tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post1058604152714868916..comments2023-10-25T10:48:33.620-07:00Comments on Letters to the World: The Food Bank: Friend or Foe?Rebecca S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16409572371302109142noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-46378445801615015292011-12-06T17:02:06.822-08:002011-12-06T17:02:06.822-08:00Chris: That was an interesting video. Thanks for s...Chris: That was an interesting video. Thanks for sharing it. Wow!<br /><br />Jill: Oh, I know most of the western world is in this same predicament, but I can only speak from direct experience to be credible :)<br /><br />Sheena: Thanks! This post has gained me a huge number of views over the past few days.Rebecca S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16409572371302109142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-90461804289432831352011-12-06T14:57:51.334-08:002011-12-06T14:57:51.334-08:00Excellent blog entry, Rebecca! This should get a ...Excellent blog entry, Rebecca! This should get a wider range of exposure because the point you've made is very thought-provoking.<br /><br />SheenaSheenanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-13490321208700150612011-12-05T11:46:14.719-08:002011-12-05T11:46:14.719-08:00Rebecca! Good points all...I am QUITE sure we are ...Rebecca! Good points all...I am QUITE sure we are in the same predicament here in the US. Your words are food for thought most certainly.Jill from Killeny Glenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13639521470702814007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-82274472325285048102011-12-04T12:59:50.329-08:002011-12-04T12:59:50.329-08:00Thanks for all your thoughts, everyone! Lots of fo...Thanks for all your thoughts, everyone! Lots of food for thought. I was in Vancouver on Friday with my husband and youngest daughter. We went to a market across from the CBC building where the big Food Bank Drive was going on. There were protesters outside chanting, "We want justice, not charity." And thanks for the link Chris, I will take a look!Rebecca S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16409572371302109142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-22077758869052854392011-12-02T13:31:50.781-08:002011-12-02T13:31:50.781-08:00Here is the video I mentioned... worth the 10 mins...Here is the video I mentioned... worth the 10 mins<br /><br />renowned philosopher Slavoj Zizek investigates the surprising ethical implications of charitable giving.<br /><br />RSA Animate - First as Tragedy, Then as Farce - YouTube http://bit.ly/vgFYMEChris Wejrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12780371633522986214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-46156682202933780822011-12-02T11:14:40.442-08:002011-12-02T11:14:40.442-08:00I never thought about eliminating or decreasing fo...I never thought about eliminating or decreasing food banks; possibly because I haven't heard a debate such as the one you heard.<br /><br />My initial thought after reading this is that it's good to have food banks even though it represents a huge problem - too much poverty and lack of jobs, leadership, and whatever else is needed to get people employed.<br /><br />During my whole life, I've heard many debates on welfare and agree with half of what's been said about it, i.e. that people are milking the system, etc. Are people in food lines taking advantage of "free food." Perhaps I am naive, but I think most need to be there, and that those of us who are well fed, should share.<br /><br />I think the root of the problem needs to be addressed and dealt with. I've known many people who just don't know how to hold a job and how to budget their money. If today's youth can be taught from a very early age to take pride in what they do for a living and how to handle money, maybe the next generation will be better at avoiding some of the mistakes their parents and grandparents have made in life. All of this is speaking generally, of course. Everyone has a different story.<br /><br />Thought provoking post Rebecca.Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08180243708565855383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-56141083267422724612011-12-02T01:39:34.408-08:002011-12-02T01:39:34.408-08:00Ha, I had to pull the box bigger before I began.
...Ha, I had to pull the box bigger before I began.<br /><br />To my mind there is an inherent danger following the prof's argument and it is basically this. If you take his position then it is too easy to nudge the entire debate to one of no social protection at all. This has happened in the UK right at this moment where the Tory's have taken as policy the do-gooding hobbies of their bored wives and are touting a third way rubbish where the 'poor' are provided for with uncertain donations.<br />If you take a hard line with Aid to the so called third world like I do. Confining my input to micro loans and disaster reliefs. This is one thing, but to shift this to home brings things back to a Poor Law situation where the poor are seen as synonymous with criminal. Or to put it in Canadian terms, someone from the maritime provinces other than PEI. There was a time when the central cities were very hard on those that moved after the fishing season.<br />Of course, you can have a situation of the 'deserving poor', as distinct from the indigent poor. <br />Anyhooooos, keep up the good work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-4507145914223208892011-12-02T01:11:25.814-08:002011-12-02T01:11:25.814-08:00It's a world wide issue - Over here the Govt i...It's a world wide issue - Over here the Govt is promoting 'The Big Society' where communities get together to volunteer to provide services and supports. While I applaud people taking responsibility personally and socially for the society we live in - heck I volunteer myself - I think it's an indictment on modern society that this HAS to be done to provide a basic level of care instead of being the icing on the cake that makes a basic level something much more worthwhile.<br /><br />I agree with the professor that while communities are doing this govts will accept that they do not need to address this issue - either fully, or at all - and these people will become even more marginalised and ignored and the expectation will simply be that society will give more. While that may work in the short or medium term, ultimately it's unsustainable.<br /><br />Of course perhaps by that time world leaders will possibly have manufactured a war to help resolve the problem.<br /><br />{Cynical me}Alistairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16667242161539996736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-25629128103695661802011-12-01T23:53:00.915-08:002011-12-01T23:53:00.915-08:00Great post Rebecca! I caught some of that program,...Great post Rebecca! I caught some of that program, too, and it really got me thinking. Of course, we'll still donate but it's certainly time for change.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844722046367122808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-46229141032349129182011-12-01T22:43:40.586-08:002011-12-01T22:43:40.586-08:00Rebecca, there is a great video through RSA on the...Rebecca, there is a great video through RSA on the issues that arise with charity. I always like the $100 plate dinner in which $20 goes to charity... Is it still selfless if you get something in return? Will try to find the vid for you.<br /><br />Interesting post!Chris Wejrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12780371633522986214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-77600809205363544982011-12-01T18:44:30.370-08:002011-12-01T18:44:30.370-08:00You are doing a great job indeed. People in this c...You are doing a great job indeed. People in this country are lucky to have you, otherwise human dignity and both emotional and physical health would be in danger. If it was not for people like you what would people like me do to help out, because as much as we want to help it is very hard to check which one of our neighbours is hungary as people are shy to ask. Keep up the good job. GOD BLESS YOU !MunirGhiasuddinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05232362559666320301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-87738700354383744662011-12-01T17:13:27.628-08:002011-12-01T17:13:27.628-08:00i think they do fill a gap...and play a role...if ...i think they do fill a gap...and play a role...if we want government to change i think there are better ways than starving our own people....good on you for coordinating as well...Brian Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722940075884718007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-7459262792312308922011-12-01T16:04:14.129-08:002011-12-01T16:04:14.129-08:00Rebecca, our family too will be supporting food ba...Rebecca, our family too will be supporting food banks as we do all year long, both within our own community and the lower mainland. I have been following the Adopt-A-School program that is regularly featured in the Vancouver Sun. I believe this is a parallel situation that reflects the growing need of families everywhere. What has our society come to when schools need to be "adopted" to be able to support the families within their school communities? Some would argue that schools need not take on this role but if they don't, who will? The Vancouver Sun has kept inner city schools as its focus but we all know there are "inner-city schools" in the country as well. It surely is time for society as a whole to reflect and act on the growing disparity that spawned the "occupy" movement. As always, your words are food for thought and then, hopefully, action!Live Each Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11927310089764123891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-52998182099140908162011-12-01T14:33:04.722-08:002011-12-01T14:33:04.722-08:00Oh I'm so impressed that you are doing somethi...Oh I'm so impressed that you are doing something so wonderful to help out! I give to foodbanks every year and despite reading both sides of the story will continue to do so....and be thankful I don't need it!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17218519474695662328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5133586152925723487.post-3057291556673536972011-12-01T10:46:54.844-08:002011-12-01T10:46:54.844-08:00I sometimes think that landlord's are getting ...I sometimes think that landlord's are getting away with charging high rents because food banks help people survive. A tough question indeed.From Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16083105291622283031noreply@blogger.com