Condemning the Poor - A Sense of Privilege

Over the course of the last week, two incidents occurred on Facebook. Simple status updates, and sharing of links relating to the poor, and working class of this nation, led to comments by some people, which nearly drove me up the wall. According to some (who incidentally belong to the upper class society) 90% of our nation's people are lazy, blood sucking, stab-you-in-the-back individuals, looking for a free meal, and a free life."

These comments were directed at the class of people who for the most part:

1. Work for below minimum wage

2. Are laborers, maids, sweepers, factory workers, cooks, drivers, tailors etc.

3. Are uneducated

4. Are dirt poor

5. Receive little or no benefits from their employers

6. Cannot afford healthcare

7. Cannot afford to educate their children

8. Often cannot afford to feed their children

9. Have almost no rights in the workplace

10. Are treated as inferior beings

Because, they are prisoners of birth.

So, let me tell you how much some of the other 10% contribute to this country.

1. They own their own businesses

2. They employ laborers, maids, sweepers, factory workers, cooks, drivers, tailors etc.

3. They are educated

4. They are rich

5. They will never be poor, as long as they have the poor working for them

6. They can afford healthcare, and anything else they desire

7. Can afford to send their kids to private schools, where most remain average or below average students

8. Can afford to let their kids waste an entire McDonald's meal after eating one french fry.... Daily.

9. Have every right anywhere they go, because they abide by no law except their own

10. Demand respect and often to be treated as royalty

But, let's not leave it at just 10...

11. They don't care that their private businesses do not follow labor laws, and that their staff is paid below minimum wage.

12. Their maids, cooks and drivers can usually be found working 14-15 straight days with a day off after said days are complete. These same maids and drivers, are on call 24/7 and often go without a day off for months at a time, because things would fall apart if they left.

13. They are incapable of opening a car door themselves, but think nothing of their 7 year old servant boy mopping their 14 room houses.

14. They consider a cheap cotton jora gift to their staff, and or 200 rupees for Eid as "taking care of them as if they were our own family."

15 They're not opposed to loaning their staff money, for their medical needs, but will deduct it from their pittance of a salary "to teach them some responsibility."

16. After they do that, they'll spend the day shopping for that perfect outfit which costs 20,000 rupees.

17. They will lie if they have to, to protect their businesses, and gain credibility.

19. They expect and demand a life time of gratitude for their "generosity" in granting the poor employment.

20. And, they will constantly moan about how those same people are so lazy, and always ready to stab them in the back.

It is difficult to not be outraged.

It is difficult to not want to bitch slap them from here to hell.

It is very difficult to fight them while exercising respect and calm.

I admire the people who do it. They have the patience of saints.