Poverty

I think it's a great idea for people all across the world to blog about poverty as a means of raising awareness! I am afraid the realities of poverty, however, will be difficult to eradicate. But we have to try, and we have to keep trying!

The psychologist Abraham Maslow, in categorizing the human hierarchy of needs, puts adequate food and shelter at the bottom of the pyramid. What this means is that people can't listen to pleas for peace, brotherhood, or anything else unless they are fed, clothed, and housed. The eradication of poverty is crucial to making demands of any other kind.

Yet, how is this to happen? I confess, I don't know, and it's obvious thousands smarter people than me haven't known either. I do believe that the solution to eradicating poverty must be unique to that area of the world, depending on the problems they face. What is that saying about it's better to teach a person to catch a fish, or plant a seed, than just handing him the food. Wherever possible, people should learn to be self-sufficient, and teaching may be necessary. Many of the groups that give small business loans to people so they can start their own businesses have seen much sucess.

There are many areas that are in war sones, however, and there is no way for them to farm or sustain themselves normally. In these countries, aid must be provided for the survival of the populace.

It seems quite farcical for me sitting here writing a blog about poverty. I grew up and live in the U.S., I have never been one of the money people, but neither have I known the grinding poverty that exists both here and elsewhere in the world. So my own consciousness has been raised, I guess. I do feel quite the hypocrite. No food or shelter or safety does NOT give peace a chance!