[Winona Online Democracy] An article on the relativity of how we view poverty -- "What happens when an entire generation forgets what it means to be poor?" by Lynda McDonnell the political editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. -- was thought provoking. The article is located at this web site - just click on the url below if you're interested-- http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2000/0011.mcdonnell.html The highlight for me was illustrating how much more young people (all of us actually) can learn from real life experiences. Much of what I read here sounded like our local school's Community Service Classes. I believe this article helps articulate some critically important ways in which "character" can be enhanced -- In this case attributes of caring and compassion for your fellow human beings. I also found the observation that caring and giving seem to increase with proximity to poverty to be ironic when compared to another correlation I have seen concerning the increase in prejudice against Native Americans increasing with proximity to Reservations. I don't agree with the conclusion of the author regarding why people donate more in Mississippi than Mass. I don't think it's physical proximity. I think it's a couple of things - one would be having more understanding through a personal involvement such as the children in the article had. Another is the feeling one has when you think - "There but for the grace of God go I." This is a proximity that is more intellectual and emotional -- but mostly a proximity of the heart. How can our community keep alive that compassion and how can we create it for our young citizens? <(���)> Craig Brooks ---------------- This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project. Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe. Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name. Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
