Stop "Making A Difference"

by Thomas Sowell - November 6th, 2007 - Townhall.com

Among those who make a difference by serving food to the homeless, how many have considered the history of societies which have made idleness easy for great numbers of people?

How many have studied the impact of drunken idlers on other people in their own society, including children who come across their needles in the park -- if they dare to go to the parks?

How many have even considered such questions relevant as they drop their stone in the pond without thinking about the waves that spread out to others?

Thomas Sowell is making a point with which most agree. However not many would think to phrase "serving the homeless" as "making idleness easy". It is the knack of this writer to express things in a way that things make sense, where you can say, "Yes, I agree. Now I know how to say what I feel." Thomas Sowell helps us all by giving us words to express our honest feelings. Those who have long felt that the programs where we feed the homeless were not working have not had an easy way to express our unease.

Not surprisingly those who want to feel self righteous about their acts are offended. Those who work to feed the homeless do not want it pointed out that they are not doing something good. They are not "giving back" to the community. They are promoting idleness and homelessness by making it easy.

Which do you think you should do? "Make a difference" or "promote idleness"? What if they are the same? In fact isn't an honest assessment the truth they are the same?