Wednesday, March 25, 2015

All the Same: Follow up article on "Different Worlds, Same City"

The central lessons found in "Different Worlds, Same City" include...
1. We all have struggles
2. Our struggles are often different from those of others around us (for better or worse)
3. We are more similar to one another than we are different.

When we first read Angie's story we think she has no problems. But then as we progress through we learn that she grew up in a lower income home, she doesn't know her father, and her mother died two months ago. Then during the story her boyfriend dumps her on her birthday. We don't see the struggles at first but as we get to know her we start to see them. This is often how it is with our own relationships. When we first meet someone we often think they have no problems but only once we spend time around them and start asking questions do we discover the truth: we are all the same in at least one way. We all have struggles. We see this also happen with Mandy. Although we read early on that she has struggles. In the first few paragraphs we discover that she is homeless but it's more than that. She isn't just the homeless person many people wrongly picture as typical - drinking alcohol and being too lazy to get a job or a home for themselves. Mandy is hardworking and is fiercely trying to get a job. During her conversation with Angie we learn that Mandy did nothing to deserve the homelessness situation she is in. The reason she is homeless because her father was abusive and her mother died too. Even the people we think are perfect and have no problems have their own struggles if only we care enough to ask..

While Angie gets up in her warm, soft bed, Mandy was getting up off the cold, hard ground. This simple fact goes to show that not everyone has the same struggles. Mandy's problems include joblessness and homelessness. Angie's problems include loss of the man she loves and the recent death of her mother. Everyone's story is made up of different problems. Some struggle with their weight, others struggle with being bullied. Some struggle with depression, others struggle with finding a job. Some struggle with infertility, others struggle with abuse. We all have struggles but they are not all the same.

Some struggles are similar. Many of us struggle with lack of purpose, fear, inequality, trust issues, poor self-image, lack of courage, inferiority, bitterness, anger, sadness, and uncertainty. In many ways we are more similar than we are different. Tenth Avenue North's song "All the Same"  speaks to this. Mandy and Angie are similar in many ways. They both have needs - physical, mental, social, and spiritual ones. They want and need friends, support, care, and love. Mandy and Angie also have basic needs - a job, a home, food, and warmth. Mandy had spent 2 years worrying over how she would be seen. If people would understand that she was just like them. That even though she was homeless she was still just like them. Angie was one of the few people to take the time to find out who she was on the inside. As human beings, we have so many similarities to each other.

In conclusion, "Different Worlds, Same City" teaches us 3 basic lessons. We all have struggles but your struggles will not be the same as your neighbors. Everyone's problems are different but in many ways, we are all similar to one another.

No comments:

Post a Comment