“At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “It is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.” “Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. “And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?” “They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.” “The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge. “Both very busy, sir.” “Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. “I’m very glad to hear it." "...What shall I put you down for?” “Nothing!” Scrooge replied. “You wish to be anonymous?” “I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.” “Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.” “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." -A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.
What bothers me is that our world is slowly returning to that miserable time Charles Dickens describes.
I was going to say, and I might as well put it here. Some people say they want to censor "A Christmas Carol" because Charles Dickens was a wife beater. That's horrible. But what does it have to do with the book? It is still a great work of literature. But you know Bob Costas said something interesting on "Real Time" with Bill Maher February 9th. He said many of the people trying fight for inclusion of females assigned male at birth clearly have ulterior motives. He didn't go into detail. But that's interesting. Damaging a cause by supporting some ridiculous claim associated with it. I am not saying gender inclusion in sports is a ridiculous claim. I mean, females assigned male would have bigger bones and more muscle mass even as females. But I'm not a doctor myself, so I just don't know. I'm just pointing out people on both sides often have ulterior motives for the ridiculous things they sometimes say.
