Hobo Jungle

[kerr]

Marty I went through what you're suffering about 7 years ago and it just came out of the blue, like one morning I went to work, came home and she'd buggered off with some drunk she met in a bar. Go figure. We had everything cut and dried and she completely pulled the plug on a happy family with their own home and for no good reason. Doesnt want much to do with the kids, was apparently biding her time until they were all out of high school and the guy she moved in with is a drunken, abusive lout. What really hurt though was her letting my dog run free and get killed. That had me in tears I dont mind admitting it. 2 out of 3 of my kids had a tough time adjusting which they are still doing.

To this day I cannot fathom what the hell I did wrong but my new wife says it wasnt my fault, she was just a party girl who didnt want to grow up. Shades of the previous conversations!

Anyway, I recovered thanks to the extremely good fortune of meeting a wonderful woman who I wish I'd met a long long time ago. So hang in there dude.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

On the local news yesterday, they presented a request via a kind of info-mercial, announcing that a particular group was collecting money so homeless children could have some of the supplies and necessities needed for school.

That news stunned me. Perhaps, when I think of The Homeless, I picture an adult in my mind, having seen so many of them lying on the streets of NYC. In fact, my wife and I have established the custom of traveling into NYC, on selected afternoons, during some summer and autumn months, to pull the car over to the curb in The Bowery, next to a playground, where many homeless (it appears) adults gather each day. We have clothes I have outgrown or ceased use of arranged by sizes and arrayed in the trunk of my wife's car. She stays behind the wheel, and I beckon/welcome guys over to the car to receive from my hands what they see that they like and can fit into. We enjoy this personal expression of helping others.

Sometimes, in the winter, we ride through the lower eastside of Manhattan and give out blankets/comforters to folks we see reclining against walls along sidewalks. They are always surprised but never unpleasant.

However, despite those experiences, it somehow never occured to me that homeless children(!) would be in need of school supplies, and the scandalous part of that mindset is that I was a teacher for thirty-five years in what is considered a hardcore inner-city environment, and just always assumed the children in front of me had homes to return to each day. I knew they didn't always have the supplies or lunch money needed, which was taken care of in countless private ways by me, through the years, but it never occured to me some may have been homeless!

I was amazed to see those folks in that TV presentation gathering and organizing bookbags and notebooks, etc. for distribution to the students of their focus. I'm going to find them.

We here, on MTJ, could discuss the phenomenon of homelessness in America - in the whole world, for that matter - and would only exhaust ourselves trying to discern the millions of reasons folks find themselves in such a dire situation, or how best to approach helping them.

I do not have Tramp's , perhaps, more romantic and sentimental view of being a tramp. It is interesting to note he selected that term out of all the possible words to use for his identifying "avatar" here, so his selection told me he had a sensitivity to their plight that was different from mine and worthy of attention and consideration. His writings have disclosed that much, and I have concluded that he has a serious appreciation of such a plight, which must be heard, even though we likely do not share the same viewpoint.

Anybody who works in corrections or in the medical field would, by definition, have valuable viewpoints gleaned from years of experiences that automatically earn a hushed respect, in my opinion. You are not at cross purposes, gentlemen. You are on the same side of the fence - the side of those who want to help and put themselves on the line personally in order to help. Your personal gifts, abilities, experiences and education have imbued you with different approaches, but you are kindred spirtis, effectively making a difference in a situation that seems to have no permanent solution - ever.

Each of your voices is to be commended, IMHO.
Murph

[rogruth]

I asked earlier when and why homeless persons were thought to be criminals by most people.Maybe I wasn't clear or there is no answer.I still would like to know.

Short answer in three parts, and probably quite debatable...

1) There are anti-social elements, by choice or necessity, nested within the group. We tend to judge a group by the worst behaviour of some of the more visible members. Unfair, perhaps, but true.

2) These people represent shadowy reflections of ourselves but for the grace of God. We're frightened of how very close we all come to those circumstances.

3) Further, because no society has found a pat answer to the problem.

Sarge,

I agree and especially like #2.

I think it is similar to the movie depiction of Italians being gangsters.I grew up in an Italian neighborhood.Some of them were gangsters but most were not.

[shushupe]

Rufus,

You bring up a good point re: the group of people I based my opinions on... Being held in a maximum security correctional centre is pretty much hitting the bottom re: a persons status in our society. Basically, you are considered some form of threat to society... and for that reason, you are removed from it(this is just a generalization).

The neighborhood I mentioned, is one of the worst in the country... again an extreme situation, but(and this is a big but) if you put any person or persons in a hopeless stress filled dangerous(to the point of being life threatening) environment, with no hope of escape, on the horizon... then, I would expect the situation to degrade in time; and the person/people involved would fall into a dangerous, and desperate lifestyle... including self medicating behavior(using drugs and alcohol etc...). I would also expect the person/people would eventually resort to crime(committing robberies, prostitution etc...) to gain what they needed(i.e. money, drugs, food, shelter etc...).

BTW, I have seen whole families that were involved in crime, including the children.

As far as who's to blame... does that really matter when some poor kid is forced to live on the streets, and has to, if he is lucky, attend school hungry(malnourished). His self-esteem is fragile, and he is acutely aware that he is different re: his status amongst his peers...

To expect this young person to thrive, and become a productive citizen is ridiculous... hence the ongoing cycle of poverty, and crime; and all the other related issues.

Is it realistic... to expect these people to overcome their situation in life, and to merrily join in with mainstream society?


Rick

[rogruth]

With out going into all the gory details,I will say that I,personally,know that it is possible to rise above the circumstances in which one may find him/herself.It is not easy and it takes work.Can anyone do it?I do not know.

During my teaching career,according to many of my students,I was able to change the path that some were on,to the better I hope.I had learned from my experiences and tried to positively influence my students.I only gave up once.

Why did I bother?Someone did not give up on me.Enough said.Maybe too much.

[shushupe]

Murph,

I appreciate your comments... thank you.


Rick

[J. Smith]

I think Sgt E should throw you guys a box of tissues so you can have a good group cry.

See vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlWddAXSRA



What a bunch of mambie pambie!

[rogruth]

J.Smith,

[J. Smith]

Hey Roger. Glad you got it.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I LOVE that commercial. thanx for the link.

Jack Wagon

[Del Mar]

Petey,

For some curious reason, I am not allowed to email you. Well said here and in our other transaction.

Thank you,

San

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Is it realistic... to expect these people to overcome their situation in life, and to merrily join in with mainstream society?

If never given an opportunity, no. And, some certainly do over come their "situations", whatever they may in fact be. Some are totally embarrassed by their situations an some give up. Some people need help; so do not.

I am unwilling to condemn and write off an entire population under an assignation of absolutism, labels, etc. We take pride in our country being one of richest and most filled with opportunity on the planet, yet the last time I looked we also had one of the highest per capita percentage incarcerated and I'd wager one of the highest homelessness percentages, too. People can point their fingers at political parties, and politicians and whatever/whoever, but shouldn't we all wonder how that really happens to be?

[hev52]

Sounds like.................................
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Is there ever something to be said for personal responsibility? Is positively every inmate and patient and brat the result of "the system" or some corporate or governmental intrigue or neglect/abuse?

All I really know for sure is this. I behaved and paid attention my whole life, in school and at home, and on my many, many, many, many jobs. I've worked since I was twelve. All the time. Every year. I figured and was taught that if I did so, I'd earn - EARN (now, there's a concept) - a decent life, and I have. We are safe, sound and secure. That desn't mean I was always happy about being good (well behaved,) and sometimes I was a little terror in da' 'hood as a kid. BUT, I learned the limits to which I dared go and always pulled back, before going too far.

I blamed nobody else for any woes. If I got into trouble, I was ready for the punishment (usually chores.) In fact, in my 66 years, it never occured to me to say I was a victim. I was in charge of my own life, once graduated from high school, and put myself to the task of further behaving and accomplishing.

I have seen students in classrooms that no matter what the teacher did - entertaining, pleading, encouraging, reviewing, managing, reinterpreting, translating, doing a little dance, twirling, tutoring, audio-visualizing, praying, etc. some "students" did not want to learn. They just wanted the audience available in a school and wanted to cause disruption, seeing even punishment as reward (and that's a fact.)

I do believe there is a certain point where when parents and/or teachers bend over backwards to help, they become ass-kissers. Bend over far enough, and you don't look good.
IMO
Murph

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Sounds like.................................
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

To quote Roger:


Personal responsibility, sure! Not sure that it's infinite in its reach and capabilities to all things for all people. Can one do more than the best they can? Can failure still be the result? Happens every day...

Time to buy a new ladder so I can climb out of this......