Do You Ignore the Homeless? (Brea, Beverly Hills: camping, to live in, friendly)

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by msnorman67

Given identical circumstances we all would choose identically. If you think not, you think yourself better than others.

Does that mean that the homeless peoples brothers and sisters are also homeless? If an individual was raised under the same conditions as another individual and they had the same opportunities as another then they should both be living the same way. What about those that grew up in the same neighborhood in like situations? Does that mean that they are also the same and now living in the same conditions? Maybe we should interview the homeless and find out what kinds of lives they had as kids so that we can make sure that others living similar childhoods will be rescued before they enter adulthood and grow into the calling that life has delivered to them.

I know in my own family of 4 brothers and 4 sisters each of us chose a differant financial path in life. We were all raised in the same home under similar situations. Some excelled at school and some didn't. Why is that? Shouldn't we have turned out the same? I have a brother that makes $30,000 a month and one that scrapes by on $1,500 a month but they both grew up in the same home as I did under similar circumstances.

People choose to be poor. People choose to be wealthy. You accept the kind if life that you are willing to live. The homeless are no differant than you and I. They are choosing to live the way that they want to live. I understand that some of them have mental problems. That is no excuse to beg borrow or steal. I know people that work for Vons that are Autisic but making it on their own. Other companies also offer employment to individuals that have mental problems. Their comes a time when a person needs to ask themselves why they are in the position that they are in. If they like the place they are at then good for them. If being homeless isn't what they want I bet that those individuals will do anything they can to get off the streets.

[msnorman67]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Does that mean that the homeless peoples brothers and sisters are also homeless? If an individual was raised under the same conditions as another individual and they had the same opportunities as another then they should both be living the same way. What about those that grew up in the same neighborhood in like situations? Does that mean that they are also the same and now living in the same conditions? Maybe we should interview the homeless and find out what kinds of lives they had as kids so that we can make sure that others living similar childhoods will be rescued before they enter adulthood and grow into the calling that life has delivered to them.

I know in my own family of 4 brothers and 4 sisters each of us chose a differant financial path in life. We were all raised in the same home under similar situations. Some excelled at school and some didn't. Why is that? Shouldn't we have turned out the same? I have a brother that makes $30,000 a month and one that scrapes by on $1,500 a month but they both grew up in the same home as I did under similar circumstances.

People choose to be poor. People choose to be wealthy. You accept the kind if life that you are willing to live. The homeless are no differant than you and I. They are choosing to live the way that they want to live. I understand that some of them have mental problems. That is no excuse to beg borrow or steal. I know people that work for Vons that are Autisic but making it on their own. Other companies also offer employment to individuals that have mental problems. Their comes a time when a person needs to ask themselves why they are in the position that they are in. If they like the place they are at then good for them. If being homeless isn't what they want I bet that those individuals will do anything they can to get off the streets.

When I say identical, I mean IDENTICAL. From birth to present. Every instance in every moment in time may lead one to be who they might be in my understanding of life. One great teacher or one troubled classmate can change a life forever. If we are born innocent how do we acquire guilt. One thing leads to another.

Can one truly change? I've seen it happen. The explanations for this are beyond my reach. Our view is skewed by our own experiences and our own perspective. Of course my opinions are based on my experience. I won't presume to apply my perception to anyone's life. If I do I won't hold them to it for long.

[Full-Blooded American]

For Christmas I got a T-shirt that says "Bulldoze the Homeless!", exclamation point included. I'm actually wearing it right now. I think it's my new favorite T-shirt, replacing my "Pave the Whales!" T-shirt.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by msnorman67

When I say identical, I mean IDENTICAL. From birth to present. Every instance in every moment in time may lead one to be who they might be in my understanding of life. One great teacher or one troubled classmate can change a life forever. If we are born innocent how do we acquire guilt. One thing leads to another.

Can one truly change? I've seen it happen. The explanations for this are beyond my reach. Our view is skewed by our own experiences and our own perspective. Of course my opinions are based on my experience. I won't presume to apply my perception to anyone's life. If I do I won't hold them to it for long.

Wouldn't that be an imposible situation for someone to have every every experience in life as another? Even with that I would think that two people would deal differantly with the same situation happening to them. No two people are alike. No two fingerprints are the same, no DNA matches exactly another DNA. People within the same household that are taught to act the same way may still have differant ideas about life. I know these two brothers that helped their dad work on the family car whenever it broke down or needed a repair, tuneup or what have you. One grew up hating that kind of thing the other restored cars for fun because he loved it as a kid. Both were having the same experience only the outcome later on was very differant.

[msnorman67]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Wouldn't that be an imposible situation for someone to have every every experience in life as another? Even with that I would think that two people would deal differantly with the same situation happening to them. No two people are alike. No two fingerprints are the same, no DNA matches exactly another DNA. People within the same household that are taught to act the same way may still have differant ideas about life. I know these two brothers that helped their dad work on the family car whenever it broke down or needed a repair, tuneup or what have you. One grew up hating that kind of thing the other restored cars for fun because he loved it as a kid. Both were having the same experience only the outcome later on was very differant.

The point is we don't have the same experience (egotistically anyway). And no one has the correct experience. I think that is probably enough of me on this subject in this thread. My respect to all.

[A_Chick]

What we see, as a rule, are the homeless men, because the homeless women and children hide. Their plight -- which could be ours in a matter of days or weeks -- is truely terrible and ignoring them will not help. It also strips us of our own humanity. There are things you can do.

If there is an individual you find often, arrange to use your address so that he can receive mail, which you black out before handing him, or buy him a few months' time at a mail box store. Many homeless folks who can work are unable to do so bevcause prospective employers have no way to reach them. Ditto with taking messages by phone, but again, you must guage the risk.

Some homeless are, of course, insane, dangerous, drug-addicted, etc. and these an ordinary citizen cannot help, though as a society we must face their needs.

[MonkeyButler7000]

This thread caught my eye, even though I do not live in L.A. I do, however, live in El Paso, which has its own jumpin' panhandling scene. (I think it's because lots of sunshine = lots of quality begging days)

Anyway, there are a couple of things that need to be said:

First, the vast majority of homeless people are either mentally ill or addicted to something, not as some might have you believe, victims of a bad economy. These people would be homeless regardless of the economy. While giving these people money might help you get that warm-fuzzy-I'm-great-because-I-care feeling, the bottom line is that by giving them money you ar most likely making their problems worse.

Second, to all those on this thread who wonder when society will evolve to deal with the plight of the homeless: Is it just me, or did LBJ and the Great Society promise to take care of all these problems around 1965? Forget Iraq or Afghanistan, what I want to know is what is our exit strategy from the failed "War on Poverty"

[Green Irish Eyes]

Originally Posted by MonkeyButler7000

First, the vast majority of homeless people are either mentally ill or addicted to something, not as some might have you believe, victims of a bad economy. These people would be homeless regardless of the economy. While giving these people money might help you get that warm-fuzzy-I'm-great-because-I-care feeling, the bottom line is that by giving them money you ar most likely making their problems worse.

Good point -- and this is why I choose to donate money to organizations instead of individuals. The $100 I gave to the L.A. Foodbank will, according to their website, provide $500 worth of food to people in need. If I were to give that same amount to someone(s) on the street, it would more likely provide $100 of drugs/alcohol/cigarettes -- and maybe a Happy Mealâ„¢ or two.

I'm not heartless -- just realistic.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by A_Chick

What we see, as a rule, are the homeless men, because the homeless women and children hide. Their plight -- which could be ours in a matter of days or weeks -- is truely terrible and ignoring them will not help. It also strips us of our own humanity. There are things you can do.

Women and children are more likely to be taken in by relatives or friends. Programs like Section 8 favor the woman with child. A woman is more likely to be able to rent a room.

[Ashleykitty]

I struggle with that issue daily. Expecially when I lived in Santa Monica. I often wondered what kind of karma would constitute someone living on the streets and begging for money. Was it low self esteem ? Child abuse issues? Who knows. But maybe its my karma to help.