People learn and grow by doing it themselves. When they develop the will and exert the effort to accomplish things themselves, they grow stronger in character, usually resulting in growth financially, morally, and spiritually. Conversely, in our efforts to help people we generally make them weaker. This is evidenced in many places. Foreign aid has not really resulted in helping anyone except a few cunning foreign politicians. The Marshall Plan in Europe after WWII was an exception. The U.S. Government’s and Bill Gate’s actions to help AIDS victims in Africa hasn’t really helped. A few have gotten very wealthy but the programs have not been successful in reducing AIDS.
Welfare in America hasn’t pulled many out of poverty. The recipients become so eager to receive the stipends and work and self-effort is not necessary. I remember a friend about 30 years ago in Los Angeles that was required to sweep the City parking lot before collecting his welfare. How indignant he became!
Drug addicts and alcoholics are usually propelled downward when someone offers help. AA calls these people enablers. Their intentions are good but the result is not.
Wealthy families generally produce a second and sometimes third generation that is weak because they have had things done for them, things provided for them that others have had to earn by themselves. An example of this is Pinch Sulzberger, owner of the New York Times. His father produced a very successful newspaper and the son is running it into the ground.
I had a sister-in-law and her husband who raised their children in the Spartan essence: courageous in the face of pain, danger, or adversity. One of the children fell on a concrete driveway and tore both knees terribly, but he merely got up and continued playing without concern whatsoever. Their children have grown strong outwardly because of this inner strength.
There is a saying: “If you give a man a fish, you have fed him for a day. If you teach him how to fish, you have fed him for a lifetime.” I remember reading about an organization in Southern California that worked with people that were addicted to welfare. They showed them how to exist without outside help by making themselves stronger inwardly. The recipients had to remain welfare free for a certain period of time. The success rate was around 70 percent.
Therefore, we as individuals, families, governments, and countries need to concentrate more on developing methods that will motivate people to be self-providing rather than dependent, able to pull themselves up mentally, morally, and monetarily rather than waiting for someone to assist them. Everyone needs to develop their inner strength to withstand adversity. Others cannot do this for them; they must do it themselves.
