Amazing Grace

Jonathan Kozols, Amazing Grace, was a very easy read for me. it was both inspiring and informative. It opened my eyes to a lot of things that i rarely think about because they are so hidden away in the back of everyones mind. We are constantly worrying about classes and work and boyfriends that we rarely get a reminder like this of the outside world and the people struggling in the world. Kozol wrighta about famillies that are well below the poverty level, struggling for basic neccessities and fighting off drugs and deseases. The way that the piece is written really makes you feel for the people living in the area and want to do something to help them. Kozol wrotethis piece not only to open our minds about the bad that it out there but also to try and get us to do something and reolize that we can. The people living in this community are trapped in an endless cycle of poverty and those with the power to do something, should.
"somebody has power. Pretending that they dont so they dont need to use it to help people- that is my idea of evil."
That quote really got to me becuae i realize that, compared to them and a lot of people, i do have power and dont do much to help those that i could ewasily help in even the smallest of ways.
The quote, also, that Kozol is trying to fight, "if poor people behaved rationally... they would seldome be poor for long in the first place," makes me very angry, especialy after reading the story about the people in New York who i feel for. i could never blame Cliffie or David for the situations that they are in, especially when you clearly see infront of you how difficult it is for an elderly, dissabled woman to get food stamps.
It is sad to see that some of the people living in these situations have lost hope, though i understand why. It must be so hard to feel as though the law is working against you instead of for you. that ot is a hastle to call the police or go to a hospital because nothing good will come of it anyway. Though it may sound strange, the fact that the grandmother took matters into her own hands really inspired me. not that i am going to go out and kill someone but the face that she did what she fealt needed to be done, on her own. she said, 'i aint waitin for the law."