Several times in February I saw a quote from Fred Hampton about how feeding people scares people.
As I had been posting daily quotes from Black people for Black History Month, I kept trying to find a source of the full quote so I could use it.
I never found that one. I suspect that someone cleaned it up; maybe the original had references to "pigs" and "socialism" that might have sounded undermining in its aggression. (I have some sympathy for that.)
I used a different quote from Hampton, but I keep thinking about that other one.
On the surface, feeding people should not be remarkably subversive. In fact, many places have tried passing laws against it. These are sometimes done in the name of public health or safety, but it's more commonly about the public nuisance of allowing unhoused people to be visible and treated like they matter.
In fact, one of the bans was legally opposed with the assertion that feeding the homeless is a form of protest, and therefore constitutionally protected.
https://legalclarity.org/when-is-feeding-the-homeless-considered-illegal/
I had been irritated recently by an old reference to feeding "the worthy poor" as a Christian obligation.
I see no indications that Christ made any stipulations about worthiness.
The multitudes were fed because they were there. That they were there listening might indicate some worthiness, but in John 6 Jesus admonishes some for seeking him out because of the bread, then urges them to seek for "that meat which endureth unto everlasting life..."
He did still encourage them toward the spiritual, but that was not a condition for food.
In expounding on the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, we are told that if we have done it unto one of the least of these, we have done it to Him. Likewise, if we have withheld it from one of the least of these, we have withheld it from Him.
There can indeed be variations in someone's level of worthiness, but they do not serve as a cutoff level for assistance.
Finally, from Mosiah 4:
17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—
18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
Eating is such a basic, recurring need that meal trains are the Relief Society go-to when people encounter any type of problem, even if that would not be the preference.
Feeding people also brings up such weird discussions when people get into preparing food versus ordering food and whether poor people have a right to have food preferences or whether getting poor children fed is important enough to give free lunches to the kids who don't need them.
Truly, people willingly display their worst impulses on this topic, no matter how much they try and cover with appeals to logic, the importance of work, and nutrition. Really, what they seem to want is to consolidate the existing hierarchy.
So, yes, just giving people food is subversive.
The Aloha Community Library has a Share Space where donated food and personal items are available.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1299509918885741&set=pb.100064802343597.-2207520000&type=3
I love that, and that there is no red tape or obstacles to people taking what is needed. We donate to it, but there are two things that are frustrating..
One is that they have had to request more than once that they don't get expired items. It comes up on a regular basis, including one from 2003!
The other is that most items go out on the same day they are donated.
That confirms that it is needed, but also indicates that the demand is greater than the supply.
Of course there are other places to give, and donations like that are not the only way to give.
Taking a treat to someone, or a meal or a gift card for a restaurant or delivery service... there are lots of ways to feed people that can address physical and emotional needs.
Doing so also helps keep our hearts right.
Looking around, there is a great need for that.
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