This is a slightly edited cross-post from my facebook:
Get involved. Try to help, if you feel mobilized.
Don't judge those who walk past, though. The dignity of the homeless is still recognized, just unseen. Walking past dozens of them eventually numbs one to what's in the streets.
Think about it this way: someone who ignores the homeless might be a lawyer representing a homeless man in court, pro bono; or a state department guy working to alleviate poverty in a third-world country; or a clerk at a homeless shelter's office.
Undesirables being moved out because they make the city ugly, however, is another situation. If they are directed towards places that can help them, I can see a modicum of value in official "clean up" policy. But if they are just bumped to another sector...there's something wrong. Sweeping the problem under the rug eventually just makes for a really big and unignorable mound of dirt beneath the carpet.
I agree that there are people who will turn their noses up at the homeless, but you will find far more who fall speechless and look at straight ahead because there's nothing they can say. That's a recognition of dignity-momentarily putting our lives in their place, and realizing how astoundingly more difficult it is.
Honestly, homelessnesses everywhere (social, political or physical) is one of those things that drew me into international studies/poli sci and journalism, looking back and thinking about it. I'd never considered those fields until I took a few classes in college and started thinking that maybe I could get involved deeply in these sorts of humanist issues.
Even the smallest bit of help still helps.
No comments:
Post a Comment