When I was a kid there was this famous editorial that was printed in a newspaper from a little girl named Virginia. I’m dating myself here, but some of you may remember this particular article. I reprint it here for my friend Virginia… 10 years of friendship and she hasn’t aged a day. Happy Birthday Chiquita!
YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS
http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/
We are coming up on Christmas, that time of year where we are all supposed to come together in the name of light…. Where all the bad stuff is dropped, the good stuff celebrated, and comfort and joy reign in every heart… man, woman, and child.
Sadly, this is not the world we live in.
I know for a fact that if something drastic isn’t done in the next month to mitigate certain circumstances, mine, and others Christmas’s will be spent in some darkness.
I began a quest 3 years ago to understand the work it takes to forge an artist. I am now in full realization of that undertaking, and consider myself a great asset to our society.
I am also living in poverty.
In your community, right now, there are others who, like me, have cashed in all their favors, and live precariously from meal to meal. Lots of them.
As a society we above all espouse the right to life of every being we bring into this world. We make it a point of pride to establish systems and programs to ensure their health and welfare by providing for their basic needs.
The law requires that parents provide their children with the necessities of life. Does it not stand to reason that we should ensure this right for adults aswell?
Sustaining life requires sustenance.
I don’t want to see a single Canadian left out of the race to market this Christmas… the possibilities, the choices. We should all feel the rush of joy that comes from a perfectly appointed table… a roof… a bed.
A Christmas where we forget the lineups, the cold, the exhaustion… where we all let the perfect present find us. Such is the nature of PEACE anyways.
Poor people need dignity, not a handout. If we are to raise them (and by consequence, each other) above this undignified state of affairs, we MUST take action, and give them back their power of choice.
Where does one begin to address this issue?
The Government? which level? There are so many levels of bureaucracy addressing the poverty issue it makes your head spin… about as much as the headlines in the media they control. Combined, our levels of government control the majority of the headlines we read. The media we consume. The things we learn.
The Media? Which outlet? There are more media outlets out there than one can shake a stick at. They all like to flash images of starving infants in third world countries, but how many are showing you the children living behind closed doors in Canada with empty stomachs and extreme frustration and anger. They know they live in an industrialized, compassionate nation.
Industry? Which segment? There are numerous industries involved in supplying Canadians with their needs, including several bureaucracies there as well. Aside the Government, industry is the second largest consumer of media in Canada. They are possibly more powerful than Government for controlling the media. They PRODUCE the advertising we are so addicted to it’s infected every aspect of our life.
One can only surmise, that the shortest, quickest route to effectively bringing about the change we all need to give meaning to the headlines we wake up to is to address all of the segments simultaneously.
Via the people that comprise these entities.
Somewhere around you someone is in pain. They are suffering, in some ways similarly to you, and in other ways, dire ways, they differ from you greatly. Take a moment to really observe your surroundings and listen to what they are telling you. Observe the people around you closely…
I insist that our Government declare certain communities in states of economic emergency.
I insist that our Industrial Associations mandate their members to commit to bringing their resources to bear on this endeavor.
I expect the support of my elected officials.
I expect the support of my captains of industry.
I expect Media Coverage….
and I expect the Canadian people to support the idea that every Canadian share a utopian perspective this holiday season. It is high time we made it a point of honor to love our neighbor, and meet his needs.
If we can end the year on such a high note, imagine what 2010 can be?
