I read an article put out on Facebook that really got me thinking today, the kind of thinking that gnaws on you all day until you have to do something about it. For me, it means sitting in discernment and balancing my brain whose thoughts vacillate between anger and love. I love my country and personally want to act from a spirit of love and I am angry at our leaders who play games with the people they serve. I am also that people jump on bandwagons that hurt others rather than lift them up.
The article was:
Denmark Is Considered The Happiest Country. You'll Never Guess Why.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/22/denmark-happiest-country_n_4070761.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D395069&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=1668623b=facebook
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Here are a few quotes:
The six factors for a happy nation split evenly between concerns on a government- and on a human-scale. The happiest countries have in common a large GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, healthy life expectancy at birth and a lack of corruption in leadership. But also essential were three things over which individual citizens have a bit more control over: A sense of social support, freedom to make life choices and a culture of generosity.
"There is now a rising worldwide demand that policy be more closely aligned with what really matters to people as they themselves characterize their well-being," economist Jeffrey Sachs said in a statement at the time of the report's release.
Danes feel a responsibility to one another
Danes don't prioritize social security and safety simply so they can receive benefits; there's a real sense of collective responsibility and belonging. And this civic duty -- combined with the economic security and work-life balance to support it -- results in a high rate of volunteerism. According to a government exploration of Danish "responsibility":
Denmark is a society where citizens participate and contribute to making society work. More than 40 percent of all Danes do voluntary work in cultural and sports associations, NGOs, social organisations, political organisations, etc. There is a wealth of associations: in 2006, there were 101,000 Danish organisations -- worth noting in a population of just 5.5 million.
The economic value of this unpaid work is DKK 35.3 billion. Combined with the value growth from the non-profit sector, public subsidies and membership fees, the total economic impact of the sector represents 9.6 percent of the Danish GDP.
But that sense of stewardship isn't just extra-governmental: Danes also take pride in their involvement with the democratic process. During the last election in September 2011, for example, 87.7 percent of the country voted. It's not surprising, given these statistics, that the University of Zurich and the Social Science Research Center Berlin have given Denmark the very highest rating for democracy among 30 established democracies.
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I could write forever on this topic. Some say I was born a descendent of St. Michael, the Archangel – the angel who goes before God fighting for justice. I’ve been called worse. And I guess if that’s what I’m doing, great, but it certainly encourages me be the first one to look at myself in the mirror. I have been known to throw the judgment card more than once. So, looking in the mirror isn’t always a pretty sight at all.
There will always be someone who will argue this point of view so I just need to put it into rhetorical question format. Read the entire article, it will make you smile for them and cry for us. But, it makes me hopeful that there is another way we can live in the world. I’m so tired of the politically tainted opinion of the news and social media. Feeding the hungry, caring about one another and encouraging each other to succeed should be the norm not the “enabling” thing to do.
What can possibly be wrong about encouraging one another along the way? How can helping another out whose need is greater than your own be threatening to your personal wealth? Why is it necessary to place blanket judgment on those who need assistance and encouragement? What happened to “What goes around comes around?” Doesn’t that still mean if you help someone, you will be helped? So what happens when one places judgment on another without any facts and decides the other is not worthy of help? What would happen if those “better off than most” decided to feed the poor real food out of their own freezers? How could that hurt anyone? Isn’t it the same people who want to rip Food Stamps out of the system the ones who want the churches to do the job instead of the government? Is it not the same people who believe churches should be taxed?
Could it be that the people who have actually experienced poverty are the first to share their own wealth? And, when did the word sharing come to be a dirty word? Doesn’t it seem preposterous that the wealthy can die and leave millions of dollars to their dog and think it’s fine to ignore the hungry? Are the rich, and famous, and “wise elders” not wise enough to understand the part they play in the poverty game?
It seems Denmark has all their priorities straight. The focus is on being happy and encouraging everyone to do the right thing. There are no rewards for bullying those less fortunate.
A lot of my children’s free time in their youth was spent preparing food and serving the poor with their Youth Group friends. My daughter carries small $1 store jars of peanut butter to hand out to the poor when they ask. You know, it never hurt her or came back to haunt her? You know why? She did it without judgment and without asking the hungry person to show his or her “Poor Credentials,” or prove they couldn’t buy food on their own. If my hubby stops for take-out food and there is someone asking for money, he buys him or her food and blesses them on their way. If they wanted the money for alcohol, hubby would never know. He doesn’t ask and it’s none of his business. (Enabling a loved one IS a different story; so don’t go AA on me here. Feeding anyone is okay.)
Taking a look on what makes Denmark tick seems reasonable to me. Why not learn from someone who’s getting it right? Seems to me, not much of what’s been happening in the US is making many people happy right now. I sign off with the sound of John Lennon’s “Imagine” running through my brain. And then there’s the Young Bloods and their song, “Get Together.” Ahh, I yearn for those days when it was “Hip” to do the right thing. Come on boomers – remember your roots!
The article was:
Denmark Is Considered The Happiest Country. You'll Never Guess Why.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/22/denmark-happiest-country_n_4070761.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D395069&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=1668623b=facebook
---------------------------------------------
Here are a few quotes:
The six factors for a happy nation split evenly between concerns on a government- and on a human-scale. The happiest countries have in common a large GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, healthy life expectancy at birth and a lack of corruption in leadership. But also essential were three things over which individual citizens have a bit more control over: A sense of social support, freedom to make life choices and a culture of generosity.
"There is now a rising worldwide demand that policy be more closely aligned with what really matters to people as they themselves characterize their well-being," economist Jeffrey Sachs said in a statement at the time of the report's release.
Danes feel a responsibility to one another
Danes don't prioritize social security and safety simply so they can receive benefits; there's a real sense of collective responsibility and belonging. And this civic duty -- combined with the economic security and work-life balance to support it -- results in a high rate of volunteerism. According to a government exploration of Danish "responsibility":
Denmark is a society where citizens participate and contribute to making society work. More than 40 percent of all Danes do voluntary work in cultural and sports associations, NGOs, social organisations, political organisations, etc. There is a wealth of associations: in 2006, there were 101,000 Danish organisations -- worth noting in a population of just 5.5 million.
The economic value of this unpaid work is DKK 35.3 billion. Combined with the value growth from the non-profit sector, public subsidies and membership fees, the total economic impact of the sector represents 9.6 percent of the Danish GDP.
But that sense of stewardship isn't just extra-governmental: Danes also take pride in their involvement with the democratic process. During the last election in September 2011, for example, 87.7 percent of the country voted. It's not surprising, given these statistics, that the University of Zurich and the Social Science Research Center Berlin have given Denmark the very highest rating for democracy among 30 established democracies.
-------------------------------------------
I could write forever on this topic. Some say I was born a descendent of St. Michael, the Archangel – the angel who goes before God fighting for justice. I’ve been called worse. And I guess if that’s what I’m doing, great, but it certainly encourages me be the first one to look at myself in the mirror. I have been known to throw the judgment card more than once. So, looking in the mirror isn’t always a pretty sight at all.
There will always be someone who will argue this point of view so I just need to put it into rhetorical question format. Read the entire article, it will make you smile for them and cry for us. But, it makes me hopeful that there is another way we can live in the world. I’m so tired of the politically tainted opinion of the news and social media. Feeding the hungry, caring about one another and encouraging each other to succeed should be the norm not the “enabling” thing to do.
What can possibly be wrong about encouraging one another along the way? How can helping another out whose need is greater than your own be threatening to your personal wealth? Why is it necessary to place blanket judgment on those who need assistance and encouragement? What happened to “What goes around comes around?” Doesn’t that still mean if you help someone, you will be helped? So what happens when one places judgment on another without any facts and decides the other is not worthy of help? What would happen if those “better off than most” decided to feed the poor real food out of their own freezers? How could that hurt anyone? Isn’t it the same people who want to rip Food Stamps out of the system the ones who want the churches to do the job instead of the government? Is it not the same people who believe churches should be taxed?
Could it be that the people who have actually experienced poverty are the first to share their own wealth? And, when did the word sharing come to be a dirty word? Doesn’t it seem preposterous that the wealthy can die and leave millions of dollars to their dog and think it’s fine to ignore the hungry? Are the rich, and famous, and “wise elders” not wise enough to understand the part they play in the poverty game?
It seems Denmark has all their priorities straight. The focus is on being happy and encouraging everyone to do the right thing. There are no rewards for bullying those less fortunate.
A lot of my children’s free time in their youth was spent preparing food and serving the poor with their Youth Group friends. My daughter carries small $1 store jars of peanut butter to hand out to the poor when they ask. You know, it never hurt her or came back to haunt her? You know why? She did it without judgment and without asking the hungry person to show his or her “Poor Credentials,” or prove they couldn’t buy food on their own. If my hubby stops for take-out food and there is someone asking for money, he buys him or her food and blesses them on their way. If they wanted the money for alcohol, hubby would never know. He doesn’t ask and it’s none of his business. (Enabling a loved one IS a different story; so don’t go AA on me here. Feeding anyone is okay.)
Taking a look on what makes Denmark tick seems reasonable to me. Why not learn from someone who’s getting it right? Seems to me, not much of what’s been happening in the US is making many people happy right now. I sign off with the sound of John Lennon’s “Imagine” running through my brain. And then there’s the Young Bloods and their song, “Get Together.” Ahh, I yearn for those days when it was “Hip” to do the right thing. Come on boomers – remember your roots!
| THE YOUNGBLOODS "Get Together" Love is but a song to sing Fear's the way we die You can make the mountains ring Or make the angels cry Though the bird is on the wing And you may not know why Come on people now Smile on your brother Everybody get together Try to love one another Right now Some may come and some may go We shall surely pass When the one that left us here Returns for us at last We are but a moment's sunlight Fading in the grass Come on people now Smile on your brother Everybody get together Try to love one another Right now If you hear the song I sing You will understand (listen!) You hold the key to love and fear All in your trembling hand Just one key unlocks them both It's there at you command Come on people now Smile on your brother Everybody get together Try to love one another Right now |
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