Enough with the insinuations

Published on June 30, 2004 By dharmagrl In Blogging

In the past couple of articles it has been insinuated that I have no compassion for those who are mentally ill, despite my admission that I have been clinically depressed myself. It was said that I have compassion until it comes to spending my tax dollar on assistance for the mentally ill. No names have been mentioned, but both Teresa and I know that it is us who are being referred to.

I really had tried to refrain from writing this, but I cannot let this go.

I have compassion for those who truly are mentally ill. I have empathy and sympathy for those who truly are disabled. I have no qualms giving a helping hand to those who are willing to help themselves. I will (and have literally) given the shirt off my back and the last of the cash out of my wallet to help someone stay warm and fill their belly. I have no issue with my tax dollar (and yes, I paid taxes) being used to help someone get back on their feet or get a decent start in life. I have volunteered to open my home to help people get back on their feet after a tragedy has laid them low. I have been an advocate, a voice for the voiceless. I have done, not just talked about doing......I have done, taken action, got off my ass and made a difference.....and no, I'm not talking about going on flag waving protest marches, signing petitions, or writing a standard party-line letter to a congressman, I have walked into people's offices and refused to leave until shit got done to fix the issue. I don't have a problem doing that to help my fellow man.

What I do have a problem with, however, is people who will milk the system for all it's worth. Who, rather than taking benefits for the minimum amount of time and getting off of them as soon as they possibly can, will take the benefits until they run out and then bitch about the government leaving them 'desolate' and homeless. I have a problem with people who can interact 'normally' and even agressively with other people, but who say that they are too 'depressed' to seek employment and support themselves. I have a problem with those who manipulate the system, and I have a major problem with those who lie about who they are and what they do. I have a problem with people constantly criticizing what this country and this government does, but who will be the first in line with their hands out if there's a benefit they're eligible for. I have a problem with people suggesting that every single homeless person in America is in that circumstance because of the government's fault, because they're not. Some of them are there by choice, by their own doing, regardless of what you might think to the contrary.

So yeah, go ahead and say that I'm full of venom and that I lack compassion. Insinuate that I'm a horrible oerson...I know the truth, and those that are closest to me know the truth. Now my personal thoughts and values are written here, in black and white, so even those who don't know me too well can draw their own conclusions.

That's all I have to say about that.

Comments (Page 2)

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

Oooh, I see! Duh! You'd never know I'm not blonde, would you?!

I am thoroughly enjoying being blunt. I am having a hell of a time saying exactly what/how I feel. Anyway, I'm off to the pool again today. It's sunny, so I'm going to make the most of it. I wish (again) that we all lived closer...we could have a pool party!

greywar

on Jun 30, 2004

There is a problem with this here in Tejas to... Often times on that road in Harker Heights you will see "homeless" with a "Will do any work for $" signs. One of the Texas papers here (sorry i don't remember which one as it was a couple of years ago) did an expose on these folks and found that most of them actually rejected all offers of work from an undercover reporter and were simply using the sign to try and draw out cash handouts.

Janders

on Jun 30, 2004

Karen~ How much you want to bet those who say you lack compassion have been on goverment assistance?

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 30, 2004

What I have found in my battle with the icy beast of depression is that the best treatment I can find is a few good and understanding friends (and an occasional joint now and then sure helps). Don't need money for that, but, as Baker pointed out, most people won't tell you that. I realize this doesn't fit everyone's situation, but maybe we as a rule could try being friendlier for the people it does help?

Sorry, I know this is slightly tangential, but it does at least follow the "mental illness" thread...lol

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

Janders: Those who say I lack compassion ARE on government assistance. I KNOW that, no matter what they say to the contrary. And those who freely admit they are on assistance..well, they claim in one sentence that their therapists, doctors or whatever say they're never going to be able to work again, and then in the next breath complain that because the benefits are being cut they're being denied the assistance they need in order to get well and get a job. So, which is it going to be? Either you can work, or you can't.

Janders

on Jun 30, 2004

That is bull shit. You can work, look at the people with mental disabilities in wheelchairs that greet at Wal mart. They are a hell of a lot more "disabled" then someone with depression. I KNOW I have depression, and when i dont feel like getting out of bed, that life sucks, you get up and go to work any ways, because you are the only one who can help yourself. Get off you butt you stupid slacker.

P.S. Dharma is the best!

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

Gideon, I've tried to be friendly. I too have battled depression, I too have tried to take my own life.....but I realized that my recovery is in part, my responsibility. The meds and therapy can only do so much. You have to be responsible for the rest.

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

Thats what I'm saying, Janders. There are those who say 'Yeah, I'm disabled. Your point it what?!" and they get on with their lives. There are those who say "Oh, I'm depressed, and I have ODC, and I've tried to kill myself, and I can't work because it's just too much for me...my doctor said I'll never be able to work again, so I'm living on this pittance of a disability allowance and my rent is subsidised and I simply can't function, big time"....but they seem to do a great job arguing their point here and interacting with people here...in fact they seem to be doing just fine even with a real-time relationship.

Just to make a point, there's a guy who works at my local Wal-Mart who has scoliosis (a pretty marked curvature, too) and Tourette's Syndrome. He's worked there for 5 years that I know of, and has just got promoted to supervisor. Grant (that's his name) rocks. He kicks ass!

Janders

on Jun 30, 2004

Dharma.... I love you, Where we seperated at birth?

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

I think that we may have been...and I love you too!

Gene Nash

on Jun 30, 2004

i saw a guy standing on the road with a "Will Work for Food" sign when i was on my way to Burger King one afternoon, so in addition to my own lunch, i purchased him a combo meal. This asshole literally threw the bag back in my car after he looked inside it and told me...."nahhh fuck that, i need some money."

I am dumbfounded. With that attitude it is easy to see why he doesn't have any money.

One seed I've tried to plant in her brain is that the idea of earning cash is not restricted to a traditional job with a pay cheque. The internet offers everyone, incuding non-geeks, a new opportunity to earn cash.

I've tried to make this point with people, as well. All I usually get -- despite offering to help them -- is "It's too hard, " or "I don't know nothing about that." (SIGH) Which are just ways of saying, "Bug off, bub. I'm content complaining and don't want anything to change. So there."

most of them actually rejected all offers of work from an undercover reporter and were simply using the sign to try and draw out cash handouts.

Some reporters in L.A. watched those "Will work for food guys" for a while. Several of them got up, went around the corner, got in their SUVs and drove off to their apartments.

Janders

on Jun 30, 2004

We have a local "alternitive" newspaper that interviewed a homeless lady that makes 50 dollars a day sitting on the corner. Think 30 days a month! I mean come on that is not to bad I mean 1,500 a month get get you a small studio apartment, and a lot of ramen. Hell she takes home more than I do working 40 hous a week.

Hmmmm. Maybe i should get some cardboard and make a sign.... oh wait I forgot about that one thing, what was that? Oh yeah. Dignity!

dharmagrl

on Jul 01, 2004

... oh wait I forgot about that one thing, what was that? Oh yeah. Dignity!

You got an insightful for that one, Janders......

..and yes, Sioux Falls is boring. I've been to Minneapolis, and it seems like much more fun...heck, even if we only go to McDonald's it'll be fun...at least we'll get to meet!!!

Janders

on Jul 01, 2004

Super cool! That alone will make my dull summer very cool!

Phoenixboi

on Jul 01, 2004

Dharma

Your not venemous nor do you lack compassion. Personally you have shown me more than your fair share.

I think it's really hard over the net to convey to anyone how you feel or with comments what tone you are taking or how people put their views across. Without hearing someones voice, or meeting someone in person it is really hard to understand them or know what they are about. We can only assume ( make an ass out of u and me) and from my observation mostly it isnt what we intend to come across as.

From my blogs and comments im considered a liberal gay boi. It's easy how we can judge without really getting to know. MP demonstrates this with Little Whip. They both took the time to understand each other and now they are mates. Only a few blogs ago they seemed enemies. A lesson here i think is that we should really try and get to know each other and what we are about. Is there any forum or blog that we can do that in seeing most of us dont live real close to each other and have a variety of backgrounds.

Like I said in MPs post, we all got our demons and we all suffer, and for each one of us it is as bad as the next guy. We just got to take some time out to try and understandeach other more. I remember in my blog you asked me some questions regarding my HIV status. At first I thought you were having a go at me, but since then we both have chatted and we understand where we both are coming from, and I think your a really beautiful person with a loving and generous heart.

Keep being blunt, keep doing what your doing. Its helping out alot.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!