How we easily misjudge and stereotype each other. An example being comments made in reference to Staff Writer Eric Russell’s fine article on COVID stimulus need last Wednesday (for which I was interviewed).
“People who can own a house in Harpswell are wealthy.” What of those who built or bought in the boondocks, paid a 40-year mortage clamming and lobstering and, finally, have a home during COVID?
What of a single parent, mother of seven with no child support, who bought cheap land and with sweat and tears built their home, paid off the materials in 25 years, allowing the mother at 74 to sell it, buy land and build a home for her old age? And now she has only a small Social Security check to live on.
I’ve heard wealthy folks saying, “The poor and the homeless wouldn’t know what to do with stimulus money.” I’ve heard others say, “People of color won’t take care of whatever they’re given.” Some say, “You can’t trust a wealthy white man.” All of it, ugly, nonsensical assumptions.
What if we always looked for the potential and the good in people? We’d find a lot more of both! Our young and our old need this: To be seen as capable, and then helped to use our gifts to nurture the planet, particularly now with COVID seclusion.
Trusting the good in each other would go a long way toward making COVID less of a threat than it is. And look when that does happen – exemplified by our dedicated medical workers!
Nola Denslow
Harpswell
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