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- ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -1/+52Gilbert, this is excellent.
Not sure what the answer is. I'm not to far away from joining the ranks myself. For the most part I find this subject something society wants to ignore. I've been to several churches that make themselves feel better by saying there are shelters, and if you want to help, volunteer at a shelter. I've found most churches use it as a way to validate their existence.
Of all the homeless I've met I would say there was only one that had severe mental illness. The rest I would say their state of mind was a result of their homelessness. I ran into a homeless Veteran from the 1st Gulf War last summer. About a month ago he finally got a job with Bed, Bath, and Beyond in Annapolis, MD. The reason. When he went in to fill out an application, he asked to use the bathroom. The soap dispenser was empty, and he found the container under the sink and started to refill the dispenser. The District Manager had been sitting on the can, and when he came out of the stall watched Lorenzo and started asking questions. The District Manager was impressed with his initiative, and told the Store Manager to bring him on half time. Two weeks ago he went on full time. He rides his bike 5 miles back and forth every day. He makes $10 @ hour, which in this area wouldn't pay for utilities, but he's happy. He's still having problems. I tried to call him today, and his phone had been turned off.
A lot of the homeless I run into have criminal records. Most companies do background checks, and even if they were arrested and the charges dropped, it shows up. A number I keep running into varies, but between 35% and 85% of the chronic homeless in the United States are Veterans. The number varies because of the political situation. If the State Government is requesting funds from the Federal Government they use a higher number. If the State is telling constituents how effective they are they use a lower number.
In Maryland it's illegal to be homeless. If you are on the street trying to get by they will arrest you. The law was passed a few years ago when the homeless in Annapolis were on just about every corner. You won't see a homeless person in Annapolis these days. It's bad for tourism.
Anyway, my two cents worth. - NoLibertarians, on 05/17/2009, -8/+45I am generally against Socialism. But after reading this perhaps we need more of it to help these folks.
- stonecircle, on 06/11/2009, -0/+33A picture is worth a thousand words. Thanks, Gilbert.
- Echota, on 05/17/2009, -0/+29The media should cover this problem a lot more and let their viewers know about this on going problem.
People are becomming homeless everyday and it seems that we would rather turn our heads and look the other way then acknowledge the problem of the homeless and the stuggles they face day and night. - ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -3/+28I'm not real big on Socialism myself. However, anyone who has spent any time in Europe (outside of a few weeks vacation) realizes their standard of living is better than the United States, crime in entire countries are less than any single city in the US, education is excellent, everyone has access to health care, and innovation has surpassed the US.
- ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -0/+24@Echota
I agree, but judging by the response on Digg on this article/photo album I'd have to say this isn't a high priority issue. The Digg results may be caused by the skewness of Friends Lists, which is probably polarized by views on the right and left. On one hand it is indicative of people's nature that there are those who can be empathetic regardless of their political views. On the other it is disheartening that there are so few.
I'm not sure why this topic elicits such responses in me. Maybe it comes from growing up poor. Maybe it comes from the years early in my life of seeing suffering while in the military. Maybe it comes from some inherent need to want to believe there is some decency in human beings. If the human race can not response to the suffering of their fellow human beings what hope is there for this race of people?
Then again, I suppose I'm a weird son-of-bitch to begin with. If I walk by a homeless person asking for money I feel guilty as hell. On top of that I keep checking what the Digg count on this is, and every time I write a comment want to Shout it again. - clvngodess, on 05/17/2009, -0/+24I think that there is a mythology about the homeless. It's an incorrect mythology because there is no consideration of the larger picture of society. I lived on Skid Row in Downtown LA for about 5 years, in a loft. I saw these people daily, interacted with them. Got to know quite a few by name, and considered them friends. They respected me as well. It was an experience I am grateful for having. While the environs smelled of a combination of rendering plants from Vernon, bus diesel and car exhaust and urine, I never once ever felt afraid or in danger of these people. And there were some bad cats on the row. There was humanity too. A deep humanity. In spite of the crack and heroin and alcohol and mental illness, the survival businesses of hustling, there was a deep humanity.
The mythology I saw from those who didn't understand, those with jobs and homes, was the assumption that these people deserved their status. That these people were all criminals or junkies and were simply toss away beings. I can't tell you the countless times I've heard someone give away change and say to a homeless brother or sister, "Don't spend it on drugs or alcohol."
And yet there but by the grace of god, or brain chemistry, or circumstance go any one of us.
Society tends to stigmatize these people. How dare they end up like this? This is the punishment they deserve. And I believe that this comes from class division, elitism. Even from the working poor.
We tend to use leveling to prop our own selves up. (I'm generalizing here.) It's a cruel and inhumane society that dumps it's victims into the gutter. But that's exactly what we do. - MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -1/+24@NoLibertarians, I really appreciate your thoughtful comment.
- MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -1/+22Thanks for your testimony, Arnold !Very thoughtful as usual.
I take photos of homeless & the "less fortunate " because most people pretend they don't even exist. They don't want to see them as if they were infra-human beings.In the 1980's, I lived downtown LA , right on the edge of skid row and it really shocked me. We do have homeless in France, but at least when I grew up, the clochards were part of the city life:people would know their names etc. What everyone should keep in mind, in America, because of the complete lack of social safety net, it can affect anyone in the middle class. And just imagine when the funds of Medicare are gone.... - booksnmore4you, on 05/17/2009, -0/+21Fabulous stuff, Mercy.
- inactive, on 05/17/2009, -0/+20This is moving and the photos are very good Gilbert.
I had the fortune as a young man to consume way too much drugs and alcohol.
That led me to homelessness a few times, and a precarious situation usually. I got thrown in the drunk tank and waited in line for sandwiches and panhandled outside the Food Giant and slept in the park. I could have ended my situation with a phone call but I didn't for shame.
I made great friends with the down-and-out. And that has led me to always help out with money and volunteer work and to raise funds for organizations where I live and in South America that help the homeless.
It is very hard to get your act back together in the USA once you hit bottom. It is impossible to live homeless and have the time to clean up your record, find a job, be able to get to work and have a stable place to live.
There are organizations in every city that have that mission. To give a person or a family a place to live, with food and showers and clothes so that they can get a job, find an appartment and put their act together. All those organization are always on the verge of bankruptcy. Help out.
10% of your salary should go to help your brothers and sisters. - inactive, on 05/17/2009, -1/+20@NoLibertarians, I share Mercy's sentiment. I dugg you up.
- MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -0/+18That is precisely why I take photographs of homeless(people looking the other way). A couple of years ago, I was going to have about 60 large prints of them exposed in a posh gallery in Beverly Hills ( the wealthiest area in Los Angeles). A week before hanging the show, the owner changed his mind and canceled the exhibit all together. He didn't want "to disturb his clients".
- MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -0/+18Thank you for your kind words. What I always try to do (especially in this case) is to make sure I don't exploit ( or de-humanized) my subject.
- tzvika613, on 05/17/2009, -1/+19@NoLibertarians, I share caferrell's sentiment. I dugg you up.
- anarchist101, on 05/17/2009, -1/+19@ajgasper
Great comment!
I see the same thing as you do. A lot of criminal records, a little mental illness, and some down on the luck people. Fortunately the economic situation in my area isn't as bad yet as a lot of the other areas in the country. Not much new hiring is going on though in pretty much any field except fast food, which has a high turn over rate.
It is shameful that we could give trillions to rescue the financial markets and yet not much is done to help the common people who are the true heart of this country. It has always been the poor and middle class who suffer the worst in bad economic times, however unjust that is. - NoLibertarians, on 05/17/2009, -2/+19Well gee guys I'm flattered. As Mercy said this is not new. I can't remember the years I attended the NFL draft but I think it was in the 80's Always noticed that there were sleeping bags and blankets stashed in the huge cement planters surrounding the center, indicating homeless slept there over night. After the first year we each took hundred dollar gift certificates and passed them out to every homeless person there. Couldn't give them cash because they wouldn't buy what they needed with it. These folks are very difficult to help. Many want to be homeless. In my neck of the woods we passed ordinances in the winter months to arrest these folks for their own sake. The arrested went to a shelter, not jail, Still some snuck out of the shelters and back into the cold. This is a very complex problem to solve.
- Pash1994, on 05/17/2009, -0/+17These shots are hauntingly beautiful. Reminds me of when I first read Jean Genet. Images he painted with words are still with me. These pictures are like that. You don't want to look, but you can't look away.
Saw you're on Twitter and have added you to my newly created list, along with several other bloggers I follow on DIGG. - ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -2/+19@NoLibertarian, you must have one heck of a reputation :-). I noticed, with one exception, the only negative Diggs on comments were on yours. Even those who commented on your comments were dug down. I've got to watch you closer. You sound like a man after my own heart :-).
I have to admit over time reading your comments for the most part there is a soundness to your arguments. On the other hand you seem to have a real knack at going for the jugular on a personal basis, which seems to be the vast majority of the time.
Anyway, I'm really impressed with the number of people who have said this was the first time they ever dugg you up.
However, don't let it go to your head :-).
Arnold - shycyberguy, on 05/17/2009, -6/+23They only call it Socialism when the gov't helps ordinary people. When the gov't helps the rich no one says anything because thats the way things are supposed to work in a corporate welfare state.
- Robjayne, on 05/17/2009, -1/+18First for me also.
- garret35, on 05/17/2009, -0/+17It makes you open your eyes to a problem we see every day but don't really see, if you know what I mean. Well done.
- beautifulady, on 05/18/2009, -2/+18NoLibs, you rock. Diggs for NoLibs!!
In my city there is a formerly homeless guy who won the lottery about 10 years ago, and every night he sends a truck full of food into the places where the "night people," as they are called, congregate. He has been doing this for those 10 years. - Echota, on 05/17/2009, -0/+15Mercy you've done good with this.
Thank you. - novenator, on 05/17/2009, -1/+16I think I've been to that Waldorf Bar before, just after Katrina hit.
Very good collection of photographs from someone with a social conscience. - ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -0/+14Gilbert,
I don't know if you ever read a book called The Family of Man. I believe it was a Time/Life publication of their photos with anecdotal information associated with each picture. The plot was the commonality of the human race regardless of culture or ethnic background.
Would love to see you do it on homelessness.
It would have to be a block buster. Most people only want to look at pictures, and not have to read more than one sentence associated with the picture. Except me, I use to buy Playboy to read the articles :-). - ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -1/+15I think part of the problem is a culture with a subconscious that feels they can only validate their existence by degrading others. What is the statistic? 1 out of a 100 people in the US are incarcerated?
There hasn't been much of a trickle down effect from those trillions that's for sure. - woodsjransom, on 05/18/2009, -0/+13Humbling
- inactive, on 05/17/2009, -1/+13Excellent idea Mercy, too bad the owner wimped out. Those photographs should be on billboards (which I hate- but that would put them to good use), and on buses, and this crisis should be covered on the news every night. I think we have discussed before that invesigative reporting seems to be rare these days at- least when it comes to the MSM. This is gonna get a hell of a lot worse before it gets better, and harder for people to ignore!
Cattletracks comment is spot on too! - MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -0/+12@Jackieblu, thanks for your kind words. If I had the personal resources to buy huge billboard's spaces, I would do it in a split second. Not only it is going to get worse, but the endemic crisis(homelessness) is going to become a social tsunami. Then again, American politicians ( both Republicans & Democrats) priorities are so off that they would rather spend $ 600 Billion a year on the Pentagon instead of addressing and fixing real problems affecting all of us. It is rather pathetic, frankly.
- ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -1/+13You bring up a very interesting point "the clochards were part of the city life:people would know their names etc.".
Before they passed the what I call the "illegal to be homeless law" in Maryland there had been a Veteran living in a large storm drain near a busy intersection (Solomon's Island Road and Forest Drive. He was on the corner everyday with his sign, and was probably the most engaging homeless person I'd met. He'd introduce himself by telling you his name. Everyone talked about him. They could see his encampment, there wasn't a liquor store for miles, he was out there from sun up to sunset, and he was very polite. People hated him. He didn't fit their stereo type of drug addict/alcoholic, he worked his ass off, and had great interpersonal skills. I think what they hated more than anything is they actually knew his name. - inactive, on 05/17/2009, -0/+11There is something to know about volunteering and working with the homeless. They will very often not show gratitude for what you are ding to offer them. They will very often (usually) ignore your advice and careful strategies to get them back on their feet. They will often look to be getting their act together and fall right back to whee they were.
There are many homeless who do not want the responsibilities of society, or aren't capable (at any given moment) to deal with the responsibility of a job they have to go to every day and to pay their bills and save their money.....
And if they are addicts or alcoholics, which many are, they will almost certainly wreak their own carefully laid plans.
To work with them requires that you be absolutley non-judgemental. Don't take the setbacks personally.
And don't think that the government can do this job. It has to be done by YOU. - MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -0/+11I would be thrilled to do something similar with homelessness. I am not sure people would want to buy it to put it on their coffee table so.
- clvngodess, on 05/17/2009, -0/+10I know where you can show these images. You can't do it in posh Bev Hills. You can do this at Gallery Row Downtown LA, or on the East Side. And I bet if you talked with the folks at Bergamont Station, you might get them shown.
As for the book, it can't be a coffee table book project. It would have to be positioned more as a documentary project. It would be an art and social statement. This is how you would sell it. There is an audience for this. (I'd buy it.) - DrJen, on 05/18/2009, -1/+11You're right about doing something. The government safety net misses a lot of people. It's time to donate to the local food bank and homeless shelter again.
- Echota, on 05/17/2009, -0/+9ajgaspar I can identify with everything you posted,from the growing up poor to walking by someone who is in need and not trying to help them.It's a cold,unfeeling heart that's not able to reach out to someone in need.
I'll tell you the photos upset me because I'm not able to do a darn thing to help those people.That frustrates me to no end!
And I'd rather be around a weird s.o.b. that is aware of their surroundings any day then someone who pretends to be blind to it and attempts to do nothing. - MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -0/+9Arnold, I think the lackluster ( so far) of this submission illustrate the fact that most people ( not you or I obviously) hide their heads in the sand over this. It is probably from a deep rooted fear of this type of nightmare( living in the street) happening to themselves. And actually, they are not wrong. It can literally happen to ANY of us, except for the upper class. You were a soldier, it probably helps you face those fears dead on. I don't think most people have your courage....
- MargotCross, on 05/18/2009, -0/+9this is great.. thanks for sharing.
- dtr300, on 05/18/2009, -2/+11Do you expect Our Lady to arrive on a cloud of capitalism?
- ajgasper, on 05/17/2009, -0/+9@MercyPolitics
Just have to come up with the right Marketing plan.
Something along the lines of parents to their children: "Eat your Brussel Sprouts, there are children in Africa starving who would love to eat it."
Of course the children's response: "Great, wrap it up and mail it to them." - dtr300, on 05/18/2009, -0/+9The opposite of realism is: fantasyism? :)
I'm a fan of Morgenthau, but even he doesn't say to abandon idealism, but to use prudence in making decisions when allocating one's resources to idealistic ends (that's totally paraphrasing, not a quote, but I think it's close). Bush's war on Iraq is a good example of NOT acting with prudence. - Doxocopa, on 05/18/2009, -0/+8Centuries ago... these people were taken care by either:
1 - their family (but the familiar institution is on the verge of collapse today)
2 - the Church (hospitals, homes, etc... read a biography of Saint Vicent de Paul, João de Deus, etc, etc)
In São Paulo, we have no a volunteer "brigade" - promoted by catholics, but open to all those of good will, to feed, dress and... yes! - give a bath to the legion of homeless people in the largest city of South America.
The Republican and Masonic inspired modern states do almost nothing... social security is still working in Europe, but on the verge of acute failure because of older population and less and less incoming taxes from active young ones = bankruptcy. In this, Japan is a social welfare lab... the first country ever to deal with a majority of older population.
Those interested in demographic trends should see this DVD... I have seen only the trailer, the DVD it is still not available around here. Caution: solutions presented are all but politically correct ones!
Demographic Winter:
http://www.demographicwinter.com/index.html - dtr300, on 05/17/2009, -0/+8It's also a lot easier when you're young. I think many of us have had a bit of a wild youth, done some couch-surfing, etc. But imagine being in your 50s and trying to start over again.
- inactive, on 05/18/2009, -2/+10@NoLibertarians, I share beautiflady's sentiment. I dugg you up.
- novenator, on 05/17/2009, -0/+7I've been to so many watering holes, they start to blend together, like my drinks.
- MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -0/+7Different Waldorf, this one used to be Downtown Los Angeles ( On 6th & Main) before the Yuppyfication of recent years. It is on the edge of skid row, and homeless used to go there for a little drink...
- MercyPolitics, on 05/17/2009, -0/+7@Caferrell, thanks for this great personal testimony, mon ami!
- beautifulady, on 05/18/2009, -4/+11I was a NoLibs fan long before I got the nerve up to friend him :) We'd disagreed a few times (ouch) but what I admire about him is exactly what you said - he has a knack for going for the jugular, but he has sound arguments, which is more than can be said for a lot of people on digg.
He won't let it go to his head, he's got too much class for that. - NoLibertarians, on 05/18/2009, -3/+10I call them as I see them.
- Doxocopa, on 05/18/2009, -0/+6Folks... Just to let you know.
I went to Google to see if I had a chance to rent / buy this DVD here in Brazil, ands was really amazed by the stir and polemic it has already provoked ... just the trailer! – Google the name of the documentary and you will immediately spot the stir up it is provoking in this political correct world we live in. Conclusion: it certainly is not a trivial issue. -
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