Before the multi million dollar bailouts of U.S. banks and the automobile industry, before unions controlled the workplace, and before people abandoned personal responsibility and compassion for government intervention, B. Virdot helped those in need in his community because, well, because he could.
Like many in his generation, he believed in hard work, not handouts. But he learned that hard times sometimes meant no work and often stretched self-reliance beyond the possible. In that realization, he did not look to the government for help. He saw offering help as debt we owe one another and ourselves. Helping is just something you do.
As government subsidies have increased, not only for those in need but for many who just feel entitled, perhaps our compassion, need and duty to so something to help others has been lost. After all, the government takes your money and promises to take care of those in need. Read Hood’s column today for a recap on how that’s working out.
Read the story of B. Virdot as told by his grandson in this NY Times piece. A good message in what this season is all about.
