Condescending Attitudes

This is in response to the letters by PL and SW. I read your letters from top to bottom to search for any helpful ideas that would help Mrs. Paquette and her husband find a safe journey home. It is unfortunate that your only solution was a $199 flight ticket.

This doesn’t solve the issue of them needing the money now does it? Or did you miss that part? How do you think your condescending attitude is going to help citizens in your community? If these people were rich you would welcome them and their money now wouldn’t you? People don’t choose to be stuck.

While you're driving down the highway you don’t ask your car to blow up or run out of gas now do you? I have been poor, working minimum wage and now own my own company. I can assure you it wasn’t because of going to college, because I dropped out. It wasn’t because of rich parents, because I was raised by my mother on welfare. It was because of people I knew, and finding the opportunities available by keeping myself educated.

Perhaps instead of belittling these people you might want to suggest to them a new job opening available that they may be interested in. At least they can appreciate you are trying to help them rather then treat them like something my neighbors cat left in the yard this morning. Again this comes down to educating yourself about other people and treating them with respect.

I am sure if you were in a bad situation you would appreciate any help you have. People need to start helping each other and it doesn’t always need to be monetary, it can be through knowledge, compassion, and listening. It shouldn’t take another devastating forest fire to get people to wake up. The time is now.

Ben Cloutier