I made a new friend the other day.
I had walked to the drugstore. I always walk, if I can avoid driving. I don't like to give my money to the oil companies and I can use the exercise. Besides, being unemployed and partially disabled gives me time to walk.
I needed a few things: Christmas lights, pain medication, batteries to test a toy I bought my nephew on eBay. A few things I'm lucky to be able to afford, thanks to the price of California real estate. I live in Baltimore now, where houses are half as expensive.
When I got to the drugstore, my new friend was standing outside. I'll call her Denise, because that isn't her name, and I respect her privacy. I didn't know she was my new friend yet.
Denise asked me for $.35 for a bus. I had it in my pocket. I gave it to her, tentatively, afraid to approach too close.
Yes, I am afraid of poverty. Afraid of what desperate poverty might tempt someone to do. Afraid of what unknown disease or mental illness may or may not have caused the poverty. Afraid, perhaps, that poverty is contagious. Most of all, afraid that I might not be able to give any lasting help to someone that needs it.
I know I'm not alone in this fear. It's why many of us don't want contact with the beggars we see on the street. Why we look away from another human being.
My tiny good deed for the day was done, or so I thought. I went into the drugstore and did my shopping.
When I came out again, Denise was still there. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I'd been hoping she was there. I wondered if the $.35 I had given her was what she really needed. I wanted to give her something more.
I asked her if she had the money she needed for the bus. She told me she had my $.35, plus a dollar another woman had given her, but that she had been told she needed $3.50, because she needed to take two buses and needed a transfer. I gave her the rest of the change I had in my pocket. I started to walk away.
She thanked me. She said she'd been at the homeless services center since 8:30 in the morning, applying for food stamps and trying to get a place to stay. I don't know why, but right then I decided to listen to her. I decided that reaching out to another person in need was more important than whatever I planned to do next.
As I listened, she apologized for begging. She said she felt so bad having to ask for money. She told me of her disability and her diabetes. I could already see she had very few teeth.
She told me that if you are homeless and you don't have an address, you have to come to the homeless services center every day to see if they have a place for you to stay. She wondered how she would get there, if she always had to take the bus. She told me she had a disability check coming, and would buy a bus pass.
She thanked me many times for being kind to her, though I felt I hardly deserved it. I had been about to walk away. I had hardly ever even had a real conversation with a homeless person, though sometimes I gave them money or food.
She told me that other people often told her to get a job, which she'd been trying to do despite her disability, or refused to give her money, saying she would use it for drugs. She told me she'd been off drugs for eight years.
When she told me about the people that told her to get a job, people who have probably never been disabled in their lives, people who've probably always had a car, people who probably have a good job, people who probably have good health, I got angry at those people and I wanted to help her.
They're the same type of people I argue with on the Internet all the time. They're the bullies I grew up with in my childhood neighborhood. They're probably white, have always been at least middle-class, always had at least a shot at going to college, always had food, shelter, clothing, and good health. They've worked hard in their lives, so they think they've earned it all. Why should the government take any of their hard-earned pay?
Never once do they consider that they were already several steps ahead when they were born. Never once do they consider that someone who's been working hard and paying taxes all their lives, just like them, might get injured and might need to take advantage of the social services we assumed our taxes had been paying for all this time.
They have no idea of the disadvantages an African American woman like my new friend may face. I've experienced gender discrimination myself, but not discrimination based on the color of my skin.
The bullies have no idea what it's like to be born without money. Neither do I, but I know it isn't easy. They have no idea what it's like to find out the social services you thought your taxes were paying for aren't there when you need them. This I know personally.
Most of all, the bullies have no compassion.
They vote for politicians who destroy all social programs. They tell you faith-based programs should take care of it, then they go to church on Sunday and put a whole dollar in the collection plate, so they can feel righteous. Their hearts are hard as diamond.
I know the type of people that had insulted her. They've insulted me too. They've accused me of looking for handouts when I told them that the California workers comp system hadn't done anything much for me. They assume I'm lazy.
Little do they know that I've worked hard just like them, paid taxes just like them and that I'm only asking for the benefits I've always assumed my taxes were buying. Little do they know it could happen to them.
Denise had worked hard all her life and paid taxes too. Then she got hit by lightning, got burned, and became partially disabled.
As we were talking, the other woman who'd given her a dollar came out of the store. She too asked Denise if she had what she needed. My friend explained she still didn't have enough money for the bus. The other lady chipped in a couple of dollars and told her to try to get something to eat.
Thinking my new friend had her bus money, I again started to walk away. Denise asked if she could walk with me and talk. I said yes, because I could tell she just needed to talk to someone.
She told me she was trying to get a job, but it was hard because of her partial disability. I told her I knew that, because I was partially disabled too, but luckily I have a little money and hadn't become homeless.
She told me at least she thanked God that her aunt had taken her children in. She told me she knows God won't bless her if she lies and steals. Many people in her situation might assume God had stopped blessing them a long time ago.
She told me of the man in the nearby store, who had spontaneously given her $20, when he saw her looking through the clothes they were collecting for the poor. She told me she wanted to go pay him back as soon as she got her check. I wanted to say she should probably keep the money because it had been a gift, but I could tell that her sense of dignity made her want to give the money back.
By now, I had forgotten all about the fact that I was going to go eat lunch, but in the course of her conversation, she inadvertently reminded me that diabetics need to eat regularly, so I offered to go to the grocery store with her and buy her something to eat. She accepted, so we spent a little while shopping together.
Again, her dignity made it hard for her to accept charity. Wanting to give something back, she gave me a small change purse she had, because it was pink and matched my purse. I accepted, knowing the giving was important to her. She gave me her cell phone number, and offered to buy me lunch at a Chinese restaurant when she got her check.
While we were in the store, she went to pick up a prescription they had for her. She had assumed her Medicare would cover it, but for some reason it did not. She told them to hold it for her until she got her check. She told me she would be OK on the medications she had.
After I bought her lunch, I walked her to the bus stop. She gave me a hug and we parted ways, promising to meet for lunch soon.
Walking home, I soon became overwhelmed with sadness and anger. How could the world turn its back on someone as nice as the person I had just met? How could people treat her like a bum? Why was poverty ignored? What can I do? How can I best help?
It was hard to breathe. I struggled for composure. I struggled not to cry, not wanting to be, as I’m sure Denise had not wanted to be, the object of someone’s pity.
I was reminded of why I had never reached out in that way to a homeless person before. I'm a sensitive person. Seeing human suffering overwhelms me. The emotions are hard to handle. Nevertheless, I was glad to have helped someone a little and made a friend.
Some of you may have seen my other posts where I talk about being agnostic. The truth is, I talk to God every day. It's just that when I see what's happening in the world, sometimes I have a hard time believing there is anyone there to listen.
When I got home, I asked God to help my new friend get a job, get a home, and get her health back. I asked for help for everyone like her. I asked for help electing John Edwards, so that we can have a leader who cares about people who face hardship. I expressed gratitude for the way my injury has helped me understand the needs of others. Finally, I asked to know how I can best help.
I'm worried about Denise. I've thought about offering her a place to stay sometimes, but I don't think I know how to stop protecting myself enough to reach out that far to someone I barely know. I think this is one reason social services are so important. There are few saints in the world, but social services give us a way to help without being saints.
The truth is, I'm going to be just fine. I may not have enjoyed selling my home and moving away from my hometown to a strange city; I may not think a person in my situation should have to do that, but luckily, my home had tripled in value in the nine years since I bought it, so I can live off the equity for a while.
I may not know yet what kind of job can accommodate my disability; I may not know yet how I should explain to a potential employer about my disability, but I have a college degree and a certain amount of skill. I'm going to be just fine, barring any further disasters.
I'm worried about Denise. How does a person overcome having a disability, other medical problems, joblessness, homelessness, and gender and racial prejudice all at the same time? How does a person do this with very minimal help from the community? Why should a person have to?
People, homelessness is only one letter away from hopelessness. Please don't metaphorically "P" on the homeless.
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Comments: 46
Sometimes we can only do a little, but that little is a lot.
It is not easy to reach out, because we are afraid. We are afraid that we will be harmed, or abused, or taken advantage off. We must be careful, but we also must care. You have done well, and you should be proud of yourself.
Thanks for reminding me...
I was a homeless & single mother of two a number of years ago; it was the most terrifying and demoralizing experience of my life. Unless you have actually lived through the experience, you simply have no idea what it is like...to go hungry for days on end, trying to find a safe place to sleep for you and your kids, taking spit baths in public restrooms, foraging in garbage cans. The worse of all, is being treated like you are invisible.
Most people seemed to characterize the homeless as drunk old men, and regard homelessness as a "lifestyle choice". For every person who "chooses" to be homeless, there are hundreds more out there who did not choose to be this way; having gotten there through a bad deal of the cards, metaphorically. I survived (obviously!) and happily remarried now. Thanks to a kind and understanding husband, I've been able to spend the last several years working as a volunteer in a faith based social service agency. My experience has given me a unique perspective on the needs of the homeless and provides a blueprint for others trying to make it through those tough times. I visit with the homeless face to face, share my story and give them encouragement that they too, will make it.
Where our legislators have failed, many faith based charities have stepped to the plate and are providing food, clothing and blankets to the poor and needy. This is where all of us can make a difference; by volunteering our time and energy in active assistance or advocating for change.
On the other hand I know that a lot of homeless (the majority actually) are there because they chose to be. They either drink or do drugs to an extent that makes it impossible for them to hold down a job. Even those people I think deserve a chance to get clean and rejoin society. Sometimes people can't do it alone. However, if they get the chance and choose to return to the streets, that's where my sympathy ends.
I would much sooner see the system go all out to help people like your friend. People who are good people and simply down on their luck for medical or other reasons. It used to be that such systems existed and there were not the masses of people living on the streets as there are today. It's a really sad commentary on our society as a whole that we have so little compassion that we confuse a hand up with a hand out.
Mandi, I don't know. I am trying to find out from people I know who work for some poverty-related nonprofits whether there is something she might be eligible for that she might not know about.
Mariana, thanks. Bless you for taking those people in during the hurricane.
Jeannie, that must have been a terrifying experience. I'm glad you made it through it. Believe me, I didn't mean to denigrate faith-based charities, but I don't think they are enough. I don't think all of the people who say they should be enough even really support them much. And, I have been told by someone else who had been homeless once that many faith-based charities won't even help you if you don't subscribe to their religion or listen to their sermons. I do appreciate that there are a lot of good-hearted people who work with faith-based charities and that many of them are very good and very helpful. I just think the whole society needs to pitch in.
Candace, thank you. I'm glad you got through your homelessness experience. It gives me hope to hear your story and Jeannie's. Thanks for your high five, too. I wondered whether putting in my wish for John Edwards to lead the country made it too political, but I had to mention it, as I think he would help.
Carolyn, thank you for your comment. I don't think the majority are there because they want to be. Some are. Drinking or doing drugs are not easy habits to break, and they are easy habits to get into when a person feels hopeless. They are certainly not easy habits to break if the person doesn't get adequate help breaking them. I agree that we need to stop confusing a hand up with a hand out. We would have a much stronger society if everyone was given the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
When I was in my twenties I got a good lesson. I worked in a pizza parlor that was a short walk from four cheap hotels. A lot of people who lived in the hotels came to the pizza parlor to drink beer. They were mostly $50 or so from being out on the street. Other than needing to maintain a higher blood alcohol concentration than I did they were no different from me. I could see myself in their situation without any trouble.
More people need to get to know the "underclass" on a personal level. They're no more degerate any more than a randomly selected group of neocons.
One thing that's important to realize is that a significant proportion of homeless people are mentally ill. The way we abandon them is criminal.
People forget the meaning of charity. It's not a quid pro quo. It's giving to people who are less fortunate than you with no expectation of anything on their part.
I admit to having much less sympathy for those who are alcoholic or drug dependent since they always seem to find a way to get either their alcohol or their drugs, money which could go toward shelter and food. And they always seem to have cigarettes. I do strongly advocate good treatment programs freely offered at least once, with strong follow up and assistance getting back on their feet and finding work. There is a way out. Some cannot take it, others will not. Let's concentrate on helping those who would take a way out if it were offered.
There's a significant number of people who hold down jobs, live indoors, etc. who don't contribute any more to society than the bad smelling guy in rags who mutters incoherently while sitting on the sidewalk with a semi-shredded Starbuck's cup in his hand. They're just better dressed and have a chance to bathe. I've worked with a lot of them.
Excellent paragraph, Nippy. I've worked with a few of those people myself.
Bongo, take your time. I look forward to your comment.
Carolyn, I think yes, it's important to concentrate effort where it will do the most good. I do think it's important to offer everyone a chance, though.
Edward, thanks for your comment. I know there has to be some sort of solution for this, even if it's only partial.
Joe, you and me both.
That is really what I meant by concentrating effort. I would much rather offer a rehab program, for instance, to someone determined to get clean and move on with their lives, than to offer that same program to someone who has been through it five times before and who has no real intention of actually quitting.
Generally, people do drugs because they want to change the way they feel. If they're unlucky, they hit on a drug that really agrees with their chemistry -- like the best sex you've ever had, or better. Twined in with the incredible high, though, is profound disorientation of one sort or another. In other words, to a person whose interior world is in good shape, being high is interesting for a bit, but sucks as a regular thing.
Real life has to really, really suck for someone to prefer being messed up. Can you imagine how badly life would have to suck? Not something you want to know about first hand.
People get hooked because their brains are screwy, one way or another. This means that the mental condition and the chemical dependency feed each other -- it's a vicious cycle, and terribly difficult to treat, even in highly-motivated patients with lots of resources. Your entire neurochemistry is working against you. It's awful.
People who have been through rehab before actually have a better shot at making it through this time. Sometimes quitting takes a lot of practice. Each time you quit, you find new ways of handling your demons. It's a huge, huge job.
Some people are permanently lost, it's true. But, if we had full-on rehab -- with psychiatric and nutritional components, as well as the behavior mod. and medication -- the 10-year success rate would be phenomenal; the permanently lost would most likely turn out to be as low as 10% -- the same "loser" statistic as in any other demographic.
Trouble is, these kinds of facilities are almost nonexistent.
Astrogirl, sorry to take up so much space. Lovely piece, this. Best to Denise.
I live in one of the more liberal cities of America, Cambridge Massachusetts. There seems to be a greater tolerance here for the homeless. The selling of SPARE CHANGE, a weekly newspaper founded and supported by the homeless folks themselves, is a great way that a homeless person here can support themselves with dignity without begging. It costs a dollar andthe proceeds go directly back to the sellers and to keeping the paper going. I always by a few copies from my favorite sellers every week.
I'm old enough not to be bothered by those who disagree with this thought. I don't have a plan on how to give everyone a home and food, but I know that if it could be pulled off this world would be a much better place to be.
I am often turned off from helping more, as I have seen this three times in the past two weeks, beggers/homeless dressed in rags with a box of money infront of them. getting up as their morotola razor cell phone rings, walking away as they strip the rags off, to reveal their designer duds, getting into a new sports car.
I once read an article by a unnamed author, when I was on a plane. (I can't remember the magazine, it was in the seat pocket,) The article was basically about how the author had begged with a sign reading "homeless" wearing rags for three weeks (on his vacation from work) to see how much he could make. Sitting where he did, four locations in a large city, he made tax-free 10,000.00. I find it Disgusting that he did this, and sad he would take money from people, people who thought they were helping someone in need.
Having lived homeless, I often drew the stares and comments of fellow office workers for standing around on the street and talking to them.
For that matter, many of the homeless have been surprised by my candid prolonged openness with them. They are used to being treated with dismissive disgust by people that wear khakis and oxford shirts (at least here in Ohio).
I've been insulated from the homeless since I left the office jobs and mostly only haunt the small town streets of my year-old studio apartment.
Darn few of the homeless literally choose to be so. To say otherwise is a "spin". Most have fallen into it. It's an exceedingly difficult life. Survival feels like it doesn't even have a thread to hang from. Drug and alcohol use is rampant because they are so constantly stressed out that they easily turn to habitual ecstasy inducing experiences to make life feel like it's worth going on for.
Our society does not provide as many mechanisms and avenues for getting out of homelessness as we think. Our welfare and social service systems are appallingly obtuse, ineffective and often inflammatory.
Add too that the non-living wages unskilled labor has to cope with and you find that poverty in America is quicksand.
The real problem we have with the Homeless is that we Americans transfer our work resentments on to them. Since we hate being chained to the daily company grind we subconsciously resent those that complain about the side effects of not working.
We're messed up.
If he didn't do something charitable with the money, it is quite possible that this dyed-in-the-wool capitalist's "vacation" might still have been the 3 most benevolent weeks of his year! Those Enron executives did rather more than $3,333/week in damage. They would have been doing a lot of people a big favor panhandling instead.
Money given voluntarily by many people in relatively small amounts for purposes they believe to be benevolent. Hmmm. How does this differ from, say, taxes used to finance our nation's ill-advised military adventures? Oh, yeah -- the voluntary part.
I'm reminded of Woody Guthrie's song about Pretty Boy Floyd, which includes:
NO he did not donate it.
Yes if HE donated it would have changed my mind.
OK, strapping on my insidious voice-recognition device now, because this is going to be a lot of typing.
Candace, I wonder if I can rent that documentary from Netflix.
Carolyn, I understand what you mean, and in a non-perfect world, I'm afraid the political reality is we have to make some choices about who we help. I hate to call the people who are more likely to be easily helped low hanging fruit, but that's the concept. However, I'm well aware that my friend, F.C. Random, is correct about the nature of addiction.
Bongo, thanks for your detailed comment. Due to my agnosticism, I ask God for solutions only when I really don't know where else to turn. This is one of those cases. I think the real solution has to come from people, however. Maybe believers might prefer to see us as God's instruments while doing the helping, but I have seen little to make me think that God intervenes in human affairs that we should be taking care of ourselves. Probably I should've been more clear on that.
I loved your How I Won the Lottery article and got the point. Due to my recent experience, I just chose to bludgeon the point home.
F.C., no worries about the space. Thank you for clarifying something that many people don't understand.
Cynthia, I have seen those homeless newspapers in other cities. You have a good point about them.
George, I agree with your thought. I'm just not sure I'm going to ever stop being bothered by the people who don't think we should at least make some sort of effort to make it possible for everyone to have a home and food.
Elaine, thank you for helping when you can. I have never seen someone strip off their rags to reveal designer duds. The cell phone Denise had was one of those that you pay for by the minute, not the month. She didn't have any minutes left.
I have serious doubts that anyone could make $10,000 in three weeks by begging on the street. That magazine article you read sounds like a work of fiction to me. If someone did do this, he should share his successful homelessness marketing strategy with people who are trying to sincerely get off the streets, rather than use it to imply that homelessness is a lifestyle choice.
Bill's Spirit, thank you for your comment. I particularly like your point that many of us don't like our jobs, so we transfer our work resentment onto people who probably wish they had those jobs. I think that is true.
L-R-S, your screen name is hard to spell correctly with voice recognition software! I'm not saying you should change it. Just an observation. Thank you for your comment. I am honored by what you said. I avoided saying, "there but for the grace of God," because I thought it was a cliché, but I thought about that phrase.
Meryl, good questions. I think there is a belief being pushed in this society, both in New Age and Christian circles, that says something along the lines of, if you think positively enough you can get whatever you want, or if you pray hard enough you can get whatever you want. I think this belief is insidious, and allows us to accept homelessness with the same unquestioning attitude, as it is accepted in India. Positive thinking works to an extent. However, it is not a magic solution to every problem. Thinking it is causes us to place the blame on the victim, who must just not be thinking positively enough.
Blown away, I asked him how often he did that. He shrugged. "I give out about 2,000 cards a year. And I have had about 15 people take me up on it. They still work for me."
But here's the beauty part. He kept giving them out. No judgement. No cynicism. No pontificating. No tubthumping. He just kept giving, so that he could catch the ones who wanted the help he was offering.
Who knew the personification of generosity and compassion drove a tow truck? But Astro, I think you and he would have had some lovely conversations. =)
Paople like you remind me that Godness of God manifests itself in the most unusual ways and in the most unusual places with people we are just passing by. You in your own ways did God's work in this fallen world that is filled with greed and shelfishness. People clamoring for tax cuts are looking out for themselves, do not realize that there are people in this world that need help and are not lazy.
I have seen poverty on the scale few people in America can even comprehend. Poverty is something we all are responsible for and must open our hearts to lift another.
Laureen, that's a great story. I've often thought, when thinking about the homeless, that I wished I had a business so I could offer them jobs. I don't think many businesses can indiscriminately hire anyone who's willing to work, regardless of skill level, however. I wonder what kind of work the tow truck driver gave the people who responded to his offer. Perhaps one solution is to create incentives for people to offer jobs that almost anyone can do. These jobs could be stepping stones to something better.
Jai, thank you for your comment. I am honored. I couldn't help chuckling a little over "greed and shellfishness," though I don't mean to be rude in pointing out what might be a spelling mistake. What struck me as funny about it is that the Bible says that shellfish is an abomination. So is selfishness, in my book. I'm sure you have seen much worse poverty than I ever have. Americans are very fortunate.
Tara, I'm glad that you were able to get some help, at least, during a difficult time. You're right, I don't think most people who have to rely on social services would choose to be in the position where they have to receive them. Accepting them can be a very difficult thing and feel undignified.
Elaine, please don't apologize for your typing. I know very well how overuse of the noninjured hand can make it hurt also. Please take care of both of your hands. Typing when you shouldn't can cause a permanent injury.
Vicky, yes, this is a terrible time of year for people in poverty. With energy prices the way they are, more and more of us can't keep our homes as warm as we would like, even if we have good jobs.
What you did was brave and inspiring, but I caution you to be careful. When Reagan shut down social programs, all the mental wards emptied into the streets those that couldn't pay. I used to work near the I25 and I70 crossings in Denver, and saw the homeless and the Bo's close up and in multitudes, especially in summer. Many are just plain unable to help themselves, and need a hand to get out of that trap. I share your views on religious compared to government charity. They profess those views, but, as a real good example, when the loony bins threw these out on the streets, charities didn't have any place for them to go. Many lived under the overpasses in Denver, panhandling by day, and god knows what at night. I ran into a few dangerous ones, by the way, that's why I said be careful. People there steered clear of them, but I got to know a few. Tried to help when I could, but one can't do a lot, for the good ones, anyway, they won't let you. I bought a lot of coats, at the goodwill, and gave a lot of them away, out there. Tried to keep a few in my trunk all the time in the winter. There was always someone that had not enough, and it was just overwhelming. Many times I thought I should have done more, but a few times I was scammed as well, so like you said, that's why we need social services. I salute your bravery and your heart. If I was a woman, I'm not sure I would have been as brave as I was, having been scared a few times anyway, but to your credit, you were...
I know what you mean about some homeless people being mentallly unstable and possibly dangerous. I have been scared a few times myself. I think I felt more comfortable reaching out to another woman.
Sandy, you must have lived in a very interesting and loving household.
Then there are those of us who deliberately use our awakened Will-To-Good to use positive thinking ON BEHALF OF THE HIGHEST GOOD OF OTHERS. Why not?
Positive thinking, used "consumer-religion" style, is definitely a road to "hell", I agree! But when it's used to assist others, it's the best use of our HeartMind.
And we ALL have the ability to use this energy - sending blessings and prayers for healings every time we see someone struggling. Sometimes it's important for the struggler to keep on struggling - and the Universe holds firm on that situation. That's why I pray for the Highest Good, and don't try to ask for this-or-that specific result. I just want GOOD to be done.
Another point not yet discussed here - that is, that our Homeless are the "New Tribes" coming to birth. One aspect of this new beginning is that some very special children are being born into the Homeless society as well as into the Gang society. Those societies will metamorphose from the inside.
I am glad you pointed out the "shellfish" typing error; or not; I am glad that you got a good laugh. There are a lot of valid comments and advice here. I just wanted to say that the Bible tells us that giving should be truly from the heart and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When we are doing the work according to God's prompting resources are provided along with protection. The left hand should not know what the right hand is giving ..
I have known people who were homeless for a time, it is no cake walk.
Better social services are very, very important. Only in California (I know you are in Baltimore now where it is cold,) do the homeless survive without fear of freezing to death when they cannot find a shelter.
But the violence that often comes with this life is omnipresent, too.
The social fabric is very sparse for the lower nets on the social safety net in the US. You know the reason, of course,
This country was founded on the premise that we are all independent.
That runs right along with the Republican idea of "Why should I help anyone? We are all independent."
Lincold spoke of "All men are created equal." My father spoke of: "All men are created equal - some more equal than others."
A very difficult problem to solve without a lot of government support or a lot of independent homes springing up.
I have known people who were homeless for a time, it is no cake walk.
Better social services are very, very important. Only in California (I know you are in Baltimore now where it is cold,) do the homeless survive without fear of freezing to death when they cannot find a shelter.
But the violence that often comes with this life is omnipresent, too.
The social fabric is very sparse for the lower nets on the social safety net in the US. You know the reason, of course,
This country was founded on the premise that we are all independent.
That runs right along with the Republican idea of "Why should I help anyone? We are all independent."
Lincold spoke of "All men are created equal." My father spoke of: "All men are created equal - some more equal than others."
A very difficult problem to solve without a lot of government support or a lot of independent homes springing up.
Mariana, certainly many people help whenever they can, and that's great. I just think there needs to be a bigger commitment by the whole society.
"Then there are those of us who deliberately use our awakened Will-To-Good to use positive thinking ON BEHALF OF THE HIGHEST GOOD OF OTHERS. Why not?"
Carolion, good point. Why not? Thank you for your comment. From my perspective, I think we are given a choice, while in the material world, to solve our own problems or not solve them. Sometimes, I think it takes acting in the material world to solve them. Or, perhaps that is just the mode of operation that's right for me.
Positive thinking on behalf of others may help get energy flowing in a way that will help them. I don't want to be a naysayer to your belief system. It's just that I once was involved with a group that claimed to do service to others, but all they did was organized positive thinking, and I can't truthfully say that I saw any positive result.
Your thought about "New Tribes" is an interesting one. Again, I think I'm somewhat familiar with belief systems along the lines of what you're talking about. Suffice it to say, I'm a skeptic. Perhaps what you say is true. I don't know.
Jai, thanks for checking in again. You have given us a very soulful way of looking at it. I hesitated to publish this article, because of the principle you mention, where the right hand shouldn't know. After thinking about it for some time, I decided it was better to bring the issue of homelessness out into the open and have a discussion about it than not.
Thomas, thanks for the link. I have mentioned Rabbi Lerner's speech where it seemed appropriate on several other threads since I became aware of it.
Lori, thanks for the suggestion of the Salvation Army. I have had some suggestions from other people. I think I need to find out what resources are available in Baltimore, and then get in touch with Denise again. Since I'm new here, and she may have been homeless here for some time, she may possibly have tried everything I would suggest, but still I want to find out where help is available in the area, in case I come in contact with others who need it.
Kathryn, I understand what you're saying about the foundation of this country. I was always told growing up that having rights implies having responsibility.
I think one thing that has thrown the balance of rights and responsibility off in this country, is that the court system has recognized corporations as having the same rights as people. Corporations are not people. Right now, the situation is that they have the same rights as people, but not the same responsibilities.
If you or I are negligent and cause someone's death, we go to jail. If a corporation does that, they often can't even be sued under the increasingly strict controls on lawsuits. Just one example.
How does this relate to homelessness? Well, if powerful organized groups, like multinational corporations, are able to get away with just about anything unethical or immoral without consequences, they can and do hog resources that should be more fairly distributed.
I might have to do some research and turn this into a longer argument, if I wanted to make it really convincing, but the principle I'm trying to convey is that those that have the money and power to do so often claim their rights without acknowledging their responsibilities.
From All Songs Considered, Episode 98