Comments on: Bloggers Unite for Human Rights: Homelessness http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/ a Mommy blogger Wannabe Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:35:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: MomGrind http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-864 MomGrind Tue, 20 May 2008 14:27:51 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-864 @ Kelly: please don't apologize. I completely agree. Even if some will use the system, most homeless people are at a place where they need help and cannot possibly pull out of their situation by themselves. @ Kelly: please don’t apologize. I completely agree. Even if some will use the system, most homeless people are at a place where they need help and cannot possibly pull out of their situation by themselves.

]]> By: Kelly@SHE-POWER http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-859 Kelly@SHE-POWER Tue, 20 May 2008 06:07:30 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-859 For my ten cents worth, homelessness is a problem whether people want to give examples of how certain people choose to be homeless or not take jobs or whatever. that does not negate the fact that Australia and America are both countries where everyone should flourish and they don't. That is not okay and making excuses by saying homeless people (as in the group, not one individual) choose their situation just shows how naive some people are about life. I can't comment with authority on the USA, but from what I read the homeless problem is worse than in Australia (we have a reasonable social benefits system) and it's bad enough here. I've worked the soup kitchens and shelters and most of the people on the street have mental disease and those who don't are so broken as human beings it's gut wrenching. Many have no families or come from families you'd never want to have anyway. They have sunk so low they think scrounging through garbage bins is a life. Does that sound like someone who can pull himself together to get a job and communicate with average people with their judgments? And that's not even talking about the junkies and drunks and the people who have resorted to selling ass. It's true you can't save someone who doesn't want to save themselves, but these days society is so intoxicated with the stories of life's winners and so want to be a winner themselves, they don't want to know about the losers. From them, we turn away. Sorry, if I've got a bit intense about this but I have very strong feelings about poverty, disadvantage and mental illness in wealthy western natures like ours. Kelly For my ten cents worth, homelessness is a problem whether people want to give examples of how certain people choose to be homeless or not take jobs or whatever. that does not negate the fact that Australia and America are both countries where everyone should flourish and they don’t. That is not okay and making excuses by saying homeless people (as in the group, not one individual) choose their situation just shows how naive some people are about life.

I can’t comment with authority on the USA, but from what I read the homeless problem is worse than in Australia (we have a reasonable social benefits system) and it’s bad enough here. I’ve worked the soup kitchens and shelters and most of the people on the street have mental disease and those who don’t are so broken as human beings it’s gut wrenching. Many have no families or come from families you’d never want to have anyway. They have sunk so low they think scrounging through garbage bins is a life. Does that sound like someone who can pull himself together to get a job and communicate with average people with their judgments? And that’s not even talking about the junkies and drunks and the people who have resorted to selling ass.

It’s true you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to save themselves, but these days society is so intoxicated with the stories of life’s winners and so want to be a winner themselves, they don’t want to know about the losers. From them, we turn away.

Sorry, if I’ve got a bit intense about this but I have very strong feelings about poverty, disadvantage and mental illness in wealthy western natures like ours.

Kelly

]]> By: MomGrind http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-789 MomGrind Thu, 15 May 2008 23:22:41 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-789 @ Computer Addict: I just emailed you. I needed to edit your comment b/c I felt that it disclosed too much personal info about where I live. Anyway, this is very interesting and I guess illustrates what Marelisa said - that some people will always exploit social benefits. I still feel that those benefits should be given, and that homelessness is a serious violation of basic human rights. As for the homeless in question, I am going to look into it, but if what you say is true, then perhaps I don't need to feel so bad when I walk past him! @ Computer Addict: I just emailed you. I needed to edit your comment b/c I felt that it disclosed too much personal info about where I live. Anyway, this is very interesting and I guess illustrates what Marelisa said - that some people will always exploit social benefits. I still feel that those benefits should be given, and that homelessness is a serious violation of basic human rights.

As for the homeless in question, I am going to look into it, but if what you say is true, then perhaps I don’t need to feel so bad when I walk past him!

]]> By: Computer Addict http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-787 Computer Addict Thu, 15 May 2008 22:45:03 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-787 Vered, I appreciate your sentiments, but they are misplaced, and the anecdote you choose clearly illustrates it. Your "Whole Foods homeless" is a very well known figure in the Silicon Valley - well known enough to have numerous newspaper articles written about him. He declined work offers, including an offer to work at the very Whole Foods he pan-handles in front of, he refuses to participate in work-for-food-and-housing programs, and basically expects to sue his way into a nice house - at tax payer's expense. Vered, I appreciate your sentiments, but they are misplaced, and the anecdote you choose clearly illustrates it. Your “Whole Foods homeless” is a very well known figure in the Silicon Valley - well known enough to have numerous newspaper articles written about him. He declined work offers, including an offer to work at the very Whole Foods he pan-handles in front of, he refuses to participate in work-for-food-and-housing programs, and basically expects to sue his way into a nice house - at tax payer’s expense.

]]> By: Chris http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-785 Chris Thu, 15 May 2008 20:32:58 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-785 I still don't understand why spend $12 Billion on Iraq and we have people in the America who are homeless and hungry. Am I missing something here? I still don’t understand why spend $12 Billion on Iraq and we have people in the America who are homeless and hungry. Am I missing something here?

]]> By: Bloggers Unite for Human Rights | Crunchy Domestic Goddess http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-784 Bloggers Unite for Human Rights | Crunchy Domestic Goddess Thu, 15 May 2008 18:20:21 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-784 [...] Vered at Mom Grind wrote about Homelessness [...] […] Vered at Mom Grind wrote about Homelessness […]

]]> By: MomGrind http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-782 MomGrind Thu, 15 May 2008 17:54:16 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-782 @ phyllis: “i can’t imagine being a “regular” at that place and not feeling like this guy should be my own special project.” EXACTLY!!! @ Marelisa: it’s very true that there will always be those who take advantage of a strong social system. However, I still believe that a society needs to provide support to the weak and ill – even if in some cases it will encourage certain individuals to exploit the system. @ Andre: The best way I found so far to handle this is to donate. Glad you feel the same. @ Miranda: small town Utah… I love how the internet connects people from different places and backgrounds. I suppose homeless people choose the city because they have better chances of surviving there – better access to shelters and to more people who would give them money. @ Suzie: this just goes to show you how sheltered my life is. I have never seen a homeless shelter. @ Jen: “It’s difficult to see another human being reduced this way.” Exactly. @ Belem: Thank you so much for saying that. @ phyllis: “i can’t imagine being a “regular” at that place and not feeling like this guy should be my own special project.” EXACTLY!!!

@ Marelisa: it’s very true that there will always be those who take advantage of a strong social system. However, I still believe that a society needs to provide support to the weak and ill – even if in some cases it will encourage certain individuals to exploit the system.

@ Andre: The best way I found so far to handle this is to donate. Glad you feel the same.

@ Miranda: small town Utah… I love how the internet connects people from different places and backgrounds. I suppose homeless people choose the city because they have better chances of surviving there – better access to shelters and to more people who would give them money.

@ Suzie: this just goes to show you how sheltered my life is. I have never seen a homeless shelter.

@ Jen: “It’s difficult to see another human being reduced this way.” Exactly.

@ Belem: Thank you so much for saying that.

]]> By: Belém http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-781 Belém Thu, 15 May 2008 17:01:11 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-781 You blogged about it and you touched my consciousness. Two steps in a cause. You blogged about it and you touched my consciousness. Two steps in a cause.

]]> By: Jen http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-780 Jen Thu, 15 May 2008 17:00:43 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-780 Homeless people do make us feel really uncomfortable, don't they? It's difficult to see another human being reduced this way. Thank you for this post. Homeless people do make us feel really uncomfortable, don’t they? It’s difficult to see another human being reduced this way. Thank you for this post.

]]> By: Suzie http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-779 Suzie Thu, 15 May 2008 16:45:58 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/05/15/bloggers-unite-for-human-rights-homelessness/#comment-779 I hate to say but I dont think most shelters would be discribed as warm and clean. I've worked in a few and I would say they are all pretty awful. Street life is pretty horrible. I hate to say but I dont think most shelters would be discribed as warm and clean. I’ve worked in a few and I would say they are all pretty awful. Street life is pretty horrible.

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