Yonker 1

Justin Yonker

Mrs. Cramer

College Comp.

Period 6

1 October, 2021

CAN Essay

“God helps those who help themselves” my grandmother says from across the table. I sit
in

silence, as usual whenever politics is brought up at the dinner table. It is not that I am

uninterested, it is that I have been told to be quiet because no one wants to hear what I have to
say.

Whether it be arguments about welfare, like today, abortion, or even my own sexuality, I have
been

told to be quiet with my “concerning", as my grandma would say, political views. I have a large
Italian, Roman Catholic family, so as you can imagine, there isn’t much room to get a word in.
The conversation goes on “I don’t see why those people can’t just get a job”. In my mind
we’re
having an argument where I would say something like “it’s not that easy, we’re in pandemic and
almost a recession., "but I know that that would be useless because everyone at the dining
room table would look at me with the same disgust and disappointment that they usually
do. Instead, I just say “What about the kids? It's not their fault.,” referring to the
Unemployed. “Let them starve” my grandmother sharply replies. A silent wave of shock goes
over me and everyone at the table laughs. I sit back in my chair in defeat, although I am used to
my family’s “dark humor” shock will always be present when the woman that gave you cookies
 Yonker 2

As a child tells you that she thinks poor people’s children should starve. I understand that my
grandmother is from a different time and because of that we hold different values. My mother
usually stands up for me which is helpful, there are very few people who can get through to her
but she is one of them,
After that conversation, I decided to stay quiet, not because of my family’s reaction to my

comment but because in my mind I had already won the argument. Although I hardly

contributed to the conversation, I’ve grown to find out that because of my own moral compass

and being able to tell the difference between right and wrong I’ve already won the debate with

my grandmother or against anyone else because if just I stick to what is right. If you stick to what

is right, you cannot lose.