By snoadmin
For ages, we have lived in a battlefield inhabited by rivaling political parties arguing relentlessly about the issues of the day. Regardless of whether we belong to one of these parties or are merely a bystander lodged in the heart of the scuffle, most of us are blinded to anything that takes place outside of issues relevant to the middle and upper class. What is practically entirely veiled under us, however, has taken a turn for the worse within the past two years.
According to a Department of Agriculture report released this past Monday, the hunger rate in the U.S. continues at the highest it has been within the past 15 years.
In 2008, 14.6 percent of Americans were “food insecure.” One year later, the percentage increased slightly to 14.7 percent, or approximately 45 million people. The number has changed very little since then.
Now, frequent concern over matters such as increases in taxes or school tuition blinds us “food secure” folk to issues regarding food deficiency, as it doesn’t affect most of us. As we continue our selfish wishing and wanting for what benefits us, more and more people struggle to put food on the table.
Many households lack food to an extent that they have become accustomed to enduring constant changes in eating patterns or an awfully strict diet. Food scarcity remains most common in urban areas and among African-American and Hispanic societies.
Indeed, we may assume that many who lack food put their welfare money toward drugs or the like, ultimately amplifying their setback to a higher extreme. But we should not think that way. Yes, we shouldn’t spend more money on welfare or anti-hunger initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the National School Lunch Program, but that doesn’t money shouldn’t be spent more wisely.
Nevertheless, when passing by an obviously impoverished individual after leaving a restaurant with a box of leftovers, set aside your selfish ways and offer them a meal. Remember that if you’re hungry later, you most likely have an alternative meal readily available while they may have nothing.
With Thanksgiving hurriedly nearing, take a moment and relieve yourself of the outbursts of tension regarding matters relevant only to the middle and upper class, and convey your gratitude by giving — even very minimal — support to those plunged into hunger. This may be very cliché of us but generosity never hurts.
It’s a tough decision, whether or not we should do more to ensure that the hungry get fed. And, during a time when parents have to bend over backwards in order to send their children to college, spending more money in order to aid the disadvantaged sounds rather unappealing.
However, we must remember that right now times are hard for everyone, and while in times like these our survival instincts kick in and persuade us to be stingy in our spending, there are plenty of affordable fast food gigs surrounding us where a three-dollar meal can be purchased and given to someone deprived of food. Thank you, dollar menus!
Again, this may seem like a cliché, heart-touching account, but it’s not. The statistics listed concerning the hunger rate in the U.S. should be taken seriously.
Taking a few minutes out of our own time to cease our complaining and allow others less advantaged than us to experience even the slightest taste of the gratitude we feel every day for undoubtedly having a meal at home waiting for us could make a difference in someone else’s life.
After all, gratitude is the basis to happiness.
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