Poverty in New York City
Josh Williams Religion 10 3/16/13 Mr. Martinez Cause Of Poverty In The United States Poverty is an increasing problem in the United States. The cause of poverty in the United States is a plethora of things, Such as the economy getting worse so jobs and factories had to make budget cuts so many people lost their job because Of the worsening economy.
This is not the only reason though there is also people who have serious drug and alcohol addictions and use all their money on their addictions and then become poor, there is still the gamblers that loose all their money and there’s the people that never got a good education so never got a good job and was never able to support themselves or families.
Poverty is very tragic but sometimes its not only Because someone got laid off their job and there’s nothing they could do about it, but also it can be the persons fault for addictions, gambling and never taking school seriously and regretting it when their older and don’t have a job to support yourself or family. During the Holocaust there were many events that occurred which violated just about every principle of Catholic Social Teaching’s. There are three that stand out the most; these principles are life and dignity of the human person, option for the poor and vulnerable, and also care for Gods creation.
These principles were violated in many ways and various occasions during the holocaust. The holocaust violates life and dignity of the human person in many ways one is that it god decides when ones life shall end and how their life shall go but the holocaust killed many innocent people for no reason and that is not what god planned for these people. “If we bear all this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when it is over, then Jews, instead of being doomed, will be held up as an example. ” – Anne Frank.
This quote by Anne Frank shows even though Jews were put through so much suffering and were denied their dignity they will still be powerful and great people. “What exactly was the difference? He wondered to himself. And who decided which people wore the striped pajamas and which people wore the uniforms? ” – John Boyne. This quote is saying that killing humans is not fair because what if the killer was being killed and god decided who is who so a person should not be able to decide if he or she should live or not that is gods decision.
Option for the poor and vulnerable is that people should not be prosecuted or treated differently for any reason but in the holocausts case it was the vulnerable being attacked and treated differently because Hitler and his Nazi army out numbered the Jews. “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. ” – Elie Wiesel.
This quote is showing that the Jews were vulnerable to the Nazi attacks and that no human should have to go through that pain and suffering no matter what condition of living. “We are alive. We are human, with good and bad in us. That’s all we know for sure. We can’t create a new species or a new world. That’s been done. Now we have to live within those boundaries. What are our choices? We can despair and curse, and change nothing. We can choose evil like our enemies have done and create a world based on hate. Or we can try to make things better. ” – Carol Matas.
This quote shows that humans no matter how poor, rich, small, tall, or whatever ethnicity or religious beliefs should not be held vulnerable to a force of terrorists or extremist group such as the Nazi’s on the Jews. The last principle of catholic social teachings that were violated by the actions of the Nazi’s during the holocaust was care for God’s creations. This is the principle that was violated the most, throughout the holocaust Jews were abused and worked to death and killed with various ways of torture showing complete disregard to God’s wishes of loving all and his creations. Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky. Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.
Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never. ” – Elie Wiesel. This quote shows the experience of a Jew who was actually in a concentration camp and he had to deal with the pain and suffering and this quote brings out all the sick torture he received in a quote and how he will be scared for life and will never forget what happened to him at the concentration camp. “They thought we were stupid to do it, (hide Jews) of course; in fact, it was beyond their comprehension that we would risk so much for Jews. – Diet Eman. This quote shows even if it was stupid to help Jews and hide them because of the risk of being killed it was worth it because he was aware of God’s wishes and how the creation of god should be loved so this noble man sacrificed and put his own life at risk just to help and care for one of God’s creations. The cause of poverty in the United States is many things in today’s society, such as the worsening of the economy, job cuts, drug and alcohol addiction, gambling, poor income, and not attending college.
In many cases some of these cause’s can intervene and affiliate with each other. For example if someone is poor from spending all of their money on alcohol and drugs the might try to gamble to get money back, or if someone does not attend college they might not get enough money from their job to provide for themselves or a family if they have one. “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. ” – John F, Kennedy.
This quote by the former president of the United States claims that if a nation can’t help their people who are suffering through poverty it can’t save the corrupt rich citizens who don’t donate and try to help the struggling lower class then they don’t disserve to be wealthy. This is a secondary source because John F. Kennedy did not suffer from poverty. “Poverty is often concealed in splendor, and often in extravagance. It is the task of many people to conceal their neediness from others. Consequently they support themselves by temporary means, and everyday is lost in contriving for tomorrow. – Samuel Johnson. This quote is a secondary source because Samuel Johnson did not suffer through poverty. This quote is saying that poverty is not just brought upon someone but if you don’t work hard enough it will come upon you so you must stay humble and never become to lazy and always strive for the best. “I am a poor man, but I have this consolation: I am poor by accident, not by design. ” – Josh Billings. This quote shows that poverty is not planned but if you don’t work hard enough it will come to you, this man did not want to be poor but it caught up to him because his lack of effort and laziness.
This quote is a primary source because it is written by someone who has experienced poverty. “The seven deadly sins… food, clothing, firing, rent, taxes, respectability and children. Nothing can lift those seven millstones from Man’s neck but money; and the spirit cannot soar until the millstones are lifted. ” – George Bernard Shaw. This quote represents everything that can corrupt a man and transform a good man into a sinner and these actions will leave him corrupt and poor. Poverty is experienced through out the world in large numbers but continues to grow as a huge struggle for The United states.
I have my own personal experience with poverty in my life, as do many citizens of the United States. My personal experience with poverty was about two years ago my aunt who is also my godmother, and a very strong woman in my life whom I look up to was fired from her job because her company needed to save money. This impacted my life in a huge way because my aunt had nowhere to stay and she had to live with e and my family until she found a new job and was able to afford a new house.
During this time period every day after my homework I would look in the newspaper with my aunt and help her find jobs that sounded like fun because it made me sad seeing my aunt like this because I looked up to her and she is one of the most inspirational women in my life because of the way she faugh through her struggles and overcame poverty and is now very successful. But sadly after my aunt was back on her feet and doing good at her new job a few months later she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
When I heard this news I was heartbroken but I didn’t let it upset me because I know that my aunt is the strongest women ever and she can overcome anything she has been cleared of cancer twice and keeps fighting it off I know she can do anything. Poverty even in today remains as one of the United Stats biggest tribulations. More then 15% of the United States suffers from poverty, this is not acceptable we as proud citizens of the United States should fight for each other and always have one another’s back in hardships such as poverty.
Ways average people can help decrease the poverty rate s very simple and will not even contribute too much time out of their day, there are easy fast simple ways we can help people suffering from poverty. These ways are doing charitable acts such as donating money, food and shelter to homeless people, or simply just can food drives at your local school just try to get involved and help your fellow neighbor’s. Poverty may be strong but as a powerful unified nation we can do anything and poverty would stand no chance against us because we are gods children and we can do anything!
