The Will To Do More

This past weekend I was reading an opinion column in the newspaper from a woman in California who was laying out all the government programs they had taken advantage of over their lifetimes.  This was in response to the current political uproar over the 47% who don't pay taxes in the US and those who "drain" our economy. I am not interested in discussing the political aspects of the article or even about US tax code and those who pay vs those who don't pay but there were a few thoughts that came to mind as I was reading this article.

First, I immediately recalled the movie Cinderella Man, the story that takes place during the great depression in which much of the country is stuggling to find any kind of work.  A man who is a boxer goes out every day in hopes to be picked for a shipyard job in which he even disguises and injury just for the cash in order to provide for his family. One scene in particular really sat with me as he eventually goes to the government office to obtain pay from the government and it is the most painful and embarassing part of his journey. The idea that he had to take money and couldn't earn it caused him deep shame. The movie is about overcoming hardships and this boxers unheard of journey towards the top of his game and the success that came with it. When times were good for this man he gave the money he took back. Who does that today?

Second, I also recall one of the presidents of the United States in a speach to the country he was charged with governing made the statement. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." This is a bold statement, one in which inspired many to go where we had never gone before, accomplish things we never thought possible. This idea was rooted in the idea that humanity wanted to improve, wanted to do better, wanted to provide and work for a living. I'm not so sure that statement would go over well in our current time.

Is the will to do more dead? Has our desire to better ourselves and better our communities and nation dead? I hope not, but evidence that a shift continues to take place in our country seems to be very much a reality.