I'm "African American"

[Peikko 1,575]

Instead of this: Food & money donation to poor

http://www.foodforthepoor.org/help/

I would suggest more education on this: Urban Farming education

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/2...USINESS/2080515

Btw, I do agree that simply handing out welfare payments, in isolation, will do nothing to alleviate long term poverty.

Edited February 9, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[FortLaudy 10]

I agree by the way that help in terms of welfare can not work to improve the lot of poor people in isolation.

Education can, no doubt. That's only if everyone is willing to be educated, how do one motivate someone to become educated?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You can live in the ghetto (being any race at all), drop out of school, get your GED, go to community college while working a full time job, then complete your degree at a 4 year university. Anyone can do that.

Yes, anyone can (in theory).

[FortLaudy 10]

Yes, anyone can (in theory).

And it all comes down to education and the willingness to be educated

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

And it all comes down to education and the willingness to be educated

Basically. But the onus is as much on the system as it is the student.

[Ban Hammer 14,815]

You did because you suggested that blacks in ghettos choose this lifestyle when obviously in your mind there is no reason for them not to, apart from the fact that they are black.

before you play that tired chestnut race card, watch history channel's gangland and you'll note that every race is on it

[FortLaudy 10]

Basically. But the onus is as much on the system as it is the student.

So the excuse becomes the system?

What more can the system do though but provide schools, teachers, free lunches, scholarship opportunities etc. ?

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

People, like horses, will only do what they have a mind to do.

[Ban Hammer 14,815]

And it all comes down to education and the willingness to be educated

and ambition.

[I'm Gone 60]

Don't forget this is Black History Month. I guess it's White's fault that they got the shortest month. LOL

[Peikko 1,575]

Education can, no doubt. That's only if everyone is willing to be educated, how do one motivate someone to become educated?

Honestly? I think that is a very good question. I am not sure that there is a simple answer to how to motivate, although there are a lot of studies that show the detrimental influence of 'demotivating' factors. Most parents do want their children to live better than they do but not all are aware of the importance of providing a stimulating environment, or are even aware that such a thing exists.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So the excuse becomes the system?

What more can the system do though but provide schools, teachers, free lunches, scholarship opportunities etc. ?

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

People, like horses, will only do what they have a mind to do.

Its not an excuse - but there are clear realities to consider unless you're prepared to write off an entire group of people as "lazy". Frankly, I'm not willing to do that.

[Ban Hammer 14,815]

Basically. But the onus is as much on the system as it is the student.

the system can't force anyone to become educated, all it can do is provide the opportunity.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

the system can't force anyone to become educated, all it can do is provide the opportunity.

No it can't force people, but the education system has to be somewhat responsive to the people it is trying to educate.

[FortLaudy 10]

and ambition.

I know it's a tired old comparison, and sounds somewhat racist, but where I'm from people say this: When European ships hit shore in Africa, the Europeans had ships, fancy clothing (even wigs, haha), ammunition, some form of formal education and the like. The Africans they encountered had not yet invented anything close to such technology, and since? People can say what they want and make up excuses, but to me there is a big difference in culture and mindset, not that one is superior or inferior to the other, but there's a big difference and seemingly, mostly, still is.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think its a stretch to suggest commonality between the situation of Blacks in America with the situation Blacks in Africa.

That trivializes the issues IMO.