Poor, they call themselves.

Perhaps, I am being insensitive to what is happening in Africa and just maybe the world.

"Sympathy gives a man fish, but empathy teaches him to fish and eat from his labour."

I think the world is too sympathetic to individuals who identify themselves as "poor", hence the "Poor" are now using their lack as a gateway to guilt-trip others for refusing to sympathize.

Being sympathetic instead or being empathetic to the many who lack is far more deadly than hunger itself. Sympathy from those who "have" paralyzes means in people to fend for themselves and compels them to be better at begging or stealing as a living. Embracing lack or poverty as their destiny to life.

Within us, all is a spirit to be independent and eat from our labour. However, whenever those means have been paralyzed in us we beg and steal, guilt-tripping others to think they are not being empathetic enough.

Many of us have lacked somewhere in our lives, hence it is easy for those who "lack" now to guilt-trip those who empathize with them because they too have been in the position of lack.

Being empathetic should not only serve as hope but that no one's destiny is meant for poverty or lack. Lack is only but a phase in which dedication and refusal to be "poor" can propel you out of poverty.

What can be done?

A lot, but sympathizing does not cure the problem but it drugs it.