Somthing has been bothering me. I call it the "victim mentality". When somthing bad happens to a person they take on the role of a victim who needs a rescuer. This doesn't happen to all people, only those who choose to impose on themselves the label of "victim".
The Hurricanes brought this out to extreems. When people's choices or circumstances put them in a bad situation, some looked to the Government for help, the Government failed them and they became angry. They refused to take responsibilty for their cituation. Somehow their problem became a Government project.
Whatever happened to taking responsibilty for ourselves? The concept of responsability that we had in the 20s and 30s seems to have been lost. Has America really lost the ability to "pull ourselves up by our boot straps"? I hope not.
I hate when people show us the world's problems and don't offer a solution. And so I'll try to point us in a good direction.
What can we do to fight this worldview? First, we need to take responsibility for our lives. It's your life, it is what you make it. The guy in this picture is a good example. He didn't let his wheel chair stop him from having a blast at the beach.
Secondly, we need to expect responsabilty from others. By labeling people as victims we are encouraging them to play the role. Don't allow people to complain about their situation. And if they do, ask them the hard questions: "what are you doing to help yourself?" Labeling people as victims also degrades them as humans. In their minsd they are being told that they can't help themselves. This makes it even easier for them to take on the role of victim
And lastly, it is important to recognize real need. There are victims, there are people who can't help themselves, and we have an obligation to those people. The Bible comands us to love all people as much as we love ourselves. If we are loving others we will be looking out for their needs.
My favorite way to help is to offer to work with them on their problems. Rather than give money to the jobless man, I would offer to help him find work. If the man doesn't want to find a job and help himself, then I'm not going to help him either.
The Hurricanes brought this out to extreems. When people's choices or circumstances put them in a bad situation, some looked to the Government for help, the Government failed them and they became angry. They refused to take responsibilty for their cituation. Somehow their problem became a Government project.
Whatever happened to taking responsibilty for ourselves? The concept of responsability that we had in the 20s and 30s seems to have been lost. Has America really lost the ability to "pull ourselves up by our boot straps"? I hope not.
I hate when people show us the world's problems and don't offer a solution. And so I'll try to point us in a good direction.
What can we do to fight this worldview? First, we need to take responsibility for our lives. It's your life, it is what you make it. The guy in this picture is a good example. He didn't let his wheel chair stop him from having a blast at the beach.
Secondly, we need to expect responsabilty from others. By labeling people as victims we are encouraging them to play the role. Don't allow people to complain about their situation. And if they do, ask them the hard questions: "what are you doing to help yourself?" Labeling people as victims also degrades them as humans. In their minsd they are being told that they can't help themselves. This makes it even easier for them to take on the role of victim
And lastly, it is important to recognize real need. There are victims, there are people who can't help themselves, and we have an obligation to those people. The Bible comands us to love all people as much as we love ourselves. If we are loving others we will be looking out for their needs.
My favorite way to help is to offer to work with them on their problems. Rather than give money to the jobless man, I would offer to help him find work. If the man doesn't want to find a job and help himself, then I'm not going to help him either.
2 comments:
Hey you.
So I don't think people should constantly go around feeling sorry for themselves. But some parts of this entry that I don't agree with. About the hurricanes. "They refused to take responsibility for their situation." Why should they? What could've they done? I admit that not everyone left that could've, but not everyone could. And why isn't it the Government's problem? It's the power elite's economic interests that led to destroying the wetlands that would've protected New Orleans. The government also cut various funds that would've developed FEMA's plan of what to do in a situation like that. People predicted that there would be a hurricane like Katrina; it was only a matter of time, and They (the government) knew They didn't have the appropriate resources ("http://magma.nationalgeographic. com/ngm/0410/feature5/" and "Drowning New Orleans" Oct. 2001 Scientific American).
And why do you cite the 20s and 30s as the ideal time of "the concept of responsability"? The 20s was a time of 'prosperity' and the 30s was the birth decade of modern welfare government with FDR's New Deal.
I also like solutions presented with problems, but often problems are complicated, and solutions with substance require many peoples imput and consideration from many different angles.
I don't think that "labeling people as victims degrades them as humans" or tells them they can't help themselves. I think it helps to take away guilt and shame that often acompnies bad situations. It also helps to point out the situation to those in power/more fortunate the victims situation that quite possibly the powerful/more fortunate help to cause. Blaming the 'victim' is a convienient way ease our conscious. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Ro. 5:8b)
I definately agree about inpowering people. It's so important. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48b)
As for that guy in the wheelchair...he's not a good example
See you guys in a couple weeks!
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