tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post7742543592858036288..comments2023-04-10T05:19:15.512-07:00Comments on Justice for the Homeless: Teach A Man To Fish?Steve Kimeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-90767764504766215912015-07-10T08:10:59.448-07:002015-07-10T08:10:59.448-07:00FYI...the quote in question is not a biblical prov...FYI...the quote in question is not a biblical proverb, though it is often falsely attributed as such. It is also often described as a Chinese saying of Lao Tzu, but some question the accuracy of that, instead crediting the truism to a 19th century writer named Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie in the novel "Mrs. Dymond". <br /><br />Whatever the origin, it contains great wisdom if one doesn't over extend the metaphor beyond the original intent. I would say that "teaching a man to fish" is the only real help we can give, because "giving them a fish a day" only serves to make them dependent upon you, which exalts only you and not God. The purpose of charity is not to exalt oneself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-40297390539931452292014-03-19T08:34:15.948-07:002014-03-19T08:34:15.948-07:00Lew:
I am not sure what the ultimate goal of the w...Lew:<br />I am not sure what the ultimate goal of the writer is: I suspect, however, that the writer wants everyone to have the opportunity to eat, to live, to survive. All she is pointing out in this post is that a cliche is just that: a cliche. And that to obtain true equality of survival, it is more complicated than simply training something.<br /><br />My problem with the cliche is that it seems to promote the ceasing of offering someone something to eat in favor of training. This is opposing the two approaches to helping the poor: relief and development. Development (long term training in community) is essential for long term sustainability. But to refuse to offer relief in the meantime is allowing the community to starve while they are being trained.<br /><br />The important thing is to not let ideals get in the way of our humanity.Steve Kimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-79912051156442407522014-03-19T05:17:04.206-07:002014-03-19T05:17:04.206-07:00Steve... while I can agree with portions of the po...Steve... while I can agree with portions of the post, the problem is that it's not necessarily true. It depends upon who, when and where. It's a broad brush for multiple issues, in multiple countries.<br /><br />And, one of the issues listed is modernity or lack thereof, yet it's also one of the things necessary.<br /><br />The writer doesn't want the Masai in huts, yet, the writer probably wouldn't want the South American's to live in more luxurious houses!lewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650034256771176903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-42593046884964189092014-03-18T10:12:25.768-07:002014-03-18T10:12:25.768-07:00Steve... while I can agree with portions of the po...Steve... while I can agree with portions of the post, the problem is that it's not necessarily true. It depends upon who, when and where. It's a broad brush for multiple issues, in multiple countries.<br /><br />And, one of the issues listed is modernity or lack thereof, yet it's also one of the things necessary.<br /><br />The writer doesn't want the Masai in huts, yet, the writer probably wouldn't want the South American's to live in more luxurious houses!<br /><br />lewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650034256771176903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-77382542501396934092013-12-24T10:11:28.805-08:002013-12-24T10:11:28.805-08:00The point of the proverb is to make the point: Peo...The point of the proverb is to make the point: People need to be taught to help themselves, not be helped. The point of this article is to say:It isn't as simple to do that as people think.<br /><br />There are two forms of helping the poor, generally: relief work, which gives help directly to the poor and development work, which creates a system in which the poor can help themselves. Both are necessary at times, and there are many complications involved in doing either work. This article just points out some of the complications.Steve Kimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-44866531353373662672013-12-23T23:02:39.494-08:002013-12-23T23:02:39.494-08:00Personally I believe the commentary on the prover...Personally I believe the commentary on the proverb "teach a man to fish" exihibts a very negative attitude. Anyone can list assumptions in any statement expecially whe taken out of context. <br /> For example, the staterment made that this assumes the men are the primary provider assumes a literal conotation of the use of man as designated in some languages. Some languages don't have a gender designation for every situation & use man to mean any gender male or female. <br /> Another bad statement is saying it assumes the poor would have a license to fish. Just because some nations, like much of the USA, require a license assumes all do; when actually most likely do not. How many poor nations do you suspect even require a license to fish? <br /> I too could continue with negative comenr=ts on this article but won'yt bore you with more. My only point is I believe it's a poor commentary about an old Proverb which obviously has much value relating to life existence otherwise it would have never survived the test of time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-69191123493461564722013-07-30T08:55:10.924-07:002013-07-30T08:55:10.924-07:00I think it's a parable, not an environmental i...I think it's a parable, not an environmental impact study. Expressed a different way, helping the weakest among us improve their education and skills is more helpful than providing a temporary handout. It's pretty straightforward in my view.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-63752685856467094202012-12-30T08:46:33.375-08:002012-12-30T08:46:33.375-08:00James:
Most of your critiques are stylistic, not ...James:<br /><br />Most of your critiques are stylistic, not content-oriented. This post is using the opportunity of a cliche to help all of us see a broader perspective. Certainly the cliche has been used to speak about welfare, as well as many other relief and development projects. <br /><br />Simplicity only works if it is inclusive. Cliches and other products of the KISS method usually distill half truths, and so miss important, complicated truths.Steve Kimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-80226641819924377572012-12-20T05:31:58.849-08:002012-12-20T05:31:58.849-08:00Like most overly educated people you are looking t...Like most overly educated people you are looking to deep into this simple saying. Romans 1:22 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,” Look at the broad strokes; it is not talking about a fish or even fishing. Rather it is expressing the fact that it is better to provide a long term solution rather than trying to sustain people on a temporary basis, period! It is not meant to ascribe itself to a short term problem such as an earthquake, flood, or other such incident. Also it is not talking about welfare! It is teaching that it is better to make someone responsible for their own situation rather than making them dependant on others! Jesus told us that we will always have the poor among us and that when we have a banquet to invite the poor. The bible teaches us NOT to take advantage of the workman over his wages, NOT to take advantage of the widow, etc. There is so much more but this is not the proper forum for going into such detail. Last thing I will say actually comes from my Dad. Though he never graduated High School he was one of the wisest teachers I ever had. I try to use one of his many sayings in all things I study, and that saying is Keep It Simple Stupid, lol, also known as the KISS method.<br /><br />James E. GrigoreasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-78442293847204238242010-11-07T12:51:01.747-08:002010-11-07T12:51:01.747-08:00A very important and insightful perspective on an ...A very important and insightful perspective on an all to often oversimplified and misunderstood concept. Lifting up in Jesus' name must be accompanied with very real and deep collaboration with and sensitivity to societies and cultures that have existed for as many if not more generations than Western civilization. As much or more to be learned from them as we have to "give" in terms of our technology and political/economic systems.David A Marsilianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-30268700178967625342010-11-07T12:12:31.825-08:002010-11-07T12:12:31.825-08:00Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that I did...Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that I didn't write this, but Pam Wilson of Operation Mercy did. I am happy to repost it, though.Steve Kimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14187112520269562190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-26424916157857234362008-11-27T02:51:00.000-08:002008-11-27T02:51:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-10402543986514493032008-11-11T08:48:00.000-08:002008-11-11T08:48:00.000-08:00Thanks for writing this.Thanks for writing this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240810586753201386.post-80554257717211989062008-06-19T13:34:00.000-07:002008-06-19T13:34:00.000-07:00This is truly incredible! Great job!This is truly incredible! Great job!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com