I can see where the Stanford student is coming from. He wants his grandchildren to have the same extraordinary experience he had at this particular homeless shelter, not realizing that it is suggesting that the same shelter will be there in 60 years. Will this homeless shelter be affected by the help of the volunteers or will it all be the same for centuries? Will some people always be homeless? We can ask these questions, but we should not be helping without a cause. by volunteering, it assists to make a person's life better and out of their current situation, not just make it easier. Everyone can help around their church, be in Big Brothers Big Sisters, or just helping a sick friend; it is still considered community service. By doing these acts if kindness, it helps our society stay semi-sane and community-based.
I think Loeb stated the main point is the horrors and curses of our society circle to the next generations and it will not cease until "the development of powerful relationships with people who can give them the sense of being cared for that they've been previousy denied, and show them a different way to live". Not a lot of these homeless people of the streets have families, and if they do they may not even know where they are. These volunteers can provide those powerful relationships they long for and sense of security and calmness in their lives. You don't need help from government programs to heal a person emotionally. One person can make that extra step to help one person get off the streets by showing they care, and it can be a chain reaction. You don't know for sure, but it doesn't hurt to try.
I don't know if this movement will occur by the time my grandchildren are around, and have the ability to make a difference. But I surely hope that by their grandchildren, they will be saying 'can you believe that people used to have to sleep on the sidewalks?' People need to become sensitive again and put themselves in others' shoes. We have to realize that every single person can make a change towards something good in their life.
Well said Taylor. You never know who you will affect. Taking that one step could encourage someone else to do the same. Its like that commercial where a guy does something nice for a woman, another woman sees that and does something nice for a little boy then the little boy does something for someone and these random acts of kindness just keep spreading.
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteThis is very well stated! Like Joanna mentions, it is much like that commercial (and the entire set of commercials that are overal inspiring) that spreads acts of kindness. Each step makes a difference. It may take a while to get every homeless person off the street, but every bit you do helps. These experiences also change a person. I think that is what the Harvard student is saying when he says he wants his grandchildren to have the same experience. He knows that experience changed something inside of him and believes that it would make others more aware of their communities as well. No one wants homeless people on the streets forever, but until the day comes where we are able to protect them, we have to just reach out and help them when we can.