“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” Dom Helder Camara
Their Humanity Why do you fear that helping another will cheat you of all that you dream for yourself, and that your small piece will be taken by those less deserving of their humanity, that it takes away your veneer of appearing caring when you give so little and the self-righteous judgements you offer, that their poverty is clearly deserved, and besides, it is your superpower to divvy droplets of coin like cheap salvation so long as someone is watching your performance? Why do you imagine that the world is just for you? ©Paul Vincent Cannon
Note: Following Camara’s famous comment I note that it is still the case that it is easy to pillory or dismiss people who become concerned for the plight of others as ‘leftist’, ‘communist’, ‘socialist’, ‘social democrat’, ‘democrat’, ‘Christian democrat’, Greens and etc., etc.
Well said Paul. Its time those that can help do so, without an audience.
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Yes, no egos need apply. Thank you for sharing Darnell.
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Exactly! This culture of entitlement leads us nowhere.
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Yes, such a major problem.
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Excellent quote and your words, of course.
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Thank you so much Cheryl. I think my blood has been running hot this past four years, no respite in sight.
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Mine too, unless I pause and think, nah, can’t be…?
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🙂
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Indeed! Beautiful Poem and Inspiration!
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Thank you very much for that, appreciated
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I hadn’t heard the Camara quote before. It reminds me of how discouraged my dad was when the church sewing circle (Stitch & Bitch) refused to let go of any of the money they’d made and help the poor in our community, instead opting to have the kneeler cushions reupholstered. He would have appreciated your poem very much.
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I take that as the highest praise. Thank you Liz. Sadly I know that group, though I did laugh raucously when I read the name, that’s exactly the problem with the church today, keep it in-house, save for us, fix the kneelers and watch them struggle. One parish invested money and time in repair of kneelers and only five people were using them. I would be so much more enthused if, yes, we gave it away. Bonhoeffer was right, the church has long lost its right to call itself Christian.
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You nailed it in this comment … one blogger is frantically telling everyone they can’t get to heaven without going thru Christ … I raised the issue of other faiths but her’s is apparently the only ‘right’ one!
Such fanaticism, hypocrisy and false frugality while others suffer is so un-Christ like …
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Yes indeed, and there is so much at risk in such comments, so exclusive and right, a piety of individualism.
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but what is really breaking my heart is that all those fire donations are still in the bank while those families who lost homes are camped in appalling conditions …
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That is abuse in my view, one vote of parliament could change that if Gladys would show some leadership.
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who knows what political pressure she is under as a woman …
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Too far invested with Morrison for my liking.
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I didn’t realise that … he was a total failure as defense minister …
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And she has been named as right up the sports rorts business too. Sad.
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ouch how disappointing ..
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Yes, I keep hoping for an Integrity Party – 🙂
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we need it! I’ll join as soon as you set it up, please?
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Yes, I’d need a clear mind alongside.
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oh wouldn’t it be a wondrous world if, whatever job we had, we just did it to the best of our ability with full integrity!
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That is my utopian dream, yes!!
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mine for many decades and when I’ve voiced it colleagues have looked at me like I just grew horns, such an alien concept to others …
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If only they aspired … 😉
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You’re welcome, Paul. When my dad couldn’t take the pettiness anymore he ended up going through Clinical Pastoral Education and becoming a hospital chaplain.
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That is normally the route, but where I am, that’s not an option. But many of my colleagues have down just that. And yes, it is pettiness.
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Great poem – well said
>
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Many thanks Lyn
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“Why do you imagine that the world is just for you?”
Not only are you good with words, I find you very thoughtful of others as well.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
CHRIST FED THEM—ANYONE WHO CARES NOT FOR THE LEAST OF THESE—DON’T KNOW GOD! MATTHEW 25: 30 AND MATTHEW 7: 22-23.
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Thank you so much Jonathan.
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YOWZA, YOWZA!
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Very kind 🙂
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Very admirable post!
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🙂
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YET…The basic tenants of socialism or communism are ti use whatever folks will believe–true or not–to gain absolute power. Show me a mostly socialist country who can REALLY feed the masses—without outside support. ain’t any such state, without some form of economic modifiers!
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All states use your first ideal including so called democratic nations, our rather tame lot use exactly that method, and in my view all states fail that test no matter their politics, but the crucial issue for me is the attitude, at least some states are not fixed just on the individual, Finland would be the primary example, followed by a good chunk of north Western Europe and Iceland. Socialism always recognised that a good neighbour policy viz trade was always necessary because the world’s resources are so varied, so trade is crucial. I think all politics fails. But I also believe that the right is the most dangerous particularly because it easily manipulates Christians, and is forged on the survival of the fittest, social Darwinists. 🙂
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YOU DO HAVE GOOD POINTS. HOWEVER, WHILE CONSERVATIVES USE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS, LIBERALS/SOCIALISTS AIM TO HARASS AND STAMP CHRISTIANS OUT—CHRISTIAN BELIEF BEING CONSIDERED A THREAT TO THE STATE AND ITS POWER . WE GET IT FROM BOTH SIDES!
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We do, but I’m still thinking that if I’m having to choose, the non-right is better for me.
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That was interesting! A lot of truth there.
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The quote is so true, and how often had we heared about humanity, but of communists too. Whly – only rhetoric this way – do we actually have fear about a leftwinged Pope, and lieftwinged others? Isnt it not extremistic giving the poor and the helpless not what they deserve? Michael
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Yes, we need a completely new language altogether for working together politically.
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So true, Paul. Lets hope it will happen,very soon.
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Yes.
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beautifully said! i absolutely agree. the quote and word choice are amazing! i really enjoyed reading this poem, thank you very much for sharing!☺️
Follow @everythingtips for tips and recommendations if interested☺️ It would mean a lot to me!🥺🤍
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Humanity can make world beautiful with happy souls
Stay safe happy healthy and wealthy
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You too, and thank you 🙂
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🙏
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Truly spoken…..Its just that no matter how hard we try we cannot satisfy everyone
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Absolutely, we cannot control reception of what we say, so many filters and possibilities, some are so determined to hear the opposite.
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