A Discussion on Hunger and Poverty

Poverty is not issues, statistics, rhetoric, and agendas. It's not a movement, a cause, or slogans. Poverty is people. And people are what hang in the balance between action and indifference. It is not easy to define poverty because poverty has many faces and attacks in even many more ways. And people often times get lost in the busyness of working to fix the crisis of human suffering.

The idea of equality and justice forces us to look seriously at the problems of the world and work toward real solutions that benefit the people and somehow put and end to unnecessary suffering. And while policy is an important step it is never enough to meet the needs that we have inheritated as a human race. As one politician has said, "It takes a village." So together with the help of government, non-profits, community action groups, religious institutions, NGO's, and individuals we can win the war on hunger and poverty.

But we must remember that it is a war.....a war on greed, racism, corruption, and indifference. But the weapons against these are love and compassion. A love that is willing to serve the unwanted and marginalized. A love removed from self-centeredness and blind ambition capable of believing what others say is impossible.

Women like Mother Teresa taught us that the fight is not an easy one and it takes great courage, sacrifice, and discipline. We will not win the war through might, power, or money. It is when we learn to give ourselves away that we become more powerful than the ugliness that is destroying the lives of millions upon millions of people who are our brothers and sisters. I met a lady just over two years ago who gave up her life savings to serve those who have contracted HIV/AIDS. She has given everything she has so that others may have a shot at life. The solutions to poverty and human suffering will never be easy, but it is in the struggle of the journey that we find hope, strength, and the ability to overcome even in the most impossible challenges facing humanity. The human spirit is our greatest asset, but we must learn how to use it and to effectively engage the world in overcoming itself. Peace!