HarlemLIVE

1.    Do you practice Lent? “Yes I do.”
2.    What did you give up this year and how does it connect to the recession? “I’m not going to really give up anything. I want to be more prayerful. Sacrificing is not necessary for the economic problem. It’s doing more for the community. My mother lives with me so it’s a dual effort. I’m giving up but being more helpful to the community. I am introducing my granddaughter to this practice as well.”


Kathleen DeJesus
56 years old.
1.    Do you practice Lent? “Yes, I take it very seriously.”
2.    What did you give up this year and how does it connect to the recession? “I would like to give up smoking and be a better person. I feel that I should not only do it for the 40 days but forever. You have to do a lot more with a lot less. I’ve been through it all and it’s all the same thing since the 60’s and 70’s. I mean how do mothers feed their children when milk is 5 dollars. The public wants Obama to do so much when he is left with so little to work with. Bite the bullet and deal with it as well as pray.”

Doris
1.    Do you practice Lent? “Yes and I would like to give up lotto and certain foods. Also, spending a lot of money.”
2.    How does this connect to the recession? “The recession doesn’t change anything.”


In my opinion, at first I didn’t know what Lent was because first I am not religious and second it is referred to me as “Ash Wednesday.” It affects me greatly because it can change the societies view on many things on their mind including myself.  If people give up for example smoking then it can decrease the rate of second hand smoking and children dying. Something even as little as giving up on a certain food can change the perspective of many things to come and maybe make a difference in the way we live.


What are you doing for lent? Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent; it is when worshippers attend services at which they receive ashes on their foreheads. The pastor marks the forehead often saying, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." Ashes are viewed throughout Christian history as a symbol of humility and sacrifice for those who wear them. Starting on Ash Wednesday Christians are asked to give something up for the 40 days of lent. To me it is not always about giving up something but more about giving or worshiping during this time more than ever. This year as a Christian, for lent I am going to pray and go to church more often then I normally do.  To Shanice Ash Wednesday affects her greatly because it can change the societies view on many things on their mind including myself.

If people give up for example smoking then it can decrease the rate of second hand smoking and children dying. Something even as little as giving up on a certain food can change the perspective of many things to come and maybe make a difference in the way we live. In Harlem three women were asked what are they doing for lent? Eleanore Dennis answered by saying “I’m not going to really give up anything. I want to be more prayerful. Sacrificing is not necessary for the economic problem. It’s doing more for the community. My mother lives with me so it’s a dual effort. I’m not giving up but being more helpful to the community. I am introducing my granddaughter to this practice as well.” Kathleen DeJesus answered the question by saying I would like to give up smoking and be a better person.

When she was asked should people give up more for lent because of the recession, she said I feel that I should not only do it for the 40 days but forever. You have to do a lot more with a lot less. I’ve been through it all and it’s all the same thing since the 60’s and 70’s. I mean how do mothers feed their children when milk is 5 dollars. The public wants Obama to do so much when he is left with so little to work with. Doris said that Yes she does follow lent and would like to give up lotto and certain foods. Also, spending a lot of money. And in her opinion the recession doesn’t change anything. Like Kathleen said we all just need to “Bite the bullet and deal with it as well as pray.