Posts Tagged ‘Question of Necessity’
A Question of Necessity
The first time I went to Nicaragua two years ago, I found myself trying to make sense of all kinds of local and global inequalities and disconnects in the world as I knew it. I really came to wonder what a man or woman really needed to live. What is it that every human being, as a living member of the human race, really NEEDS? Not wants. Not luxuries. Just the bare necessities.
The answer to this question is so incredibly complex that I really didn’t even know where to start thinking about it. So I did what every reasonable person would do. I asked a kid. And not just any kid, a middle-school-aged Nicaraguan orphan. I presented my question to this child in broken Spanish and so enjoyed the philosophical thought on the child’s face, that I asked every kid I met in Nicaragua (at least the ones I could get to slow down long enough). Then I met a homeless guy on the streets of Managua, so of course I asked him. Let it be noted that not until much later did it dawn on me to ask my fellow-travelers (most of whom where middle- to upper-class gringo Americans).
I received so many varied responses from the Nicaraguans. Some kids told me a man should have a job, a house, a wife, several kids and a car. Some said money. Others said a family. One or two smiled and said love. Jose, the homeless gentleman I met in Managua said that everyman should have food, shelter and love. On a bus ride back to the orphanage one evening, I posed my question to a 8 or 9 year-old. Without blinking, he answered simply, “Jesus.”
It has been over two years since that trip and, every once in a while I find myself asking that question of a stranger or friend. I want to formalize that question a bit and record some of the answers I get during my adventures around town. If you feel like playing along at home, please feel free to post your answer to the question.
the question is: What do you think a man or woman needs to live?
Over the next week or so, I’ll be posting answers that I get as I adventure around town. Stay tuned to new posts…
