On a blog I read frequently, by a woman named Bethany , made a statement that caused me to pause and think.
Is it bad to be happy with life when so many people aren’t? I know that I should not feel guilty for having a great and stable life (for the time being), but I do. I feel guilty that I have a job that is generally unaffected by the economy. My husband does, too. I feel guilty that we don’t have money problems, when everyone else seems to.
While I don’t want this to reflect back on her, because I truly do enjoy her blog, I must stop and comment on the guilt that successful Americans are being forced to have.
Using Bethany as an example. Her husband recently passed his nursing exam. She recently graduated from college. Both are very happy with what they are doing it and, from what I gather from the blog entries, worked very hard to achieve what they have.Â
It wasn’t given to them because of their family.Â
It wasn’t because they were privileged in anyway.Â
They achieved the little bit of success they are experiencing because for the first part of their lives they worked VERY hard.
This couple is new married, so they are probably not the richest, but they have gotten to the point where they are living comfortably–no kids, a house, friends…
and guilt.
Why should they feel guilty?
Everyday the news media is seeking those people who are hurt by the very real economic turmoil. Each day the same media discusses how terrible it is that their are people in this country that are unaffected therefore…it is they who should be taxed and punished for their hard work.
It is an example of goodness to have compassion on those who have been hurt by this current financial crisis.Â
We should have compassion, not guilt.
Too many times the world tries to simply makes us feel guilty because we happened to work for what we have.Â
Tai-Tai says
Exactly! Well said.