Why my mother is awesome
Jun. 24th, 2012 09:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missroseroseThis morning, my grandmother sent my mother one of the many iterations of the "Hiroshima vs. Detroit - 67 years later" email that's been going around, showing pictures of a glittering Japanese city set against some of the poorest and most run-down sections of Detroit and claiming that this was where the welfare state and Democratic politics in general had gotten us. The blatant confirmation bias, the complete disregard for the differences in culture and situation, and the demonstrable falsity of the email aside, my mother sent her back a couple of pictures of the Detroit skyline along with this response:
Mom, your message entitled "67 Years Later" is so one sided it was difficult for me to read. It showed a glistening, modern Hiroshima and photos of impoverished inner city Detroit. Please look at the photos of Detroit up above - doesn't look so bad, does it?
Anyone can make a situation look terrible by telling only one side of the story. Hiroshima was rebuilt by one of the biggest US bail outs in history. Guilt money for what we did to them in WWII. The Japanese did not rebuild it all by themselves! This message is absolutely ludicrous to suggest otherwise - and according to my daughter's web research the photos aren't even of Hiroshima, they are of Yokohama - a wealthy port city near Tokyo 420 miles EAST of Hiroshima!
While I do agree that an economic system that does not reward production will end in an economy that stagnates, I also believe that it is right and just to help each other - individually and collectively as a government.
The gap between the wealthy and the impoverished in this country is absolutely shameful. And it isn't just because the poor don't want to work or are always looking for a handout. Some very good people find themselves in a cycle of poverty because of things they can't help - like Hurricane Katrina or the 2009 Economic Crash that caused them to lose their jobs. That happened to me and I was fortunate that I had you and Rowland to take care of me when my job ended in 2009 due to no fault of my own. Some good people are still looking diligently for work two years after the crash and can't find it, while the rich keep on taking risks that shake the economy, e.g. JP Morgan's recent $2 billion fiasco.
Instead of sending around one-sided messages that wrongly blame the democrats for all our woes and smugly attempt to make the Republicans look like the only one's who are doing anything good for the country, I suggest you send out this link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/it-aint-over-the-business-secret_n_1607385.html
It is about nine women who make a difference - and who have been quietly making a difference for 30 years. It is not political parties that change the world - it is people with caring hearts. Please Mom, be fair and don't forward one sided messages that only add to the anger and frustration in the world. Send out messages of hope that harm no one and help everyone. I am fine with you promoting a Republican agenda - but do it fairly, OK? Love, Faith
Mom, your message entitled "67 Years Later" is so one sided it was difficult for me to read. It showed a glistening, modern Hiroshima and photos of impoverished inner city Detroit. Please look at the photos of Detroit up above - doesn't look so bad, does it?
Anyone can make a situation look terrible by telling only one side of the story. Hiroshima was rebuilt by one of the biggest US bail outs in history. Guilt money for what we did to them in WWII. The Japanese did not rebuild it all by themselves! This message is absolutely ludicrous to suggest otherwise - and according to my daughter's web research the photos aren't even of Hiroshima, they are of Yokohama - a wealthy port city near Tokyo 420 miles EAST of Hiroshima!
While I do agree that an economic system that does not reward production will end in an economy that stagnates, I also believe that it is right and just to help each other - individually and collectively as a government.
The gap between the wealthy and the impoverished in this country is absolutely shameful. And it isn't just because the poor don't want to work or are always looking for a handout. Some very good people find themselves in a cycle of poverty because of things they can't help - like Hurricane Katrina or the 2009 Economic Crash that caused them to lose their jobs. That happened to me and I was fortunate that I had you and Rowland to take care of me when my job ended in 2009 due to no fault of my own. Some good people are still looking diligently for work two years after the crash and can't find it, while the rich keep on taking risks that shake the economy, e.g. JP Morgan's recent $2 billion fiasco.
Instead of sending around one-sided messages that wrongly blame the democrats for all our woes and smugly attempt to make the Republicans look like the only one's who are doing anything good for the country, I suggest you send out this link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/it-aint-over-the-business-secret_n_1607385.html
It is about nine women who make a difference - and who have been quietly making a difference for 30 years. It is not political parties that change the world - it is people with caring hearts. Please Mom, be fair and don't forward one sided messages that only add to the anger and frustration in the world. Send out messages of hope that harm no one and help everyone. I am fine with you promoting a Republican agenda - but do it fairly, OK? Love, Faith
