How many times have you seen someone post on social media from a completely uneducated point of view? I'm guessing somewhere around a billion times or at least it seems that way. Well in the wake of the presidential election I have seen far too many of these posts, from all sides. I only wish I had to time to thoroughly research and educate people on all of them. But since I'm a college student with no time or energy I will just focus on the one that really hit home to me. I've seen posts like this before and every single time it just feels like a slap in the face.
To preface this, I know this guy from high school and he is genuinely a nice person. I am not trying to attack him by any means. I am simply sharing my thoughts and perspective on posts similar to this one and the viewpoints so many seem to have on the matter.
Handout. It's what we call it when the government intervenes in our lives with monetary support. Food stamps, WIC, SNAP, Social Security and unemployment wages are all "handouts." I'm sick and tired of hearing and reading posts about people needing to just get off their asses and work for what they want. For some, this is not an option and to even insinuate that they are faking it or taking advantage of a system set in place to help people is disgusting to me. In fact, if people saying these things only knew the ridiculous hoops those who get help have to go through just to get it, they would think twice before spouting off like this.
Why am I so fired up about this sort of post? It's pretty simple really. Every day of my life I watched my mom wither away a little more. She is the strongest person I know and will always be my inspiration. She is disabled but was not always. She worked her rear end off until she couldn't anymore. She has always done everything in her power to take care of my family. What exactly does that mean for someone who cannot work, though? It means fighting with whoever the people are that run the food stamps program and social security. It means proving every five years that yes, in fact, she is still unable to leave the couch most days. Fun fact, chronic diseases don't just go away so people can start working again when they feel like it.
My mom has been to more food pantries than I can count.
Take a moment to put yourself in those shoes. Imagine you had four beautiful, talented and intelligent children. Think about how hard it would be to admit that you can't afford food to nourish them. Think about how hard it would be to swallow all the pride being American and following that simplistic dream gave you, to go to a church to get food that your kids don't like and may be on the verge of or expired because it's your only option. Think about that for a moment. IT ISN'T EASY. Last I checked no one wants to be unable to support themselves or their family.
I grew up on school meals and free limited healthcare. I grew up on food stamps and Goodwill clothes. I grew up with my name on the Christmas tree at Wal-Mart and shopping with cops. I grew up on a serious budget and then I was blessed with, you guessed it, another "handout." I have a scholarship that pays everything I need in college. Is that wrong? Should I have worked more than the 30 hours a week I did throughout high school to pay for college? I mean technically all I did to get my scholarship was sign up in time, have a financially unstable background and not fail high school.
Anyway, my point is stop making blanket statements about those of us who accept handouts. Sometimes people need help and there's nothing wrong with that. Stop putting a negative stigma on those who ask for it. Stop making it a bad thing to use the programs this great nation has in place to help those in need. They are there for a reason after all. Yes, I'm sure somewhere in the country there is an asshole abusing the system. I'm more than willing to bet the number who benefit from it without abusing it far outweigh any losses due to those who might take advantage.
