Ending the Injustice of Generational Poverty by Dr Gloria Wilder, MD notes......

These notes are from two CAMFT conferences ago. I have mentioned it to you before but had misplaced my notes. Guess what? I found them and so forgive me if I am repeating myself. The speaker is Dr Gloria Wilder, MD. She is a Pediatrician. This was the last session if I recall after an exhausting three days. Perhaps that is why I found this so sad. Dr Wilder was raised by a single mother on welfare. It is now called something else (I believe the same is here in Canada). She is from Brooklyn, USA (been there). What you have there is Brownstone which is beautiful. She was from the other side. Her father was an alcoholic who would beat her mother almost every night. There was little food in the house with little or no food. While Dr Wilder was saying all this, I had an urge to hug her. Her mother taught her early to not tell anyone. At that time, born in 1964, it was illegal in the US to be poor. Her mother raised the three of them by getting three jobs. She worked in a hospital, taxi cab, and restaurant, while obtaining social assistance. Poverty was a big secret. “A heavy blanket that smothered you.” We are now fast forwarding 50 years. This poverty generational has become the norm. 11.6% of the population live in poverty. If you are a family making 27,740, you are not considered to be in poverty. In most of the States, 28,000 and 50,000 are near poverty in reality. You cannot fairly compete for housing or food. Turkeys in some places are $40.00. Dr Wilder continued to say that we (Americans) cling to be a democratic society. Families in the lower middle class are actually in poverty. Getting back to mom. A councillor hires her mom to work the night shift. She is an Operator and Switchboard, two different jobs and her mother brings her children and has them take her shifts. If you called during the night, you would get a six year old child. Three cab drivers quickly figured three children were taking turns. The cab drivers didn’t report them, but brought them food during the night, and drove them to school in the morning. The fact that the cab drivers allowed their mom to keep her job (for 30 years) and in that time they became their fathers, she is a physician today (Wow. You can see why I ended up in tears, hearing her story). Dr Wilder said there are five keys to social justice. It either puts you on a pathway to move forward or difficulty so far back. 1. Access to Health Care: During COVID, more than a million died. Moment of greater good, suddenly everyone experiences vulnerability, education, economic justice; environmental justice. Health Care - if a hospital only has 250 beds, your grandmother may be 251 and not get a bed. Everyone has a right to health care that prevents you from dying. In the USA, we still allow 30 million people to be uninsured. Nine million are children. 50% are male, black or Hispanic. The largest group now becoming improvised are over 65. 2. Education: " All of us had an education. Every day, 26 seconds, a student is dropping out of school. Every day 7000 students drop out and this was before COVID as well. 7000 children a day drop out." 3. Key - Economic Justice: You hear about minimum wage going up in cities. 21 of the States still has $7.07 considered a good job. That is the minimum and in other States, there is no minimum (Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Carolina {South?} and one other. It is critical that people get a fair wage. The U.S. incarcerates more than 5x10 times higher than International allies. 5.5 million people. 57 Billion dollars a year is spent keeping people locked up, but won’t spend money to get people out of poverty. Environmental Justice - Climate change is dragging some of us into the Ocean. Looking at it as political, rather than moral. Allowing children to die of Pediatric Asthma because of where they live. Community violence where children grow up that gun shots are all around them. Dr Wilder has resuscitated children in the street. She had a three year old come to see her. She had been shot playing. Her mom thought she had fell playing. Dr Wilder asks, “Have we gone to far?” The first time they went for family assistance, when she was a child, she saw a white social worker (Dr Wilder is a Black woman). She was asked if her mom feeds her? Does she have a television? During that time it was illegal to have electronics and get assistance. Her mother worked to become clerk of the District Attorney for Manhattan. Dr Wilder said that they knew their mother loved them. Talked about greedy landlords with powerful lawyers and tenants fighting alone. Dr Wilder said, “For me and everyone who wants to join - not to use charity without Justice. If we want to be the Nation we claim to be….” We need to be honest and for you brilliant people, (who me? nah) who help people - teach people not to be ashamed of their stories or poverty. Both Dr Wilder’s siblings have a Masters degree. They grew up not having enough food. On Saturdays their mom would get them all up and they would go all over to find coins. Once she had 96 cents. They would go to “Duke’s” and get baloney and bread. Duke was the only Black store in the neighbourhood. It seemed that all the neighbourhood kids came into the store to get candy when she went. Dr Wilder had a bag of pennies and was thinking that all the children would know she was poor. Duke tells her to get the bread, baloney, milk, cheese, ice-cream etc….As she is leaving the store, Duke tells her to say hi to her mom, and says don’t give the scholarship to Harvard University. MD at Georgetown University. For a quarter, Duke showed her that they mattered. She went back years later and Duke told her that she did good. “I gave her a hand. That is why God gave me two” She invites us to do the same thing. “Let America be America again. I am the Negro.” Dr Wilder states that her sister has Schizophrenia as well as a grandmother. She continues that the first time she gave a speech at a hospital where their kitchen staff and janitorial staff were getting basic pay below standard living with no health coverage. After her talk, the staff demonstrated. Dr Wilder informed us that she could still feel the heat when she knelt to help a young woman who had been shot twice and she was trying to save. She stated that it depends on all of us to help, to be a healer. She reports that education is the one that really impacts all the other four. By the end of this session my tears were flowing. Dr Wilder made such an impact on me. If there are any errors here, they are mine and mine alone. In Toronto right now, one of every ten people need to go to a food bank to get food to eat. This was unheard of when I was growing up. Today, our taxes are going up 9%. I did not vote for this Mayor who would not cap taxes. I do not know how she got elected based on that alone. We had a Refugee who came to Canada to die on the Streets on a cold night because he had no shelter. A few weeks ago, I was at a grocery store and a woman tried to communicate with me while I was in line. She was trying to determine the price of oil which was on sale. I told her the price and let her in front of my line, because that was all she was buying. She took out her change from a small purse and realized that she did not have enough money to pay for the item. I realized it was probably because of the taxes. I paid for her item. Last week the news announced that CEO pay hit a record high in 2022. Canadian top 100 CEO’s were payed 14.9 million each. That is $7100. an hour, about 60,000 a day, which is 246 times more than the average Canadian. One of those CEO's works at a major food chain, where prices keep increasing. The average person gets a 3% - 4.4 pay hike. What can I say? Houston we’re in trouble. Next week I shall be attending a lecture on Canada’s Homelessness Crises, held by University of Toronto. It will be held in the evening so I will do my best not to miss it. Of course I shall provide you with anything I learn. I think I know why we have this problem but I will wait to see what is reported.

Ordering Flowers? Be careful. I will share what happened to me with Blossom Flowerdelivery so it doesn't happen to you

Well I am still in the Christmas Spirit, even though tomorrow I will be taking down my Christmas tree and placing everything away for another year. I love Christmas, the lights, nativity, Christmas Mass, outdoor lights, the entire Christmas feel. It is a time when I try to catch up with everyone and always get a pleasant greeting from those I haven't seen awhile and don't forget the Christmas cards. Yup, tomorrow, I have to say my bye bye and the eighth, well all goes back to normal. Students go back to school, everything is open once again and well we carry on. Now, I am going to share with you an experience I never thought I would have. I ordered flowers and chocolate for a family member on the same day as her birthday because of course, I forgot the date. My mom used to remind me of all family members birthdays etc....and with her gone, well, what can I say? Mom, I miss you so much. So I found out early morning on the 30th, the day of getting her a gift. I typed out where she lived and www.blossomflowerdelivery.com popped up and I ordered her flowers and chocolate (medium sized). I don't normally tip for flowers but gave them the minimum of 5.00. I usually am a good tipper but not for these type of services. Actually, I won't tip at all in future for flowers to be delivered. In all the cost was $98.22. Today I opened up my credit card bill and was actually charged $133.57. You see they charged me in American dollars. I have to admit, I never expected such incompetence from an American Company. So here goes. Oh by the way they also have a complaint with the Better Business Bureau for failing to deliver and it wasn't me. So here goes: I ordered the flowers at about 0900, on the 30th. I was pleased that they were going to deliver on the same day. Whew! My error in memory loss corrected. At 3pm, I come home from gavalanting around town and I get an email that they won't be able to deliver the flowers. They ran out? They want to ensure it is fresh so when they get fresh, it will be delivered. I am of course furious. You see I had sent a previous email, letting them know that the link which is provided to let me know that the flowers are being prepared, delivered etc....wasn't working. But, I was informed that they were being prepared. Why lie? Now, behold. If when I ordered at 0900 I would have been told that delivery wasn't possible, I of course would not have ordered from them. But, they know that of course and therefore lied to me. So, I finally do a bit of research and phone the number where these flowers originate from and I am happy that it is in California and not from Timbucktoo. I feel that now I will get results. After all they are customer service. I tell them what I think of their lack of service and the complaint I saw (now I should have looked them up before ordering but I did think that it was local - colpa mia). I want to be compensated. I want to get free flowers for myself. No they cannot do that because it would cost them money. What they will do is give me $5.00 in addition to my tip which I wanted back. They were also going to give me a voucher of sorts for $20.00 off in my next order. I told them there will never be another order. When my family member gets the flowers, she doesn't realize they come from me. You see they forgot to put in a card, which I asked them to do and to say Happy Birthday and it is from me. So, I send the "local" person an email indicating that they never added a card. Now I wasn't going to complain, but it wouldn't stop and today learning I was being charged in American dollars, I called my family member. She tells me that the flowers are beautiful and very fresh because they still look good. The chocolate is more than sufficient because she is still eating them, but no, what she received is not worth $133.57. She also provides me with a name of a real local flower shop near her. So this was my experience, that I share with you, so it doesn't happen to you. I am very solution focused. I also like to correct a situation and move on. Even though I initially told Customer Service I was going to complain on my social media, I decided not to and informed such to the "local" when she didn't add a card. I told her, that in the spirit of the holidays I wouldn't. But opening my bill and finding that I paid so much more, well that topped it all. Of course I called California again (oh by the way, if you call, you have to pay for long distance yourself). I tell them what I think of being overcharged and well they let me know that it is somewhere on their website. So, I am informed I will be provided with my tip of 5. back and another 5. for my troubles I suppose. This will never happen to me again I hope. Now, that I have informed you, I hope it doesn't happen to you. Time to move on and enjoy the rest of my day. Now breathe!

Welcome to 2024 - Wow!

I wish you have a wonderful New Year. This is a good time to review your options and wants. 2023 was a difficult year for the world, but there is always hope which history has reported throughout the eras. I don't do New Year Resolutions, but I continue to eat healthier, go to the gym and re-examine my balances. My priority is family and Mr Attitude. Next is who I socialize with. Then there is my determination to get my new book "Ominous" out there when it is published. I want to make books a priority equal to my practice and that should be a challenge. I also want to thank you for reading my blogs. In todays world it can be daunting knowing who to trust. I wanted to write to you today about one of the sessions, I attended about Ending the Injustice of Generational Poverty, but I wanted you to ease into such topics, so today I thought I would just welcome you back to me, and thank you and wish you a good year. I will provide you with the aforementioned notes next. What do you think?

Merry Christmas World + Happy Holidays

I am preparing for Christmas so I probably won't talk to you until after the holidays. I want to return, time permitting, to continue with my tour of the Middle East, Theology notes and I also owe you much from all the conferences I attended. I should be able to mail my books to you from most places in the world. Even though I don't agree with everyone's politics, I like to treat everyone equally myself. There is much suffering in the world today and much is uncertain, but I wish to extend my best wishes to everyone and the safe return of the Israeli people who were taken. My Christmas wish this year is that we be able to live in peace with each other and to learn to love each other. Our time on earth is so limited and we can do so much to help each other by being kinder and more accepting of our differences. God bless.

For Love of Country Military Policewoman (The Middle East) saga continues Buy at Amazon or silvaredigonda.ca (ebook available)

Our time for shopping was limited. Our tour guide charged us extra for taking us to a shopping area of his choice. He directed us to particular shops and it was obvious that he was getting paid by the shopkeepers, as well as the excursion. He also wanted all funds in American dollars. It cost us $5 each to go for a meal at a hotel of his choice. There were cats and dogs everywhere. I saw one cat jump on one of the restaurant tables, snatch a piece of chicken and run away without the couple at the table noticing. After that trip I suffered from diarrhea for ten days straight. My next tour was Tel Aviv. It wasn’t really a tour but a work weekend. Four of us booked into the Diplomat hotel. Suffice it to say I had the evening off (unofficially) to go to the Disco Coliseum, only to leave due to cramps. It must have been something I ate at the Plaza. There is something I didn’t like about Tel Aviv. It was not my first time there. When I first arrived I had a day off and went with some people who had to go to the Canadian Embassy. The driver, nicknamed “Cap”, and I roamed the city while the others conducted their business. The walk along the beach was fine. We walked through a prostitute area and then a market area. Soldiers and civilians blended as one. Their women and men have to serve in the military. These soldiers are walking around with rifles or sitting with their rifles loosely held. One man was sitting and watching me. He was tossing his rifle back and forth, his finger in the barrel. I was hoping he would not drop it in my direction. I have never seen a group of soldiers so careless with the handling of personal weapons. As the men stare at you and face you, so does the barrel of their weapons. My mind returned to a tour in Italy. There was a soldier aiming his machine gun right into my stomach when I approached him. I carefully spoke to him, while using my finger to move the barrel, which leaned against my stomach, away from me while quietly telling him I would be doing so. People in the market stank. Perhaps it was the various foods or perhaps the dust and surrounding trash that smelled. Perhaps it was a combination of it all. After two months in the Sinai, my room remained dusty and sandy regardless of how well I cleaned it. After a while I did not taste the sand in my mouth anymore. A few of our people suffered from lung infections or bronchitis. I did not have any problems except for diarrhea. I could swear that in two months in the Middle East, I had more diarrhea than I would have in my entire lifetime! They called it “gypo gut.” I had already travelled to Cairo, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and St Catherines. I found myself listening to everyone’s problems. Even an American came to talk to me because there was no one else. He told me that all they had were counsellors with two years of college training to help with specific problems. I cannot recall if it was drug use and alcohol abuse. He also told me that everyone knew everyone’s business at the hospital. So I heard him and others with all they had to tell, of their personal problems, their fears and their regrets. I kept it all inside me. It is a gift when someone trusts you with so much. Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “For love of country : military policewoman.” For your copy you may buy a book from Amazon or silvaredigonda.ca (e book available on website. If any problem occurs please let me know.

SCAM ALERT

Mrs. Jenna Perri My Dear, I am writing to inform you of the situation concerning your overdue payment that has stayed here for so long. I am here to make sure you get back this awaited payment into your account. I overhead the new director collaborating with other commercial bank officials to divert some overdue funds that have stayed here for a lengthy account period into their private Swiss account. And I believe yours is inclusive. If I can not handle this to the best of my knowledge. I would not have contacted you. I am aware you have spent a lot of money to secure back this fund into your account or have it delivered to you; but they kept requesting for more funds from you thereby depriving you the capacity to get along with them. At this moment, I want you to work with me and make our communications confidential. It will benefit you more if you suspend any form of communication with anyone at the moment until I get back these funds into your account.. I have assisted a certain man from North Carolina USA and it worked out. All you need to do is follow my advice and allow me to handle the rest from here. Get back to me immediately to enable me handle your file of payment in your best interest. Sincerely, Mrs. Jenna Perri, Financial Systems Stability Directorate.

Good Morning World and Merry Christmas; Happy Holidays and a bit of me.

I have finished my Christmas shopping but am now shopping for me. I am all good. Yesterday I was running errands all day buying the last minute few things. I went to Walmart to buy skin cream I like and it was locked up. I also had to buy lipstick I can only find there and guess what? It was locked up. Apparently people are stealing all the stuff so it is now locked up. I have always had sympathy when people steal food, but not for cosmetics. We all suffer when people steal, because the prices just go up and that is not necessary during these times. What I noticed as I was wishing everyone a Merry Christmas adding on Happy Holidays for those who don't celebrate Christmas is I was getting a great smile. Their faces actually lit up and I am sure it was not only my beauty. I suppose they are not hearing "Merry Christmas" too often. So, try it, if you like and see if you get those great smiles. With gift giving this year don't forget your mailman and garbage collectors. When I gave my garbage men their small gifts, they told me they really appreciate it. I always get a big thank you from my postman who has been AWOL. I miss him and hope he is ok. We have been having some problems in Toronto and Canada with some hatred and a youth was arrested in Ottawa, because extremists on the internet got him interested to make bombs or such with the objective to cause harm to the Jewish community. His father claimed his son is naive and that is why he was radicalized however, our News reporters looked up Daddy's Facebook page and you guessed it, he was bashing Jews. Of course now daddy says his lawyer has advised him to keep his trap shut and his face book page is gone--poof---.(This is alleged of course) Listen people out there. These people who try to get you to do terrible things do not care about you. Their specialty is hate in the crudest terms. Talk to your parents if you can. Please report them to the Police. If you are feeling lonely and scared talk to your guidance teacher, school psychologist or your clergy. And clergy, since we are on the topic......You need to speak up against hatred. You know that all this stuff that is going on in the world is wrong. Let me tell you a story, since it is Christmas and I am missing many of my friends. Let me tell you about Ovey. Ovey was born Muslim and he was raised by a Muslim woman, single mother. Ovey became a Catholic Priest. Ovey also became my favourite Professor. Ovey loved the Muslim community. Each year the Muslim community would send him a reminder that he had to donate a percentage (if memory serves me right, it was 10%) to charity. They had assumed he was Muslim because of his last name. He described the differences between the two designations of the Muslim Religion and of course he got me to ask questions for those who may not have walked the path of Mohammed. Of course, I could ask all the questions. That is what students do. Then I would have people coming to explain things and of course I would throw in what I learned and was accurate here and there. After I graduated we became friends and often went out to dinner. He told me that during one Christmas (I think it was Christmas. I can't remember what country but I am sure I have already talked about it somewhere)Christians beat up a Catholic Priest. A Muslim man found him badly beaten and brought him home and took care of him, bringing him back to health. True Story. His love for the Muslim people resonated with me as us all being one people. People who are causing harm don't even know what their religion teaches and it is up to the Religious leaders to speak up especially to the young people to let them know right from wrong when youths are lead astray. Yesterday was surprising to me as I wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays because I was surprising people pleasantly and that made me wonder. This Christmas I understand that many will not have money for presents, but you can make something. You can write a poem for someone, telling them how important they are to you. You can draw a picture and say how they are presented in the drawing. You can make a craft....I remember as a child our teacher giving us paper so we could make a card and stick in paper where we cut slits to say what chores they would get from us as gifts (I don't think I ever did to the chores, but I made them happy with the thougt). Most of all this Christmas, be kind. Christmas can be very difficult for many. This is a time to reach out and if you can, give something. Even if it is a cookie. Wrap it up in saran wrap and tie a ribbon. It doesn't have to be much to make someone's day. Merry Christmas. It is never to late to make changes in your life. It is never too late to choose love. What do you think?