What, as Americans, do you think we have allowed to happen to our social hearts. Why have we become so hard?

Question

We care about nothing and no-one. We pass the homeless without a thought. We do nothing to help in our own cities.

Please note a few of us do care and do things in our cities, this is a broad question

Answer 1

You are very correct, as a nation we don't care about anyone that isn't in our immediate circle of friends and loved ones (in most cases).  Many people want to think the poor and homeless are that way because they are lazy.  Most homeless people are suffering from mental illness, most people on welfare on children and senior citizens.  But many of us don't want to recognize that our taxpayers keep many children and old people from starving to death.  

It takes a conscious effort to really see the big picture of what is going on in our society and feel compelled to change the brazen, heartless nation we have become.  If the right would realize that the people in poverty aren't looking for a hand-out, but a hand up, maybe we could fix things.

Answer 2

I disagree.  At this time, the economic threat to our population is serious.  I believe many living in our nation do assist many with less.  But personally, I provide economic assistance,  but not to the point that it threatens my own economic ability.physical assistance, and general social assistance. There is beginning to be change in the social attitude here.  It will take a long time for the dynamics we participate in to change.  But I can see the subtle change in personal behavior towards others.  If our species survives long enough, there will eventually be a population that has learned to respect others as their equals.

Answer 3

"We pass the homeless without a thought."

I doubt that is true.  Are you noting more so that there might  be a solution?

Edit:

Do you realize that some people, even when they are given or directed towards a whole new life  do not want to live by a  respectable routine?  Maybe there is a reason sometimes that is not somebody elses fault.  It doesn't sound good but it's true.  I'm noting about the outcome we see on television which is all-perfect ending where a person takes off after they've been given a whole new life.  Ok, I can assure you, and respectbly due to the fact that homeless people, like everyone else are human beings and so some live defiantly and thwart the help even when they are extended a hand.  People  also have to want to live a more relaxed life that is not utter chaos according to basic need.   It seems you are bashing people and calling *everyone* thoughtless when people ARE eating and ARE making changes to their lives via their effort as well as some with neighbor direction due to emergency and most importantly, some on their own.    What is your point to note everyone is thoughtless and how nasty it seems to be so closed up.  It hardly comes close to the truth and out of respect for a homeless person who also has a will they too have to put effort into their own life for heaven sakes treat them like people and they are not babies unless they truly are infants/babies who adults know really can't fend for themselves.  Stop blaming the world for what is not all their fault and assuming you know *what* and *when* they think and that nobody is doing anything about everything.  It's not proper.

Answer 4

We, as a group, give more to charities than any other nation on the planet.  Unfortunately, this has resulted in people thinking that Americans are suckers.  There are so many people begging in the US, and begging for the US citizens to "do something" that it has gotten very old very fast.  

I have spent a month in Switzerland, and only saw one person begging in the streets.  He did not seem very much like a hard luck case, did not get a lot of handouts, and while I was waiting for my ride to the alps, my handicap (I have an artificial leg and wear shorts on the weekends) seemed to upset him enough to motivate him to move along.

Contrast that with Indianapolis, Indiana.  I can walk downtown, with shorts on, and be accosted by beggars two or three times at least.  I am not talking about seeing beggars, I mean that I am approached, demanded money from, and cussed out extensively if I do not comply with donating to this person's need.

We, as Americans are overloaded with people who have their hands out.  When I go to South America on business, where there TRUELY ARE poor people, I do not see the quantity of beggars, nor the agressiveness of beggars like we have here in America.

Americans are not tired of being charitable, but we are tired of being conned and harrassed.

Answer 5

Cruelty and selfishness is a disease that has spread like the plague. We have become cold because we have been hurt by others, we have learned that we can't trust each other because people who attempt to care are considered weak minded and stupid. Matthew C expressed it best in an answer to one of my questions, he said, "The safest road to h**l is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." We as a society fought for it, and we continue to fight for it, and although it took several years of carelessness, selfishness, greed and fighting, we have finally begun to reap the rewards of our efforts. ;-)

Answer 6

Just because someone don't give to your pet charities doesn't mean they don't have a heart. People have different priorites as to what they consider important.  It make me wonder if you posted your question with a specific agenda in mind.  I think there are many people who are very philanthropy oriented...but they do get tired of getting hit up for money at every turn throughout the year...and all too often some of those organizations are just scams.  People are becoming more selective as to what charities they will give to, and who can blame them?

Me? I tend to give to environmental causes, and groups that directly help children. I used to give money to panhandlers, but now I don't.  Why? Because too many of them are not truly destitute.  Some of them are little more than "professional beggars" , and can actually pull down as much as $70K a year for just standing on a street corner with a "will work for food" sign.

Yes, there are people who pass by the homeless, but there are also people who are homeless who reject any effort to "save them."   I suppose some of them are highly independent, but a number of them are just exceptionally stubborn.  In the past when I had offered actual food, or even give them job leads some of them would just get angry...and they'd actually say rude and nasty stuff to people who pass by without giving them that dollar!

Sometimes they just plain s***w ya over. I had one case where I told a semi-homeless woman (couch surfer) about a job where I was working at the time (a retail store)...she came in alright, and then promptly shoplifted from the store! The interviewing manager saw her, and then recommended to me to be more careful who I recommend.  I can tell you it pissed me off to get burnt like that...when I confronted the woman she denied it ever happened!

Like it or not, a number of the people living on the streets are on the streets by choice. We're talking about a diversity of people from teenage runaways (NOT throwaways) who would rather be on the street than actually have to obey their parents, do chores or whatnot to even older persons who actually leave halfway houses and group homes or rehab centers because they don't want to follow the "rules" and would rather do things "their way."  Sometimes the price they pay for their "independence" is very high. In my town, there was a 79 year old homeless man who froze to death despite numerous efforts of people trying to help him.  He simply would reject assistance at every turn.

I've known of cases where a person was helped only to see them back on the streets within months because they just couldn't stay away from drugs or alcohol or bad companions who just dragged them down.  I guess when you get your heart "broken" by these people you tend to harden it in order to survive.

The way I see it, most of them are adults or old enough to know that there are established programs in effect to help them if they really want the help.

Answer 7

Well I know here where I am, the New Times Free paper did a big write up about the homeless in our area. And follow many through out there days. The collect there state checks and choose to live the way they live. It is a way they said they want to live. I don't want rules or guidelines or being told what to do. I know in San Francisco where I lived at one time, a write up in the paper said the street people make more money pan handling then the working man. And so much goes to drugs and alcohol. So we get hardened about those who want that lifestyle compared to those who are truly in need.

Whether you choose to agree with me it is also what the bible has foretold as a sign of the last days. People not giving a darn. And look at people that kill there own family members so that is another sign of natural affection. So to me there are many reasons. It is sad that people are so wrapped up in there own world that they do forget others. And the attitudes they have are very grim.

If the United States focused on there own and stopped helping other nations that would be a vast improvement. But I do know it does start with us. And there are those who are truly in need and those who want to be homeless. But ones must always remember it can happen to any of us at any time in our life's. And as the prices go up and wages stay down we may all be in the same boat some time. Then what will we say. So yes we souly should look at the entire picture.

Answer 8

According to the statistics on the huge amount of money Americans give to charities we do have a 'social heart".

In our area the food banks, social agencies, and churches help the unforunate. Groups have a lot of bar-b-que fund raising dinners for individual causes.

Answer 9

Well, mainly for reasons I suppose known to them, a lot of people pass homeless people without a thought because they think they got themselves into that situation and if the person gives them money they will just use it on drugs or something.

Sometimes, I guess, people would like to help others, but they don't think they are able to. Like stopping on the side of the road for someone stranded. You know you would like for someone to do that for you if ever you were in such a situation, so you want to do it for others. But then there is the fear of danger, because of all the kidnappings and all that that happen in such a way.

I think some of the time it is that Americans just "accept" there isn't anything they can do anything about it, so they turn a blind eye.

Other times, Americans really can be cruel, just think homeless people and the like are just simply below them.

Answer 10

I am not an American, but, I think the question is a very good one. I do think people are simply more "detached" from their communites. We have become accostomed to doing donations to charities and being "done with it". Now, of coarse I don't say this is true for EVERYONE, but, for society as a whole.

Here in Ottawa, Canada, we are discouraged by the City and government from giving "Directly" to homeless people and pan-handlers. We are told that by giving to the Shelters the money does more good. This is true, but, at the same time, we have just a little less contact.

Plus, I don't know what it is liek down there, but, here in Ottawa, I can't walk down any busy downtown street without being approached at least once by someone wanting change. In fact last Friday while waiting for a bus to go home at 11:15 PM, I was asked, once for change, asked if I would buy a Whopper and Large Fries for $1.00 from another guy, and for "Chnage for the bus" by a third, and offered "Weed" from a fourth... I was only at the stop for 15 Minutes.

It happens so much, that we sometimes stop listening. Only at certain times of the year do we really do more, (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc...) and those are the times of the year when we are really pushed to donate.

I agree that The United States probably does give more to charities than most others, but, I wonder if the majority of that help is given "year round" or just at those few holidays, or when some terrible disaster occurs.

I think another thing that contributes to the "hardening of hearts" in the USA, is the media, in Canada, we have the unique perpective of getting both American and Canadian channels on our cable and satelite services. we can watch CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, and we can watch CBC Newsworld, CTV Newsnet, or Global.

Having watch both my entire life, I will tell you, that there is a huge difference. American news is much more negative than Canadian, you always here about shootings, robberies, fires, the War in Iraq, but not a lot of good news, like local people helping there neighbours. Here in Canada we get a lot of the good news. Yes, we get a lot of the bad stuff too, but, not as much. Plus, American Media sensationalizes (sp?) everything. No matter how small the shooting, or robbery it is told as if the world nearly ended.

When people see that all the time, they become more guarded and less helfull I think. I also think that is why when you go to smaller towns and Villages, they are so much more friendly and welcoming. This is true weather your in The USA, Canada, The UK, or just about anywhere else, cities are less friendly than small towns.

As our lives continue to speed up, the amount of negativity we are exposed to (weather walking down the street., watching TV, listening to Music, or surfing the Internet) grows. The more it grows the more we'll have to work to not lose our caring nature.

Answer 11

I think a lot of it has to do with population growth and the transient society that we have become.

Because Americans are no longer tied to their roots, families and communities, but move frequently from place to place in search of better opportunities, there is not a sense of responsibility towards those in need to whom one is not somehow connected.

I live in Africa where communities are very tight, and where one family who has a job is expected to help support every second cousin that comes out of the woodwork. It puts a lot of pressure on the individual to conform, but you don't see alcoholism, drug addiction, homelessness, and the kinds of indignities that you see in the west here.