Give it up
This week has been a crucial one. The applications for the UC’s are due tonight at midnight and its been a little hectic trying to get all of the personal statements and all of the last minute questions and trying to calm all of the anxiety that come with this time of year. I have to be honest and say that I will be very glad when its all said and done and the last student has clicked the submit button. This weekend is mine!
One thing I do have to say is that I love the people I have been fortunate to come in contact with for various reasons. The way their minds work and the millions of conversations I get to engage in. Yesterday was a prime example. Bogged down with phone calls and emails, I needed to get out of my office for a second. I called my co-worker and asked if he wanted to roll with me to Café Strada for some coffee. After some minor arm pulling we make our way up the hill for our caffeine fix, but more importantly, our mental breaks. As we are walking we pass by a restaurant chain that just opened on Telegraph Avenue. The line outside of this place was literally wrapped around the corner. As a grand opening promotion, the restaurant was giving away free food to students with a Cal ID. As we waited for the light to change, my co-worker says “someone needs to get a picture of that.” I look at him confused and he says, “They need to take a picture of that massive line of students, people who can definitely afford to pay to eat at this place and the homeless man who is standing on the corner begging for change.” I looked in the direction of the line and sure enough, there at the very end of the long line, stood a homeless man begging for change. He continued to say “Its really sad that they are giving away free food, just to get people to come in and buy more food, like they wouldn’t do it anyway.” As we walked, I passed by a friend of mine who told me she was on her way to get her second free meal. I joked and told her that she should give one to the homeless man on the corner, and she looked at me laughed and kept moving. When I got back to my office, I thought about it for a while and got sad.
Here we are in the “richest country in the world”, which as a sidebar, is another really scary thought considering how much debt we have, but I digress, and we are constantly thinking of more ways to become more selfish. The very thought of using our resources to do something good for someone else and thereby having to sacrifice something from ourselves is often tossed aside. I’m guilty of it too. I have been “meaning” to go to the homeless shelter right next door to my job and volunteer at the food bank, but I’ve been too busy making my money and handling my business, but will see nothing wrong with laying around and watching TV all day. Where is the balance? When did we get to the point where our own agenda’s supersede helping the less fortunate? When did we get to the place where police are now a common sight at Wal-mart the day after thanksgiving because people fight, stab and hurt each other to get that last flash drive out of the bin? It is perfectly fine to do nice things for yourself, but when did volunteering and giving become a burden or an obligation instead of joy?
We as a country, as a people, as human beings need to get our priorities straight. The permanence in our shift toward materialism is scary and I can only imagine what the future holds. Now that the holidays are upon us, I’d like to encourage everyone to do something out of the ordinary. Think about the people less fortunate than you and do something to help. Whether its donating clothes or food to a drive, or volunteering your time, there is a lot of work to be done. Let the holidays be your way getting the ball rolling and keep it going past Christmas. Poverty and poor education are problems that are not going to go away with a blink of the eyes. We need to start opening our eyes to the needs of those around us and start making a difference.
Peace Y’all
B
