Sacrifice, Sharing and Compassion: We Can Relearn

There’s a strong stubborn, individualistic strain that runs through the American psyche, and it can often represent the best and the worst in us. It’s most egregious variety, and more and more observable these last 25 years is the idea that both the rich and the poor deserve what they have. In a new book by Malcolm Gladwell called “Outliers” he explains how nobody gets where they are through their own doing, especially at the very high ends of wealth. Bill Gates had access to a computer terminal in 1969. (I first touched one in 1974, but access was severely limited.) Because of a wealthy family and a years long head start, he was able to do quite well for himself. As I’m fond of saying, with his poor eyesight, he wouldn’t have survived to puberty in sixth century Somalia.

In the coming difficult years, we as a nation are going to have to find ways to help each other out, sacrificing some of our own time and resources for the betterment of others.

Today is Thanksgiving, and I just attended an extraordinary event that is hard to imagine anywhere else. A friend runs the most popular restaurant in our little town, and for Thanksgiving he serves an awesome gourmet Thanksgiving dinner for anyone to attend and it’s all FREE. Instead of a check, you get an envelope in which you can make a donation to the local Meals on Wheels. Portions are huge; Liz and I left with 4 of those big takeout boxes. It could feed us for days.

The beauty part is since Mainers are proud people, the hungry ones have a hard time asking for help. If someone spots you at the food pantry, it’s embarrassing. If your extended family is chowing down at McSeagulls, no one has to know that you only put a dollar in the envelope, and no one is the wiser. Plus, you can take home enough food to feed a hungry family for weeks. The wait staff and cooks volunteer their time, and often the food is provided at cost or free to the restaurant. It’s a great tradition, and it let’s those of us doing pretty well a chance to give back to people who need help, and nobody has to know what anyone puts in the envelope.

If we’re going to survive as a people and a nation, there’s going to need to be a hell of a lot more of this going on. We need to stop resenting the needy for their needs and start being thankful for just how incredibly fortunate we all are.

Happy Thanksgiving.