Published: June 12, 2009 05:57 pm      

DAY: One must take responsibility

Why is it that there are some people out there out of work, yet they’re too lazy to put out a garden so that there can be food to eat? Why is it that they can have a smoke in their mouth and a pack in the pocket, yet the child has nothing to eat? Why is it that you can stand behind someone in the checkout line while they put steaks, drinks, chips and those smokes down, and you hear them say that they can’t afford to buy milk for the kids?

I asked a lady why she didn’t put out some plants and tend to a garden, just so she could feed her kids? She said that with four kids, each having a different father and she unmarried, she did not have time to grow a garden. She also said that if I was so interested with what she did, how about giving her some money to get some burgers down the road? Of course, you know that I don’t feel any grief for someone like that, but I do feel for those kids.

I know that we are not in a perfect world, but you would think that there would be those out there who know that there are ways to not get pregnant, and there are ways to find work if you are not so lazy to work. Why is it that we have to see this happen all over the world? It really does no good to help some, because they have gotten used to having you and I give from the heart and hope that they will start trying to help themselves.

As for those fathers who aren’t responsible for their actions, my thought to them is “shame on you.” With a lot of good men and women out of work, the impact of more irresponsible behavior is greater than ever. We need to find out how we can get to these women and men and instill in them that you have to be responsible for your actions.

There are people out there who now have to figure out how they are going to maintain a new style of living, and those hands that were giving out the money are no more. To all of this, this writer has some answers. But do those people really care what I think? Do they want to make their lives better, or will they continue to play on the hearts of others while on the receiving end of whatever they can get out of us?

I guess that there are some out there who ask why I care about it if it does not hurt me? And I have to wonder myself why I do, because it is no skin off my backside whatever they do. I was raised in a large family. But for the first years of my life, things really were not that bad. Being young, my brothers and I were under the apron strings of our mother, and Dad was doing his part to work enough hours so that we were fed.

Really, all my life at home, being in a large family, we were fed great, kept warm, had a nice home to live in and great parents. But as life goes on, you at some time in your life have to start building your own life. With that goes a large amount of responsibility. And the cycle of life starts on a new path of getting married, having children – in that order – and being there for those members of your family.

So yes, I do care that there has to be some responsible men and women out there who need to do for themselves instead of always having the hand out to receive some goodies. I am saying to those who want to change that they can, but they have to take the first step.

Wouldn’t it be nice to go to bed at night feeling good about what you did? I know you can do it.

• Ray “Uncle Ray” Day of Kokomo is a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune. Contact him at uncleray@earthlink.net or (765) 457-3819.