we’re weird.
There are two elementary schools within two miles of my house and on each one is a giant banner that reads “free lunch for kids thursday (time) come join us!” I assume it’s for any kids that are hungry and may not be able to eat full meals at home for whatever reason. I think it’s pretty cool and it was up all summer long too.
Anyway this post just made me think of that.
The selfishness of people never ceases to amaze me.
I used to listen a little bit to Rush. Back then I agreed with some of his general sentiments sometimes, but the guy is a self-important blowhard who says whatever he thinks his lapdogs, er listeners, want to hear.
Whenever he gets called on his bullshit he simply tries to hide behind the, “I’m joking” banner.
Basically he lies his ass off and only when proven to be wrong and/or lying he would all of a sudden be joking…right.
For all I know I might still agree with some of what he says, but I’ll be damned it I can be bothered to listen to his bullshit. That this guy is still on the air and making money is beyond me.
It’s always easier for people like that to talk about “those other people” who have problems, but I’m sure if someone they knew was going hungry, they would think again before speaking.
You clearly need to stop hearing other people talk. Be more careful! Go deaf! Something!
Also, that was an amazing album.
I concur. They’re all around us.