Deficiency Thinking

So very simple to be generous when there is no perceived deficiency. More difficult is disconnecting one’s own sense of need from the good fortune of those who receive unexpected windfalls of financial support. Deficiency roils the calm waters of complacency.

George Soros, a wealthy investor who has recently given almost a million children $200 each to help with back to school expenses, is unjustly criticized, even vilified by many, who sincerely believe their opinions, and resulting verbal attacks, are just and valid. Rage and resentment toward welfare recipients and immigrants is one form of reasoning used; other include methods of distributing the cash and even Mr. Sotos’ motives for doing so.

What has happened to us? As individuals, members of our communities, as Americans? Have we no compassion, no understanding for those who are less fortunate? For differences of behavior, of handling life? The thread which runs through all the anger comes up again and again as deficiency fear. If money is going anywhere else and we are short, these two become connected in the mind; in fact, the only parallel is our insular thinking.

Maybe we feel responsible, as citizens, as parents. We haven’t received any help that we are willing to at that moment identify (most of us could come up with innumerable instances of support and help through our lives, if we but acknowledge these), so automatically we decide that those who have received help are irresponsible, or they would not need support. If we examine this thinking, it is obviously fallacious. What we do and/or what someone else does, cannot be compared on basic merits. All of us have our own stories. The old “walk a mile in someone’s shoes” would apply here.

It is shocking to see usually sensible people display such fury, a viciously quick willingness to simply disregard any concern for others and their well-being, even including children and the infirm.

If we think we are threatened now, wait until this economic meltdown progresses. We had better get a handle on our emotional reactions and consider our motives. Conditions which we have apathetically tolerated for decades haven’t changed; we have simply, because of the indiscretion and greed of our elected officials and our government, been put ‘behind the eight ball’ as many others have been for all their lives. Suddenly we’ve become aware that we aren’t really middle or upper class as we have believed. We are part of the underprivileged block, the ones who need assistance, the ‘have nothings’ who we’ve despised secretly all along, with some superiority and much dismissal.

It’s an uncomfortable place to find oneself. However, losing one’s character and exhibiting lack of class while attempting to discredit others who are less fortunate will not solve our own feelings of inadequacy or put us in an enhanced category of any kind.

Wake up, America! Change has come . . . and it hasn't begun in the past six months. Do your research honestly, hang on to your cloak of human kindness and roll with it. We are the problem AND the solution. Count to ten . . . and think.