Disconnect

Sometimes when you least expect it your mind wanders off into a place where you feel you have captured the world's problems. Or sometimes you cannot simply put an issue into words because you are at a loss of them. Today at lunch I was enjoying a delectable salad from Trader Joe's and started talking about different cities in the United States with my friend Hallie. We started off talking about LA, then New York, then San Francisco, lastly Chicago. There is only so long you can talk about something that is exciting on a surface level. Shopping, food, attractions all wear away. All of these cities have a disconnect. I suppose you could say that there is a disconnect between the rich and the poor in every major city. Some people think there is just a disconnect in  India, where there will be an endless Caste System, or perhaps South Africa where Cape Town is booming with money, but go to the Shanty Towns and you will discover that there is extreme poverty that is not always addressed or cared for by the rich.

Today on NPR I was listening to a story about The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They give millions of dollars in grants to organizations all over the world every single year. The lady on NPR this morning was explaining that giving money to these organizations is just not enough. The Gates are starting to address and bring awareness of giving to people who have money. It is one thing for the Gates to be these good people who give money, but after awhile I wonder if they think they are alone (although I know a lot of rich people give) in this process. They are trying to get more people to give who have been blessed to do so. I really respect them for this.

Sorry that was a tangent. But I was thinking about it earlier today as I was discussing these cities with Hallie. Washington D.C. is our Nation's capital. If we are a country that believes in social services (after all we do have a democrat as President) and make policies constantly to better serve our people, why are they not being put into place? That is another disconnect- follow up on passing of policies (that is another story though). When you walk down the streets of D.C. you see people dressed in their best suits, best shoes, and maybe a few more wrinkles then they should have for working too much. You see money and you feel the power. If you go about 15 minutes North East of the Capitol you will hit poverty. If you go 20 minutes NW of D.C. you will hit even more poverty. You will meet kids who have no drive to finish school. You will come across homeless people who will share the part of their story where they dropped out of high school. You will see people in business suits running pass the homeless man into the Senate building because he is late for a hearing.

Almost every big city struggles with the the rich and the poor. Suburbs are left to the average income people so you do not see as much of it. It makes sense why Jesus warned us about money and power. It makes sense why Jesus, a man of power, loved the poor. It makes sense why Jesus did not want to hang out with the Pharisees. I wonder what it would look like if the rich (this is a generalization of course) loved the poor and saw them more then a "poor person," but as someone with dignity, a mind, and a heart. Sometimes I get these visions in my head where I actually see this happening worldwide- a little idealistic I suppose!

Haha, I was looking for pictures in DC and came across this. I could not pass it up.