So how about that "walk a mile in someone else's moccasins" in order to understand them? I don't have to hide in a garret, fearing for my survival, to understand the enormity of Anne Frank's situation. I don't have to see my own toddler drown in the Mediterranean to feel the desperation of refugees. I don't have to watch those around me dying in a sweltering locked truck in the Texas desert to know that human smuggling is vile and only the most intolerable situation has driven the victims to that extreme. Shoot, I can even root for Frodo Baggins without being a hobbit.
And the same applies to all of you. You may not be in immediate danger of losing your health care (I'm 70 years old and on Medicare so I'm probably mostly OK in the short term) but you still take action for the millions who are under direct threat. You call, tweet, and assemble to assure voting rights for everyone. You stay informed.
That is part of what makes us Democrats. We see society as a whole, and we see our individual places in it.
But there are individual needs, too. Even if we are not in a true war zone, with bombs exploding and maimed people in the streets, there are people among us, even right here on Kos, who are in true need. Some, for their own reasons, choose not to tell of their situations, and we may never know about their lives. But others have turned to our community for help.
Losing one's home, even a rented apartment, with no way to move and nowhere to move to, is terrifying. The humiliation of having all your belongings dumped on the sidewalk, the sheriff escorting you out, in full view of people you know and people you don't, and leaving everything behind. Utilities shut off means living in the dark, no air conditioning, no way to store food, no way to clean or to keep yourself clean. You can go only so long without buying food before the last can, the last package, the last frozen leftover in the back of the freezer is consumed and there is nothing else. Some of these people are right here among us, and they are desperate.
Some of these people have vulnerable others living with them. Some have vulnerable pets.
So I'm back to the original question: How much is enough to make a difference? Well, I can't rescue a toddler from drowning when a dangerously overloaded boat overturns. I haven't yet figured out how I can hide an undocumented family in the mini-house behind my barn. (Yes, there is one, and yes, I’ve thought about it.) But I can give something to some of the people here among us who are, right now, scared and vulnerable. Something. A little. A small amount from each of us who is able will meet their immediate needs. If you can give $5, do that. If you can give $25, do that. If you can give to more than one, then do that. You don’t have to do the whole amount yourself, just one person’s share. Not the whole chain, just one strong link.
And if you can't contribute money? Maybe this isn't your gift. Maybe your gift is kindness. A statement of appreciation for that person's contributions. Living in dire financial need and constantly at risk pretty much always results in stress-related tension and depression. Maybe your gift is knowledge. I've seen several appeals for fundraising have their goals reduced because one of us knew something important. It could be you.
I was on this site as a lurker for years, and only recently opened the Street Prophets diaries. The description of the intersection of religion and politics, I thought, meant it wasn't for this atheist. I was directed there from another diary, and found that it was for me, after all. If you haven't read the list of people needing help, and they have to be in very real need to ask on a public forum, go there. Help at least one person. Please. For them, for the community, for yourself.
Here’s the link to the most recent Street Prophets Community Fundraiser Helping Humpday. Thank you.