Lie #7: Americans are greedy and self-centered.
Not according to this article by William J. Bennett found at: The U.S. is a very generous nation.
Certainly some of us are greedy, self-centered, selfish and egotistical. But that is not every American. Generally people who are free will use their creativity, interest in exploring new methods, innovative ideas and resourcefulness to increase their accumulation of wealth from which they also increase the amount of their generosity. So why make such a broad sweeping unfounded claim? Perhaps the ideology of the speaker is socialist-communist and he deprecates personal property ownership and deriving the fruit of your own labor. Perhaps the ideology of the speaker is you-owe-it-to-me and simply wants everyone else's goods handed to them. Perhaps they simply have no real knowledge of the amazing and outstanding generosity of the Americans, most of whom who believe in a creator. Here are some sources of facts:
• American generosity, 2 of 3 reasons
• American generosity, 1 of 3 reasons
• American generosity, 2 of 3 reasons
• American generosity, 3 of 3 reasons
• American generosity - absolute versus relative charitable giving
These are consistent with the Biblical principles about helping your neighbor and those in need — simply being kind and merciful to others. Some examples are below:
- God commands helping someone in distress.
- God commands helping someone's animal in distress.
- God commands us to love our neighbor.
- God speaks against practicing hatred.
• But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. Deuteronomy 15:8
• For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Deuteronomy 15:11
• Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates. Deuteronomy 24:14
• For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God. 1 Chronicles 12:22
• Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:4
• They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. Isaiah 41:6
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan — But (a certain lawyer), willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?" And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Luke 10:29-37
• If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him. Exodus 23:5
• Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again. Deuteronomy 22:4
That, of course, includes loving: our spouse (meaning no/rare divorces), our children (meaning no parental abandonment, neglect or abuse), our developing child in the womb (meaning no abortions/murders) and those that are different from us or even hate us (meaning no encroachment, theft, mistreatment, lying/slander), et cetera.
• Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18
• Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Proverbs 21:13
• And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. Zechariah 8:17
• Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 19:19
• Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Matthew 5:42
• And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31
• Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10
• If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. Exodus 23:4
• Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Proverbs 24:17-18
• If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink. Proverbs 25:21
• Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:43-44
• Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36
• Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Romans 12:14
• Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21