With the real world being what it is, all we can do is become informed as we can. With information comes enlightenment.
Living in any country, developed or developing, there are always inequities. I recently saw a documentary on the homeless in Hollywood, CA. Quite enlightening.
A study was done in NYC using relatives looking like anonymous homeless folks and their blood relatives walked around or over them without a thought. When one experiences poverty, often they become immune to its existence.
Obviously Lenbert sees it and recognizes it for what it is, pure human suffering. Whatever you label it, shanty, squattering, ghettos, slums, it all comes down to other humans that are not part of the "system" and they have become marginalized.
With his pub crawl, Lenbert has seen with his own eyes the direct impact the donations, gifts and money has on these people in his neighborhood. I have been there and witnessed it myself.
This is an emotional issue for Lenbert. I know that for certain. He has seen bartenders at even some small bars tipped more in one round than some of these people see in a month. Life is not fair to all, and I am sure many of you have experienced it in your own life or the lives of friends or family members.
Lenbert has admitted he is not a legal charity. We cannot expect him to know all the legal aspects of the accounting and audits involved with legal charities. In the same vein, he cannot be certain what goes on behind closed doors of the "shanties". His position comes from visceral experience, trying to correct an inequity that hurts his soul.
Lenbert and I have talked in length about this, and while we have differing opinions on how to get there, we both know something needs to be done.
I have always been a believer in the idea of teaching one to fish because it feeds for a lifetime. But if there is not adequate time to teach, what are the alternatives?
Jamaicans are extremely lucky in the fact that food actually grows on trees and it is impossible to freeze to death. But when one sees the hungry children moments after witnessing tips that equal a month income, emotions can and will have an effect.
I still believe that giving away "donations" for the most part has an overall negative impact. But if Lenbert can organize the children's orchestra, then the community will be giving something back to show their appreciation for what they have been given.
If this becomes a reality, it will be hard to argue with the result.
But as Maggie wrote, "Poverty, Inc." is a reality. Lenbert, and each of us have to weigh the reality versus the possibility of an unlikely positive outcome.
