Spiritual vacuum in the DR

Danny W · #1 03-14-2005, 08:01 PM

I don't mean a lack of people genuflecting in church or wearing talismans to protect against evil spirits. But when I read in the DR1 news section today about food packages sent from the US, I realized how pathetic the spirit of many in the DR must be. Talk about low self esteem and low expectation. To live on handouts of food when the DR is perfectly capable of feeding its own, to expect nothing from its public servants - police, government officials. To have post offices that exist for no reason, to have hospitals without paid doctors or medicine. To kill the goose that laid the golden egg - the sunshine and beaches are more valuable than oil, yet the crime is treatening the gringo. To accept corruption as a way of life, teenage mothers without husbands, to belive in the value of lighter skin or straighter hair - what is this illness of the spirit and how can it be reversed? I don't care which party is in power, the problem is much deeper and more personal.

Anyone care to disagree? - D

MrMike · #2 03-14-2005, 08:44 PM

I think people prefer the flaws in the system to the hard and probably fruitless work of doing anything about it.

They feel it would be easier for them to work their way up the food chain a little than to do away with all the predators.

Look at the way people drive here, it's not so dfferent from the way they live. Don't care about anything as long as they get where they want to go. Never mind they're causing a traffic jam, an accident, endangering others, not their problem.

People deserve the leaders they get, and society is never anything other than the sum of it's people.

I've heard posters say: "how can I teach my children the value of honesty and hard work when they see thieves who do nothing driving the best cars, wearing the best clothes, etc." Well you can't because obviously you feel driving a good car and wearing nice clothes are more important than adding value to your own society, so you will never be able to teach anything else.

PJT · #3 03-15-2005, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny W

I don't mean a lack of people genuflecting in church or wearing talismans to protect against evil spirits. But when I read in the DR1 news section today about food packages sent from the US, I realized how pathetic the spirit of many in the DR must be. Talk about low self esteem and low expectation. To live on handouts of food when the DR is perfectly capable of feeding its own, to expect nothing from its public servants - police, government officials. To have post offices that exist for no reason, to have hospitals without paid doctors or medicine. To kill the goose that laid the golden egg - the sunshine and beaches are more valuable than oil, yet the crime is treatening the gringo. To accept corruption as a way of life, teenage mothers without husbands, to belive in the value of lighter skin or straighter hair - what is this illness of the spirit and how can it be reversed? I don't care which party is in power, the problem is much deeper and more personal.

Anyone care to disagree? - D

One can understand you have empathy of the plight of some Dominicans.

However, The DR1 news is not a story of handouts. It is not a story of low self esteem, teenage mothers, corruption, or illness of the spirit. It is an article about food packages being shipped to the D.R. from abroad.

Families (people) rely on support of relatives (and friends) here and abroad. It is the way of life and is expected. If you go to Vimenca on any given day you will observe people obtaining money tranmittals from relatives living abroad. This money can be used to buy food. It is not pathetic, its speaks of the greatness of family unity. These same giving relatives will also send food packages, not so much to sustain the family outright, but more so to provide a better selection of quality goods, goods not sold here, and to maintain the family connection.

Regards,
PJT

miguel · #4 03-15-2005, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny W

I don't mean a lack of people genuflecting in church or wearing talismans to protect against evil spirits. But when I read in the DR1 news section today about food packages sent from the US, I realized how pathetic the spirit of many in the DR must be. Talk about low self esteem and low expectation. To live on handouts of food when the DR is perfectly capable of feeding its own, to expect nothing from its public servants - police, government officials. To have post offices that exist for no reason, to have hospitals without paid doctors or medicine. To kill the goose that laid the golden egg - the sunshine and beaches are more valuable than oil, yet the crime is treatening the gringo. To accept corruption as a way of life, teenage mothers without husbands, to belive in the value of lighter skin or straighter hair - what is this illness of the spirit and how can it be reversed? I don't care which party is in power, the problem is much deeper and more personal.

Anyone care to disagree? - D

WELCOME TO ANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRY!!!!!!

Danny W · #5 03-15-2005, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miguel

WELCOME TO ANY THIRD WORLD COUNTRY!!!!!!

Yes, but it's a 3rd world contry with 3 hour direct flights from NY, with thousands of hotels and god knows how many tourists pi**ing away money, a huge potential labor force, with no threats from other countries and no real problems other than its own malaise and lack of expectation. Other than the majority of the population being in a stupor, what's make it a 3rd world country?

I remember the civil rights movement in the US. The country's consciousness changed completely in a very short period of time. Of course that was a much less subtile issue. But is there a strong literacy movement or family planning movement or real anti corruption movement in the country? I'm an outsider, so perhaps I'm missing it.

Shelby Stokes · #6 03-15-2005, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny W

I don't mean a lack of people genuflecting in church or wearing talismans to protect against evil spirits. But when I read in the DR1 news section today about food packages sent from the US, I realized how pathetic the spirit of many in the DR must be. Talk about low self esteem and low expectation. To live on handouts of food when the DR is perfectly capable of feeding its own, to expect nothing from its public servants - police, government officials. To have post offices that exist for no reason, to have hospitals without paid doctors or medicine. To kill the goose that laid the golden egg - the sunshine and beaches are more valuable than oil, yet the crime is treatening the gringo. To accept corruption as a way of life, teenage mothers without husbands, to belive in the value of lighter skin or straighter hair - what is this illness of the spirit and how can it be reversed? I don't care which party is in power, the problem is much deeper and more personal.

Anyone care to disagree? - D

I disagree with the opinion that the DR cannot supply itself with the required amount of food and services that will bring about the commerce desired to fuel a part of the economy enjoyed by the whole country. That is all I disagree with.

As for the lack of spiritual awareness, I do not believe that it is any lower there than any other place in the world. I do know that if people such as yourself continue to strive for the upliftment of the spirit then we will reach a point where others will see and join in. Please do not allow for the forces of the adversary to deflate your ability to overcome. There is a verse in the Bible that states and I am paraphrasing, " All things work together for the good of them that Love God and are called for his purpose."

If you have not already picked these books up then I suggest that you grab them soon. The Purpose Driven Life authored by Pastor Rick Warren and He-Motions authored by Bishop T.D. Jakes. These two books along with the presentations of my pastor over these last three years have moved me to begin to reach for the purpose that God given to me and to begin to walk in that purpose whether I am brought to earthly riches or just brought to a place where I can supply a few other people the extra bit of food and provisions that are asked for when the struggle gets a little tight.

God Bless you and all that you set your hand to in this world.

Stodgord · #7 03-15-2005, 02:01 PM

You know everyone says that the cause of the DR misery is because of it third word country status. When someone complaints about the live in the DR, someone would be quick to reply what do you spect of a third world country. I have had the opportunity to travel to the southwest of the US and I was shocked that in a nation like this one, there are people who live in third world conditions. I am talking about how the Navajo indians live. I saw barefooted kids, carboard homes and unsanitary condition. Another part of the US that I always hear in a negative way are the area of the hills of West Virginia. In a TV report, I saw how a family lives in a school bus with no heat. The kids are barefooted, uneducated and with rotten teeth. I know there are social program in place but the reality is that there are very poor people in super developed countries. So when I hear non-Dominicans refer to the DR status in a derrogatory manner I laugh. People should look in their own backyard before looking in someone elses, or ''no mirar la paja en el ojo ajeno"

Pib · #8 03-15-2005, 02:06 PM

Well, yes. But we are talking about D.R.

And about the OP, I don't know what 'spirituality' has to do with anything. I really didn't understand what he meant.

NotLurking · #9 03-15-2005, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pib

...I don't know what 'spirituality' has to do with anything. I really didn't understand what he meant.

Thank goodness I'm not alone. In fact, I'm in good company.

Shelby Stokes · #10 03-15-2005, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pib

Well, yes. But we are talking about D.R.

And about the OP, I don't know what 'spirituality' has to do with anything. I really didn't understand what he meant.

You can not know that which may be outside of your sight. I am the writer of the other post and I explained that if a person learns to engage the spiritual side of their exsitense then it will lead to bringing up the ills of this world as well as the pverty in the DR. Just as it is needed in all parts of the world.

Hopefully that will explain to you what "Spirituality" has to do with it. If not I am on a vacation and will have the time to explain further. I believe that all of us have a responsibility to others that we come into contact with when we have spoke about the truths of life.