marvin schur
By American Girl in Italy on January 29, 2009 at 3:50 PM in Barack Obama, Current Affairs
In my post about the stimulus package, I mentioned a man that froze to death in his apartment. My point was that in a time when people are losing their homes, losing their jobs, and literally freezing to death, there are more pressing matters at hand than condoms.
Now that more information about Mr. Schur has been reported, I wanted to revisit his story. Marvin Schur was 93 years old, and lived alone. He froze to death in his apartment after his power switched off.
After 50 years of paying his bills on time, he did not pay his power bill for four months and the power company attached a *limiter* to his power. No one explained to him what a limiter was. So, when he used *too much* power, his power shut off. In order to reset the power, he needed to go outside, and flip the switch to turn it back on. No one explained this to him, no one bothered to check on him. No one called to ask if he wanted to pay his bill, no one contacted him.
He was not poor, he had the money to pay his bills. More than likely he suffered from dementia, and became confused. He didn’t have any children, and his wife passed away a few years ago.
“When neighbors went inside Marvin Schur’s house, the windows were frosted over, icicles hung from a faucet, and the 93-year-old World War II veteran lay dead on the bedroom floor in a winter jacket over four layers of clothing.”
That sentence just breaks my heart.
This was a failure of humanity.
The inhumanity of big business. In the quest for increased profit, we have the absence of human contact, and personal relationships. Humans have been replaced with automated machines. Companies are computerized and automized. We have been talking about the need to create jobs, but companies keep trying to figure out ways to eliminate jobs, and replace them with machines. “If people would know who their customers are and take concern for their customers, maybe they’d go knock on the door and see if everything is OK” Machines can’t do that.
But it’s not just the fault of big business. People don’t know their neighbors any more. We no longer care for and look out for our neighbors, not like in the old days.
And sadly, it seems the military lost track of one of their WWII veterans, as well. And perhaps his nephew wasn’t attentative enough, families move apart, grow apart.
Reading the story, it seemed like everyone was trying to pass the blame, but I think everyone is to blame.
So, when Obama calls for “a new era of responsibility”, I agree there is room for improvement, that MORE people should step up. I agree with his message that people need to be involved, be responsible, and have accountability.
But, this video makes me mad. I have to call bullshit.
MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge
The message sounds all well and good, but where the hell were they, and these sentiments, a month, or a year, ago? The video starts with, “They say the job of the President is the loneliest job in the world. You’re not alone.” Um, is Obama the first President, ever?
It actually takes Obama to call for responsibility and patriotism for Hollywood to make these pledges? This never occurred to them before? There is nothing wrong with Obama’s message, and there is nothing wrong with the pledges. It is just idiotic that they never felt the need in the past eight years. They had to wait until they had a young, hip president, that drinks green tea and eats arugula to embrace a generosity of spirit? (And this is hard, because I love a lot of these actors, I am a HUGE movie fan, and I have tried to just ignore most of them during the Obamania, but this is just TOO much.)
Did it never occur to them that the country could have been better served these past eight years with a little more *love thy neighbor* and a lot less America bashing. It’s a shame that Hollywood wasn’t using their *influence* the past decade to spread their message of patriotism and responsibility.
And it amazes me that they think this is a new idea, and they are somehow leading the trend – as if there wasn’t compassion, patriotism and responsibility before they got this *idea and inspiration* from Obama.
Many people have always been generous with their time, money, and spirit.
Well, I guess it is a good thing that they finally decided to do the right thing.
Perhaps, like the people in the story about Mr. Schur who were all looking for someone to blame, I am just looking for someone to blame, or be angry at, too. I’m just really, really sad that no one was there to help Mr. Schur.
Here is some more feedback on the Hollywood Pledge video:
“hating the president doesn’t mean one can’t still help out the country in a great time of need. But many went to foreign countries and demeaned it instead. Called those that disagreed with them rubes and hicks. The elitism of the celebrities against flyover country America could not have been more pronounced. They made a boat-load of movies that affirmed this narrow and patronizing world view.
And now they want us back.
We’re all Americans — NOW.”
Zo is still at it, and has his response to Hollywood.
If you aren’t familiar with Zo (AlfonZo Rachel), here is one of my favorite rants of his. I might not always agree with him, but he gives me a lot to think about.
You can read the entire story about Marvin Schur here.
Freezing Death of Michigan Man, 93, Inside Home Sparks Anger
BAY CITY, Michigan — When neighbors went inside Marvin Schur’s house, the windows were frosted over, icicles hung from a faucet, and the 93-year-old World War II veteran lay dead on the bedroom floor in a winter jacket over four layers of clothing.
He froze to death — slowly and painfully, authorities say — days after the electric company installed a power-limiting device because of more than $1,000 in unpaid bills. Continue here.
(
)
Pingback: 65 degrees for Thee Not Me «
Pingback: World War II Veteran Freezes To Death In His Home - World War 2 Talk
Pingback: Kevorkian,Octpuplets, ‘Right’ to life and death « The Spoils of War