WATCH 20/20 “Waiting on the World to Change” — LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
Posted by Catherine Morgan on January 26, 2007
WATCH 20/20 TONIGHT (if you missed the show you can see it at the 20/20 site) — THEN LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK — by Catherine
I hope you will all watch 20/20 tonight, when Dianne Sayer lives with an impoverished family in Camden, NJ. The show is titled “waiting on the world to change“.
I would really like to get feedback from any of you who watch this program tonight. All comments will be posted, as long as respectfully written.
The plight of the homeless and the working poor in this country, is a subject we don’t talk enough about, but that we need to talk about more. Not just talk, but take action as well, because millions of families in the United States of America are living as if they were in a third world country. This is not acceptable to me, as I am sure it is not acceptable to you.
Please watch the show, tell me what you think, and tell me what you would do if you were in a position to make a difference on this matter.
Also see my earlier post on the 744,000 million homeless in America. This is an extremely high number, especially considering we are the richest country in the world. The other sobering statistic is that 40% of the homeless in America are families.
Also see: QUOTES ON HUMANITY, HAS THE WORLD LOST IT’S EMPATHY?
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Let us know what you think on some of the other issues in politics today…..just go the the WHAT DO YOU THINK? link.
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Tireman said
I really like your blog. I particularly enjoy how you give links for democratic and republican sites. That shows an open-mindedness that is all too often missing from politically themed sites. In a perfect world, I think the American population would be composed of people that were equally made up a mix of democratic and republican ideals. It’s a shames that more people can’t see the good in both sides of the equation. Keep up the good work.
Catherine Morgan said
Thank you so much “Tireman”. That was such a nice comment. I’ve just started this site, and I wasn’t real sure how I would be received. I really am of the belief that we can all differ in our opinions, but still respect one another. I’m hoping that is what will come accross here.
Thank you again for your comment…I hope I will continue to hear from you.
Tireman said
I will continue to monitor your site Catherine. It is hard to find people who enjoy discussing political ideas that can do so with an open, educated mind. I think you’re off to a great start. What critique I could give you now will most likely fix itself over time. I would just let the site build itself as it suits you. Talk to you soon.
TM
Catherine Morgan said
HAS THE WORLD LOST IT’S EMPATHY? — by Catherine Morgan
We all see the news, and feel badly about the wars, the starving, the homeless, the poor, and all the other sad things we are seeing on television. On a smaller scale, we all know people with hardships, going through divorce, struggling with health issues, having financial problems, and many other difficulties affecting our families and neighbors.
When we hear all these stories, we feel great sympathy and sadness. But, I think what we don’t do, is feel empathy. To feel empathy, you have to be able to put yourself in that other person’s shoes, and feel what they must be going through. True compassion comes from a place of empathy, not sympathy. In fact, most people don’t want our sympathy, and I don’t mean that in a disrespectful way. What I am saying is that people don’t want us to feel sorry for them, they want us to have compassion and empathy for them.
I’m pointing this difference out because, we need to see that without empathy our sympathy is just a judgement, and being judgemental is never helpful. When we can “truly” empathize with the hardships of our neighbors, our families, and others in our lives, we are then in a position of compassion and kindness towards them. Even if we are not in a position to alleviate the struggle of the person we are empathizing with, we will be conveying compassion towards them and not pity. While your pity is a judgement, your compassion is a kindness, and kindness is what we all need in our lives.
I would challenge you to look at your own life, and see where you are sympathizing without empathizing. Then allow yourself to feel the feelings. I’m not saying that this is an easy thing to do. Empathy, is most definitely the harder of the two feelings. But, when you can push yourself past sympathy alone, you are a better person, a better friend, a better neighbor, and so on, and so on.
On a larger scale, if the world can find it’s empathy, it won’t be in danger of losing it’s humanity.
Diane said
I know what is to be homeless. I spent five years as a homeless individual. I had a psychotic break and wound up in a mental hospital and that is what got me off the road. I know all too well what it is like. After I got out of the hospital I spent much of my time helping others who also suffered mental illness and were grateful that someone looked at them, smiled at them, and treated them as people having value even if they weren’t perfect.
Catherine Morgan said
That is a beautiful story Diane, thank you so much for sharing it. You sound like a very kind and compassionate person, the world would be a better place if there were more people like you in it.
Melissa said
Catherine,
I watched “Waiting on the World to Change” Friday evening. A few things that struck me: 1.) The little boy who was so excited for school and how far behind he was, simply because his mother couldn’t read to him; he was also unable to name the three meals of the day. 2.) The little girl telling her father that she wished he’d stop drinking and the maturity on her face at the young age of 7.
Both children are at an age where they naturally have hope for the future, yet they’ve already experienced so much disappointment and have been let down by people who are supposed to take care of them. Will they retain their hope? Will they be the exceptions to the rule and get out of their situations? A certain feeling of helplessness ensues on my part and I wonder what kids I know and if I could help them.
Nice website, I look forward to exploring it more.
Catherine Morgan said
Thank you for your comment “Melissa” — I understand the feeling of helplessness you are talking about, but I am encouraged that your response is to want to help.
If I may make a suggestion. Most schools are involved with a nationally funded “free-lunch” program, so if you wanted to buy some school supplies, the school counselor would know who was on this program and be able to distribute to the more needy children. The same sort of thing can be done at Christmas. In both cases, it only takes one person to start a “drive” to gather toys or school supplies, and before you know it, many children can be helped.
Thanks again for your comment, and I am happy that you like the site.
Tony said
Quote: “Until the show, I hope you will check out my earlier post, on the 744,000 million of homeless in America.”
Seems to be a mistake in that sentence.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Tony….thanks for pointing that out. I wrote this post before the show even began….so the post may seem confusing now. I did make a few changes to it, so thanks.
Kari Lobsinger said
The statistics are staggering. I work at the Greater Orlando Food Bank, a non-profit organization that provides food assistance directly to over 7,000 working poor families each month. We have an average of 20 families join our program each day! We have an innovative model that encourages a partnership between the organization, the working poor, and the community. Our members receive free staple food items (milk, eggs, bread, and produce – depending on availability) and have unlimited access to thousands of other food items, each for a small contribution. The contributions made by the families, combined with contributions from the community, allow us to continue to purchase food to stock our 30,000 square foot facility. When everyone contributes, the impacts are amazing. We are now able to serve thousands more families than the average food pantry, and meet various other needs including healthcare, job assistance, and education through our new Compassion Outreach Center.
As you stated in your article titled, THE HOMELESS, THE HUNGRY, AND THE WORKING POOR, – the poor don’t want to be poor. The “working poor”, work very hard, very long, and still don’t have enough money to feed their families. This is so true. We meet family after family with story after story of how they got caught in the cycle of poverty. They do not want a handout, they want a hand up! Food Stamps only last an average of three weeks each month. Most food pantries limit visits to once a month at the most. So, electric or food? Medicine or food? School supplies or food? Tough decisions.
Find out how you can help at http://www.greaterorlandofoodbank.org
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks Kari, I agree 100%. Thanks for your comments, and I will post your link to the Orlando Food Bank on all three of my sites, along with the Red Cross link.
Thanks again.
The Homeless, The Hungry, And The Working Poor. « Mom 4 Change said
[...] WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE — ON [...]
Kari Lobsinger said
Thanks so much for posting links to our website on your pages, you’re awesome Catherine!
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Kari,
It’s my pleasure, I only wish I could do more.
Catherine.
Sabrina Kanani said
Hi,
Id like to know where i can see the full video of “Waiting on the world to change”
I cant seem to find it online
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Sabrina,
It seems the whole video is no longer available (except to purchase), but their are several clips and additional information from show at this link….
http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2819991&page=1
This was a post from January….I am sure it will also be replayed at some point on 20/20.
I hope this helps.
Sabrina Kanani said
Ok thank you
Katharine said
Hi Catherine,
I know this is a year after you initially posted this blog entry, but I don’t think the issue of homelessness or empathy for our fellow human beings will ever get old. We do need each other, no matter who we are or what paths we are on.
My friend, whose calling, work, and ministry is helping the poor and those who have “fallen through the cracks of society” as he puts it, has made empathy his job for over 20 years. He and his wife co-founded and are the directors of a small but phenomenal non-profit organization in northern California. In 1997 he spent nearly 2 months living as a homeless man, among the homeless, experiencing the life of those that he helps. He wrote a book on his experience and what he learned and is now self-publishing it. I am wondering if you have any suggestions as to how we can get the word out about and spark interest in his book? I just finished reading the manuscript and it really changed me; I thought I was empathetic before but I realize how much I had lost it.
Any direction from you or your readers would be greatly appreciated. We are starting the process of putting press releases together to send to Catholic magazines, though this is obviously not solely a religious concern.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Katharine
indira said
I cry every time I watch this and I’ve shown anyone and everyone I can. I know maybe it won’t make a difference but at least making people aware of such struggles seems immensely critical to change, I realize you are doing the same thing. I wish there was a more direct way of helping…