Go to From Damn Near Hell To Almost Paradise
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- Go to Think Of This The Next Time You Pass A Homeless Person
Blonde
I like to give everyone the chance to do the right thing. I think if we quit assuming that all of any part of society is bad, good or whatever we would live in a much better world.
posted by
bel_1965
on July 27, 2006 at 6:44 AM
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Bel
I still like to believe the best in people against the majority of stereo typical thinking.
This is a perfect example.
Thanks for sharing.
posted by
BlondeAmbition007
on July 27, 2006 at 12:45 AM
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Justi
I am hoping so too!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 5:59 PM
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Cringe
I guess I am odd. If they want booze then my feeling is they don't have much in life as it is, let them have what they want.
As for Himself! What a sweetie!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 5:58 PM
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bel
This is a great post. I hope he was able to get a job and an apartment. Me too I would have given him $1,000. That is so special.
posted by
Justi
on July 26, 2006 at 5:45 PM
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Well, I'd be the give them a cup of coffee or something to eat
variety. I think sometimes giving them money may be enabling them to make bad choices, I'd rather make a good and possibly unappreciated one on their behalf by making them have something in their stomach.
Himself, well he's the worst bleeding heart ever, regrettably he's gotten burnt a few times over his generosity. When he owned the fast food place, he would always let them come in and have a cup of tea or coffee, if the other customers couldn't take it, well their custom wasn't wanted in that case.
posted by
Cringe
on July 26, 2006 at 4:29 PM
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Blanche
That is an
excellent point of view!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 4:17 PM
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Offbeats
very true!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 4:16 PM
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and, yeah, just because someone's broke doesn't make them any more likely
to be a thief. In fact, if they were they probably wouldn't be that bad off.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 26, 2006 at 4:04 PM
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I'm working on my own, Bel, I guess that's a start
posted by
Blanche.
on July 26, 2006 at 4:03 PM
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bel
I agree with you on that...there are some real greedy people out there!!
posted by
Offy
on July 26, 2006 at 4:03 PM
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Blanche
You are right. Now we just have to find more than a few people who are willing to be OPEN MINDED LOL!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 4:02 PM
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Offbeats
To be honest what I found surprising in the story is I know people who are not hurting for money that probably would have not been that honest. Most honest people do not expect to be rewarded but sometimes they are very deserving of some kind of reward.
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 4:00 PM
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It's true, Bel, it doesn't happen overnight, but people can change
This is why I believe in civil debate. It's not pointless to discuss deep issues like religion and politics if both parties keep an open mind and listen.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 26, 2006 at 4:00 PM
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Blanche
If the bad behavior can stop that is a step in the right direction. And who knows sometimes people DO change their mind!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 3:59 PM
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bel
I think he should have been given more for returning however he probably wasn't expecting anything in the first place. He probably thought he was doing the right thing w/o being paid. I think it's wonderful the locals are helping him out though!!!
posted by
Offy
on July 26, 2006 at 3:59 PM
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Passion
Exactly!!!!!!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 3:58 PM
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I've been told that is not necessarily a good thing, Bel, but I don't see
how things are going to change otherwise. So can you, for that matter. I know there are people who want to "live and let live", but that can't always be the case. C, for example, is very New Age, she thinks there is no such thing as "good or bad, right or wrong". I couldn't disagree more.
I may not change people's minds, but possibly stop some bad behavior.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 26, 2006 at 3:55 PM
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Blanche
They will be lucky to have you! You have a good combination of common sense and compassion. Besides when the situation calls for it you also can get just a teeny bit mad LOL!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 3:53 PM
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A hundred dollars???
That ain't right! Shame on those cheap-ass people!
posted by
Passionflower
on July 26, 2006 at 3:53 PM
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Bel, I was talking to my friend, C, the lawyer who helped me with my
housing today. We didn't get into that specifically, but she's pretty active herself in advocacy issues. I think when I get my certification as a peer counseling, I just have to start a class, to see what direction to take this in, and trust that it will become clearer, and what tools to use.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 26, 2006 at 3:51 PM
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Blanche
you are going to make one hell of a good advocate!!!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 3:48 PM
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EXACTLY Timmy!!!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 3:47 PM
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Bel, I literally think "There but for the grace of God go I" almost every
time I pass one, because I have been homeless and am very fortunate to be where I am. However, since I've dealt with more homeless people personally I am a little less naiive. Some people got that way out of bad social skills, they ran through their social safety net, and there's a reason why they have nowhere else to go. However, that still doesn't justify leaving them to starve, it just means that there are deeper issues than just providing food and shelter, to end the problem of homelessness. There are deep self-esteem, mental health, and trust issues at work there.
But particulary to anyone who has dealt with mental illness in any form, there needs to be some compassion for people who cannot function enough to care for themselves.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 26, 2006 at 3:43 PM
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Blanche
I honestly do not believe anyone makes a choice to be homeless and I think we have become rather desensitized to the suffering of our people. For most of us we are about a months pay away from being homeless. It could EASILY be any of us!
You are too much like me. I just can't look the other way and pretend they are not there. If they want to buy booze with my money, so be it. But at least I know I tried.
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 3:39 PM
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Bel, I feel the same about homeless Vets, there may be some who use
that to try and work people for money, but I can't not give them money if they seem legitimate. No one who has not been there can possibly know what hell they must live with, and what that did to their mind and soul. And the homecoming from Vietnam was less than helpful. Hopefully, some lessons have been learned about how to treat returning vets. However anyone feels about the war, the soldiers themselves need understanding.
posted by
Blanche.
on July 26, 2006 at 2:56 PM
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bel
Those cheap ass bastards...........at least a grand!!!
posted by
TIMMYTALES
on July 26, 2006 at 2:51 PM
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I can never imagine how that happens. I'm glad he's going to
get back on his feet again.
posted by
-blackcat
on July 26, 2006 at 2:39 PM
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I 100% agree with the comments here
I am the person that can't just walk by a person who seems hungry, cold, whatever. My father was a Vietnam Vet and I had a family member who was in Panama who had a total breakdown afterwards. My father was lucky and had people that looked out for him and covered for him when he went through his "episodes" the other family member was not so lucky. Last I heard he was wandering the streets of detroit in a bad mental state.
OK, I can go on and on about this subject, so I better stop!
posted by
bel_1965
on July 26, 2006 at 2:08 PM
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I
I think Talion is right, bel, although this was the right thing to do and the homeless man knew that. This is a good post. I had not seen this story.
posted by
MaggieMae
on July 26, 2006 at 1:33 PM
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Although, obviously, not all homeless people are noble and kind ...
I'm sure they more or less mirror society as a whole.
And, furthermore, I feel that ... uh ... you know what? I think I'll just leave it at that.
Hobophobia (n): Fear of homeless people
posted by
Mademoiselle
on July 26, 2006 at 1:29 PM
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Actually, this story shouldn't be surprising. Homeless means no home, not dishonest. The fact this is a big deal says more about what society thinks about the homeless than the good deed itself.
posted by
Talion
on July 26, 2006 at 1:15 PM
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