The have and have Nots: Why we often forget.

While I was enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at a friends home, a conversation ensued that reminded me of the everyday patterns we adopt, often without malice, but symptomatic of neglect. We become comfortable with our lifestyles and those within that circle, often at the temporary expense of our humanity.

The conversation moved to a discussion about the price of Fish per pound at a local gourmet market. My friend who is among this circle of upper middle class professionals, and with no harm intended, just as a point of conversation, mentioned that he was shocked at the extreme pricing of fish at this market. He indicated that the $ 20.00 per pound range was definitely surprising to him.

His statement brought a totally opposite surprise to several members of our circle. They thought it unusual that he was surprised at this cost per pound. The indication was, that they were very used to this type of pricing and it didn't cause the slightest degree of consternation.

When he mentioned that he was used to paying 2-3 dollars a pound
for fish,another friend,just as a point of conversation and more of
a motherly type indicated that even she would never buy fish at such
a low price per pound.

The conversation was also carried on in regard to the freshness of the fish,
with that being an essential to this group of people.

Now, I do believe that this was just a nice conversation, but it got me thinking" Most of the working poor or even the middle class would be more in line with the 2-3 dollar range per pound for fish, although this may be somewhat low. Freshness, for most people is a secondary issue and at most a luxury. To this group it was ordinary. One friend remarked that she always payed around $ 20.00 per pound for her salmon.

Not once did I believe that this group was looking down at people of lessor means or lessor incomes. It does however show how comfortable we become in our own circles speaking about issues that are common to us, but may not exist in commonality with the populace as a whole.

This was just a casual conversation over a good dinner and yet it brought
to light the realization of the 'differences' that exist when groups belong
to different economic strata. They weren't being mean or narrow-minded,
they were simply pointing out facts about their lifestyle in regard to this
issue. That lifestyle exist in the income strata that excludes many people
in our society.

We all get into patterns of thinking where we take for granted our way of
life and it becomes part of us. This in part, is one reason we've come to
loggerheads in this country over economic issues. I'm wondering if our
patterns of thinking become subliminal, according to our lifestyle. We t
hen move into the mode of non-intentional directive or a laizzez-faire
attitude, that with no malice intended,nevertheless forms the backbone
of our thinking.

If too much of this becomes subliminal and common, at what point do we lose a part of our humanity. We could all use a lesson in thinking outside the box.