Friday, November 21, 2008
What do the poor deserve?
Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Phillippines, was famous for her vast collection of shoes. When a reporter from the United States asked her about her shoes, and the other luxury items she had collected, Marcos seemed a little puzzled. "You Americans like nice things," she answered. "I watch Dallas, I've seen how you live." I don't think Imelda Marcos ever got over feeling that she was entitled to the things that political corruption bought her, or feeling that Americans, who have it so good, were judging her unfairly.
I think of her when I see parents going without health insurance or reliable cars in order to buy stylish clothing and trips to Disneyland for themselves or their children. Part of what they are doing is being "good Americans." Good Americans aspire to the world portrayed in television shows, popular music and mass marketed movies. Good Americans spend money to make sure that they, and their children, fit in to the majority culture.
A woman I know, a single mother who struggles financially, had her name chosen for a program that donates Christmas gifts for needy families. She was asked to fill out a wish list, and she wrote down the items her children had been asking for. One of the items was rather expensive, an Xbox 360. It was probably unrealistic for her to ask for it, but it was something that she, if she'd had the money to pick out her children's gifts, would have tried to get them.
Someone from the agency that put this family into the program told me, "I didn't leave that on the list. They shouldn't be asking for big ticket things like that, when they need warm coats and food." I thought that was a pretty smug attitude. What she seemed to be saying was: These are poor people, unsuccessful in navigating our society. Poor children have no right to ask for the same ridiculous, extravagant gifts that the rest of us might want.
I think attitudes like that from the "haves" are part of the reason that we get people like Imelda Marcos in this world. A lot of really bad situations, in politics and in personal life, arise from envy. When you decide a disadvantaged family isn't even allowed to want anything frivolous, how do do expect them to feel?
I think of her when I see parents going without health insurance or reliable cars in order to buy stylish clothing and trips to Disneyland for themselves or their children. Part of what they are doing is being "good Americans." Good Americans aspire to the world portrayed in television shows, popular music and mass marketed movies. Good Americans spend money to make sure that they, and their children, fit in to the majority culture.
A woman I know, a single mother who struggles financially, had her name chosen for a program that donates Christmas gifts for needy families. She was asked to fill out a wish list, and she wrote down the items her children had been asking for. One of the items was rather expensive, an Xbox 360. It was probably unrealistic for her to ask for it, but it was something that she, if she'd had the money to pick out her children's gifts, would have tried to get them.
Someone from the agency that put this family into the program told me, "I didn't leave that on the list. They shouldn't be asking for big ticket things like that, when they need warm coats and food." I thought that was a pretty smug attitude. What she seemed to be saying was: These are poor people, unsuccessful in navigating our society. Poor children have no right to ask for the same ridiculous, extravagant gifts that the rest of us might want.
I think attitudes like that from the "haves" are part of the reason that we get people like Imelda Marcos in this world. A lot of really bad situations, in politics and in personal life, arise from envy. When you decide a disadvantaged family isn't even allowed to want anything frivolous, how do do expect them to feel?
Labels: imelda marcos, mass market, television culture
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I totally agree with you-we have a giving tree at church where children can write down something they want-and it's fun to get them something impractical but fun-we all deserve dreams and wishes. Christmas gifts are not necessarily a time for what you need, but for wishes and hope. Love, hope, peace and joy-those aren't very practical-we don't have Advent for heating, food and rent...oour dreams are big for all of us!
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