How did we get here?
Whether contemplating our nation’s moral and intellectual degeneration, recent ceding of leadership on critical world issues (current pandemic management being just one among many), outdated infrastructure, backward demographic trends (like declining lifespan and rising infant mortality in select groups), or — in chambers of our government — how party comes before nation and politicians’ self-interest trumps all, the same question arises: How did we get here?
The United States of today would baffle de Toqueville. Indeed, in many ways, it makes as much sense as a food truck that serves high tea.
To begin to address the question, consider this: We once taught Greek and Latin in high school; we now teach remedial English in college.
Rhetoric and logic, once staples of standard curricula, are bygones, and civics was dropped from grade-school education decades ago.
Media literacy is low, especially in the older voting population, while standards of journalism have grown inconsistent, and operations masquerading as platforms of news professionals confound and mislead the masses.
History and current events are absorbed through infotainment outlets, rather than proper halls of learning and vetted, reliable, objective sources of information.
Folk religion, sometimes in the guise of Christianity, has replaced orthodoxy, and biblical illiteracy reigns, even in many a chapel.
Our compass, sexton and charts are naught. There is no earthly captain in place now (or inbound from the horizon) who can single-handedly right this ship.
We have lost our way, and it was our own doing.
That is how we got here.
John Atwell
Kurtistown
Don’t be ashamed
No one should feel ashamed/embarrassed about accepting food donations.
My grandmother, who lived in another state, worked at a church’s food bank her whole life. She managed the food bank until she died, over 80 years old. More than 55 years, total.
Her job was to keep the shelves stocked and make sure that the donated goods were used before expiration. There were no questions asked, other than the amount of people in a household to better help those who showed up. Household income did not matter.
She did not make much of a salary, but she loved her job. She also did not really even go to church. She and nobody else in this program ever looked down upon anyone they were providing food for. The exact opposite was true.
Being able to use all donated goods prior to their expiration date meant that she was doing her job properly, while honoring the donors.
Being thanked by those in need is nice, but being able to use the stock of supplies was all the thanks she and the food bank needed. A large percentage of recipients became regular donors when their times allowed them to.
If food banks were unnecessary, my grandmother would have had a different career and possibly a much different life. She could have made more money at many other career opportunities, but she loved her job.
Every day she was helping those in need, from infancy to the elderly — possibly part of the reason she lived into the ninth decade of life.
The best way to honor the people who donate goods/money is to use their good deeds. Please honor all donors and help people like my grandmother keep their jobs while feeding all humans in your household.
There is no shame in accepting life necessities.
Nathan D. Uglum
Keaau