It was freezing outside when the window on our '93 Toyota Camry refused to close.
Chris had worked 24 hours straight in the ER at a little hospital in small-town South Carolina. He was returning to the Medical University of South Carolina, where he trained as an Internal Medicine Resident.
Dread filled my husband when he realized what was about to happen.
Usually, he'd nap at a lonely BP station on the way, but now he couldn't because it felt like Alaska had set up shop in our car.
Instead, he drove for 2 hours in the cold, leaning into the heater for warmth. He had to get back to Medical University.
Can you imagine?
Chris' story isn't unusual. It's what resident physicians and fellows do.
They work their fingers to the bone.
That's what's expected.
Want to know what isn't?
Eloquent, nearly tearful soliloquies comparing Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan to Christ's forgiveness.
It sounds good. But did Jesus steal from someone else to pay your debt?
Did Jesus rob Peter to pay Paul?
And for those of you still looking for a comparison:
Yes. He took on the total penalty for our sins.
Yes. He paid a debt we could not repay.
But that is not the same as student loan forgiveness.
Not by a long shot.
Listen. Who doesn't love Robin Hood?
But this loan forgiveness thing is not the same. And the immoral act of giving away someone else's money didn't become moral because Robin Hood stepped in.
Because Robin Hood, as we know, did rob Peter to pay Paul.
That's called stealing.
And theft is always cursed.
So. Let's stop that foolishness right there, comparing loan forgiveness to Christ's.
And not just because it doesn't even make sense.
And not just because Joe Biden and his people dressed it up, made it natural, real pretty, and threw a parade for it.
We didn't permit the government to give away our money, yours and mine.
Here's the sticky part, the part where some people grow giddy with delight at the possibility of gaslighting swaths of hard-working Americans.
This is where narcissists, the ones running our country, thrive.
They take an issue like this and say, wait, you're not FOR helping the little guy? Are you against giving people money?
You are a terrible human!
No. If you care about people, you must do this! You must spend your money the way we say!
But, whatever happened to my body, my choice?
Or does that only work when talking about women and abortion?
Ladies, do you want to be told how you must spend your money?
Cause y'all don't like being told what to do with your body, let alone the tiny body inside you.
What is going on here?
Why are progressives set on separating us from our money?
Why didn't we get a voice in all this?
Listen.
I will not deny that there are thrilled people.
Getting a fat check is delightful.
But who wrote that check? What strings are attached?
And why wouldn't progressives let unbelievably generous Americans do what they do best? Why wouldn’t Joe Biden let Americans give? We are helpful people, after all.
Americans gave $484.85 billion in 2021. This reflects a 4% increase from 2020.
Corporate giving in 2021 increased to $21.08 billion—a 23.8% increase from 2020.
Foundation giving in 2021 increased to $90.88 billion—a 3.4% increase from 2020.
And, while we're here, speaking of giving: Couldn't colleges and universities lower their tuition?
Couldn't they dig into their ballooning, mind-boggling endowments and offer those in the form of scholarships? Couldn’t they give a little? Or offer free room and board for a time?
No?
Of course not.
Because there they are, raising tuition and making it harder for those saving for college. It's no skin off their nose.
But it is off of ours.
And anyone who's had to repay a loan.
And while Joe Biden may have stolen our money and called it a loan forgiveness program, he can’t steal the lessons we’ll still teach our kids.
That responsibility is costly.
Like freezing on the drive back to work kind of costly.
But student loan repayment is a beast. And it had to be done.
Right now, like many of you, saving for our kids' schooling is necessary.
And it has to be done.
But it’s what we do.
It’s what parents and grandparents do.
Because we know that there is an honor in honoring our agreements.
There is dignity in doing what we say we'll do.
Even if it’s hard. And even when we struggle.
Because the fruit of struggle is gratitude.
And an awareness of reality.
And a deep respect for it.
Once imparted, that is what can never be stolen.
Even when the smooth talker is dressed like Robin Hood.
Amie Beth Shaver is a speaker, writer, and media commentator. Her column appears every Wednesday in 1819 News. Shaver served on the Alabama GOP State Executive Committee, was a candidate for State House District 43 and spokeswoman for Allied Women. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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