People as Children

What’s so wrong with being a kid?

Children are people, people are children – all of us on some level.

What is so wrong about relying on others? Is it not true that there are natural instances for when relying on others takes precedence?

Perhaps for some of us we have symbiotic relationships, maybe things are mutually beneficial – though we differ extremely.

And then, there are those of us that are codependent or dependent on others as a natural course – whether chosen, or selected by default (genetics, disability, etc)

Who are we to judge those that need others to support them?

That need others to improve their quality of living?

Those that are reliant on others by habit, choice, or necessity…

Did you know? :

During courtship, male cardinals will feed seed to females beak to beak ! from Awwducational

Some of us will never “grow up” and my response to that is “what is wrong with that?”

There is a prevalent assumption – akin to the push for professionalism from everyone, no matter the age, race, gender, equality, equity, etc. – that we be professional.

It is definitely a form of class oppression that goes unspoken, unremarked, understated, unrecognized, and generally not noted in research, writing, or remarks.

There is an expectation that people do better, be better, are better.. as they grow and get older with time, experience, and age. But that is not necessarily true…

In church we expect a level of “professionalism“. You are coming to “God” why can’t you be professional? Yes, there are relationships – but no public displays of affection! Be serious! Be respectful! Be quiet.

(not all of us experience God that way)

In society we expect a level of professionalism in dress, demeanor, candor, and all around day to day choices and activities. This crafts people to be cookie-cutter types and to oppress or suppress their inner leanings, selves, or tastes. Employers look for a “type” to fit the mold they need. Others need not apply.

Humans crave variety on some level – and in many ways humans reflect variety in their upbringing, choices, and experiences (let alone factors like race, etc.)

So why then do we villain-ize those that cannot or will not “grow up” when it comes to presentation, mannerisms, dress, or overall impression.

On one hand there are some jobs, professions, or spaces in life where people can be adult children – but that is if you are a functioning adult on many other levels… or have some sort of support network or system to keep things going where you are “deficient” (=need a better word here)

In these exceptions you can be a child in many ways, but an “adult” (or more professional or advanced level skills) in other aspects.

Some of us are born exceptions.

Disabled, handicapped, whatever term you decide to use – Developmentally Challenged. Forever in rehabilitation.

They will forever rely on others.

And then there are those of us where favor, fortune, or luck denied us, and whether genetically predisposed or a mishap, we become one of the many – disabled, crippled, traumatized, or otherwise handicapped from progressing in life, our employment, our jobs, or family lives, our careers, more than we (or others) expected or anticipated.

Everything will take a turn at that point.

There will be those that choose to be part of the support group.

And those that are elected to be part of the support group.

These systems exist, albeit, outside of much of the mainstream culture or normalcy we “expect” – but they are nonetheless prevalent, existing, and thriving in their own conspicuous, superfluous ways and desires.

• When there are homeless
• When there are mentally impaired (e.g. bipolar, possessed etc)
• When there are traumatized individuals
  • no longer able to function “normally” in “normal” society
  • e.g. rape and/or domestic abuse/violence victims/survivors
• When there are socially inept
  • e.g. Tourette’s Syndrome, hypochondriacs, severely autistic, etc
• When there are deformed
• When there are deficient
• When there are developmentally challenged (~*=favorite terminology as I worked at a Child Development and Rehabilitation Center for 4 years…)
• When people need Medicare for All…
• When people need support networks
  • that provide housing
    • whether or not they can afford or have the necessary faculties or abilities to keep a job or be employed anywhere that makes enough income to afford a living situation or expenses…
• When people cannot afford their own Healthcare
• When people do not have the faculties, skills, or network to afford them knowledge, power, or choices for future protection
  • like through retirement, social services, home owners/renters/property/vehicle/mobility/health insurance, or other benefits involved with adulthood, possessions, property, interests, legacy… etc.
• When people cannot maintain a job or income for WHATEVER reason
• When people cannot maintain documentation to get them housing, employment, benefits, or other securities for quality of living or support services

… The mainstream culture ignores, shuns, is apathetic, or vehemently opposed to supporting these populations through taxes or any means that they feel they should have say, control, or power over the image or nature of the work to be done.

Some churches try their best, but any outreach, food kitchen, package/parcel deliveries, health clinics, –however “well-meaning”– are temporary and a band-aid at best.

• These people are suffering
• These people are dying
• These people are getting robbed by others who are suffering
• These people are getting abused by others who are suffering
• These people will even get maimed or even murdered by “peace” officers that do not understand, choose not to understand, or are ill-equipped to deal with poor, or otherwise “misfits” of society that have no one there to protect them or demand they receive appropriate medical attention at the necessary moment or interval
  • Mental Health is Health Care
  • Behavioral Health is just as important and everyone needs exploring there with appropriate counseling (so much suppression and repression in society)
• These people are committing suicide
• These people are defecating, urinating, and undressing in public spaces on public transit and at service stops

We need ideas or establishments that LAST!

Our Central City Concern team is an important part of keeping our city clean, running, and maintained to a degree of acceptable for most people (especially people who know how dirty, deranged, and weird things can get or be)

• They’re out there in roving trucks, monitoring the populations and needs
• They’re out there pressure washing sidewalks, transit shelters, walls, and benches
• They’re out there collecting bio-hazards & NEEDLES (or arranging for the necessary individuals to come and properly dispose of them – out of the public’s path)

As an employee in public transit I regularly pass through and see things.

People in other forms of employment that have them regularly on the streets, cleaning, maintaining order, supervising, securing, monitoring, marketing, etc. will see similar things in the city

To these people, maybe it becomes commonplace – but maybe… just maybe they are affected like I am and spend many sleepless nights or restless days in thought about how things could be better.

At the end of the day

Why can’t people be children, be seen as children, and be taken care of like children when they need it?

For all of us, at some point in our lives – whether early on, in a mid-life crisis, or in our elder years – we will need others to assist – we will need the support of the many or the few that are making “the most” to help cover the rest of us. That is how our society has been built, how things run, and so necessarily we rely on those with the funds or philanthropy to develop, secure, or support humanity and humanitarian aid or needs.

It would be nice if things could be different… but they are not right now. We have to come to terms with this and work with what we have. This means people are going to have to sacrifice. It means people will have to do things or help others when they might not want to. It might mean more taxes. It might mean a great many things.

At the end of the day though, the more you put out there and help others, the more others will hopefully be inspired to do the same. When you model a way of living that benefits others and in turn benefits you or those you care about – it becomes a form of symbiosis. It will eventually feed itself in its cycle or loop, whether the individual that started it remains or disappears.

I want to start a Portland Bathhouse. I want to bath everyone from every walk of life. I want to elevate the senses. I want to bring dignity and good smells to all people and things (clothing and hair included).

For that, I’m going to need a very serious kickstarter investment, support team, and brainstorming crew (highly educated with know-how).

In the mean time I will still ask the question – even to my own father who is at the root of my fears of people denying others affordable or decent healthcare …

• Why cannot we have healthcare for everyone that is intended for anyone and everyone?
• Why must it be privatized?
• Why must certain hospitals, services, or specialists be… separate? and more expensive?

Why is health – a basic need for quality of life… exclusionary?

• Why cannot people be treated like children if that is their choice or need to be so?
• Why cannot we see them as such (even if they are full-grown adults, even if someone managed to get them through school or to get a GRE… but they have failed at life…) and continue to support their well-being?
• Why do we belittle them?
• And why do we shame others for supporting them or for supporting the idea of social services as an ultimate ideal for humanity if we can only improve and believe in them?
• Why do we shame ourselves for that matter?
• Why do we shame children?

Why do we shame ourselves for being a child?