NOT biblical hermeneutics!

I might just start another blog just about bib herm because i have so many complaints!! so i've decided to dedicate this blog post specifically to topics other than biblical hermeneutics considering that the past ... many posts have been on that loathsome topic.

I wrote a paper called "Social Justice and Consumerism." the thesis was that non-profits feed off of American consumerism, which only deepens the problem. by manipulating it and stroking it, it becomes more engrained into our heads AND into our hearts. by making us believe that our money is the end-all, we want to spend more! and the product that they are selling is not someone else's health or meal or clothes or cow. it's your own sense of self-satisfaction.

I am a victim. I would give all my money to non-profits if someone didn't stop me. i think that some of the work of non-profits is fantastic, and it changes and saves lives. many even change the courses of spiritual lives, which is even better.

my college will be putting on a play called PROOF. it's marvelous. it's about a girl, Catherine who has helped care for her infirm father for years instead of going to school or having relationships or anything. her sister, Claire finished school and helped pay off bills on the house since their father needed someone with him at all times, so Catherine couldn't get a job. i'd like to share an excerpt:

Claire: It was my house too.
Catherine: You haven't lived here for years.
CL: I know that. You were on your own. I really regret that, Katie.
CA: Don't.
CL: I know i let you down. I fell awful about it. Now i'm trying to help.
CA: You want to help now?
CL: yes.
CA: Dad is dead.
CL: I know.
CA: He's dead. How that he's dead you fly in for the weekend and decide you want to help? YOU'RE LATE. Where have you been?
CL: I --
CA: Where were you five years ago? You weren't helping then.
CL: I was working.
CA: I was HERE. I lived with him ALONE.
CL: I was working fourteen-hour days. I paid every bill here. I paid off the mortgage on this three-bedroom house while I was living in a studio in Brooklyn.
CA: You had your life. You got to finish school.
CL: You could have stayed in school!
CA: How?
CL I would have done anything -- i told you that. I told you a million times to do anything you wanted.
CA: What about Dad? SOmeone had to take care of him.
CL: He was ill. He should have been in a full-time professional care situation.
CA: He didn't belong in the nuthouse.

It's an issue of individual vs. community. probably my favorite discussion. when the individual is placed first, it almost always places money on a pedestal over human life and value. when rights are claimed verses received, money is more powerful than compassion.I don't know what i would have done. I love school. what if one of my parents died, and the other went crazy? i realized it's a unique situation, but think about it. what would you do? pay to have them well cared for? they would be well cared for, but is that what we OUGHT to do? or should we take care of them ourselves? yes, i'm only 18. taking care of a mentally unstable parent, and in my case two little brothers who would be seriously emotionally damaged, and having to cope with my own emotions as well. If i went to care for them, and my older sister stayed in school and funneled us money, what would i think? i would not be ungrateful for the money. i would not be able to work. but what is right? what is good? is one better than the other? are both necessary? just some thoughts.