30 November 2005

Sin-talk continues to be a powerful force in Ray's book "Do No Harm." We continue with the constructed images of the "welfare queen."

The irresponsibility of the welfare queen is taken as a given; the job of the society, in this account, is to figure out how to make her "responsible." Within this depiction of a social reality, we clearly see the discursive construction of a social margin...
I am highlighting the way a liminal social space is constructed and persons are essentialized into it: The very terms that become the referent to this figure create a situation in which the only discourse possible is one that is purely negative psychosocial analysis.

Again, we must see that there develops a sense of "I and "it." Those people marked in such a way become objects that are kept at a distance. When that happens, all we do is turn the "it" into a negative image...an object...a nobody...a pest...a negative force in society. Do you see how quickly it moves to making "them" appear to be destructive to the life of the society. And yet, it is fed by nothing more than "talk." Yes, there are "welfare queens" and they come in all colors. But not all poor folk fit into the stereotype. Unfortunately the word is already out there and the word is associated with "sin" and the sin is something that we can avoid or attempt to eliminate...somehow. The next thing that happens among us is that we build wall around our homes, family, social groups...and worst of all...our hearts. We will not allow "them" to have a place within our hearts...a place in which we can see them in the image of God so that we will have a new and inspired way of making them our brothers or sister...and not merely objects at which we point or walk away.

Connection: Always attempt to define the "them" and put real faces to "them" and talk directly to "them." It is an exercise that may turn "them" into real people...real parts of the whole image of God alive in the world with us - as is promised.

We know that you are always present with us, Abiding Lord. We need help to recognize you when your face is wrapped up in the lives of those we would sooner forget. Help us to see you present in the many ways you come to us in all your people. Amen.