1. foundling-a child who has been abandoned and whose parents are unknown
2. commericial-Adjective used to signify a business activity, regardless of whether that activity has been undertaken by an individual or business
Billie Holiday who originally was called Eleanora, tell the story of her life. Her parents are poor and are in the early teens when they give birth to her. She almost never would see her father, he was drafted for the army and soon after he came back he went on to be a musician who was always on tour. Her father never came and gave Billie's mother a divorce and married another woman. Her mother left her with Billie's cousin Ida, when she left to work and save up money for them to have a nice life.While living with her cousin Ida she would be beaten and would have to fight of cousin Ida's son from raping her. She got sick of it and went to work cleaning people's house. After some time her mother came back and she had saved $900 for them to live on which during that time was a nice amount of money.Living with her mother was quite nice untill she was almost raped, sent to jail, and treated horribly at a catholic institution. When she grows up she becomes a singer, singing infront of a large crowd witha thirty-four-piece band behind her.
Question:
Her mother and her worked hard to save up money to live a normal life and she ended up becoming a famous singer. If they can work so hard and make money and have a successful life should the government support single parents who have no money and jobs or should they have them work hard like Billie and her mother without support from the government?
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12 comments:
I read your blog and I must say very well done. I really enjoy the question you pose. It's a question that can't be answered all in one second. It seems to take a philosphical aspect and requires much thought. One would have to look at all angles of the question posed.
I think that people should make an effort to support themselves but some singles mothers cannot be mothers and work, especially those with small children. The rest of the blog was as interesting and thorough as the question was though provoking.
Everyone's situation is different, but as a rule people should be expected to try their best to rise above their circumstances. In some cases, however, it is impossible for this to happen without outside help. One example is slavery. During the time of slavery, no matter how hard the slaves worked they could never become free people, they needed the help of the government to become free.
While it is true that all people are expected to make a life for themselves, becoming a famous singer was a luck of the draw. This does not mean that all single mothers can achieve the social status they crave, and if the government is "made for the people", in those circumstances where working hard is not enough, the government should provide some form of support.
I personally believe that people have the power to build or destroy their lives. Although I believe in 'self', I also believe that there is nothing wrong with the government helping the people which in return will make the country even stronger. What I believe is wrong is the fact that people take advantage of government help and find satisfaction in being parasites.
Honestly, as personal as this may sound, I can relate to Billie's childhood. I used to clean out closets for 20 bucks or clean stove tops for as high as 10. My mother was out cleaning other people's feet and was never home to support my brother and I but I feel as if learning reality the harder and faster way gave me a better insight on life.
It's noble to succeed when you had absolutely nothing rather than achieving your goals being given all the finance and help from others. The government's help CAN be essential according to the situation but rather than that, everyone has to learn to be independent.
i think that it is important that people learn to not always take the easy way out for example with welfare but rather people should work hard and earn their money with hard work and make something of themselves because not only will that help them succeed but it can give them the courage that they need to go out in the world and make something of themselves just like Billie Holiday did.
- Daniel Schonbrun
I think that Billie Holiday's situation is something that rarely happens. Not to say that people who are poor can't work hard and make a great living, but in the sense that not everyone is gifted with a great voice or the ability to dance or play a sport. Billie and her mother did indeed work very hard to make a living, but i believe that Billie was a special case. It is extremely important for people to work hard and strive to support themselves and their families, but sometimes people need a little push or incentive to help them get started. Therefore, I do believe that the government should assist in funding, as long as they can see that the person or family is making a great effort to better themselves.
I believe the government should offer help to single parents, but the parents should not live based on that. They should still work hard and try to make a living for themselves and use the government money as almost a back-up.
-Ryan Maguire
I think that matrifocal families should do as best as they can to succeed but that doesn't mean they shouldn't get help from the government. The family should prove that they're trying to do their best to sustain themselves in order to get help.
-Cindy U.
i believe that the government should be able to provide some support to families who are in dire need such as Billie's. the government spends so much money other unnecessary things, where is the welfare for its people? its in the pockets of rich people. life is very hard for poor people because the jobs are low paying and the expenses are too high.
That's a pretty good question. I think that the government definitly should support single parents and their children in some ways. Not fully supporting them financially but a small amount to help families maintain their lifestyle. I think that what Billie went through helped her to grow strong and cautious of her surroudings as well as to enjoy the God given talent of her voice. Her singing got her to many places and she became of the idols of American history. I feel that by supporting small families who have single parents, gives them a little bit of hope the fact that the nation they live in supports them. Single mothers like Billie's aren't able to be the mother and father while having to work for the money. It's hard to do all three at the same time.
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