The Integrity of Work

WORK... what's it all about...

Do we all have the same rights?  The United Nations thinks so...

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, or old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."

Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Do any really want handouts?

"I do not ask for a house of steel,

Or even one built of stone;

But for the exultation to feel

The tug of muscle and bone.

Not for wealth or men at my command,

Nor peace when I am through --

I only ask work for these hands,

Work for these hands to do."

Kresenky, Raymond (1937) "Prayer of the Unemployed", 1000 Quotable Poems, New York, Willet, Clark and Company, p.191

"Indeed, one of the greatest challenges today is how to connect the poor to the global marketplace."

Befus, David (2005) Miami, Florida p.52.  Publised by LAM

Others have said this before, "the poor will always be among us".  But, is it reasonable for us to sit by passively while so many (approximately 4 Billion at the time of this writing) are really poor.  Yes, poverty depends on where you live, but living without what the United Nations calls everyone's rights (food, clothing, housing, medical care, etc.) would seem to me to be an indicator of really poor.

Wouldn't you agree?

This "journey" of mine is to attempt to take an active role in doing something.  Yes, I know it might be a little and might not make a big difference when you consider the 4Billion previously mentioned.  Yet, I must press forward.  I say must for a reason.  To NOT take an active part is to shut down my heart and my emotions.  Some would say to not listen to my emotions, but I say they are the very essence of humanity.  To not listen to my heart and my emotion would be to cease to live.  Or perhaps live in a state of denial or worse a state of comatose!

We are launching this business in two weeks, Jan 4th, 2010.  I hope you join me in celebrating this event and hopefully find a way to help out --- to take some action of your own.

My next writing will be an appeal for workers to get us moving in the right direction.  Do you know folks in the workplace that fit what we're looking for?

Thanks again for walking along with me on this journey!

Stay tuned - Steve