Sunday, March 25, 2007

Homeless Update

With all the problems already caused, this homeless man still doesn't understand he's just not wanted in the town he chose to "settle in".  The police, after arresting him on that vagrancy charge after he was seen daily outside elementary schools, could only hold him 72 hours before charging him.  He still speaks strangely, no one quite understands what he means.  But amazingly, many of these upper-class people have rallied to his defense.  This is what happened, according to the local news:

The judge took one gaze at the paperwork and decided since he'd harmed no one, he had a right to live his life anyway he chose - so long as he didn't interfere with the rights of others.  Unfortunately, he looks and smells pretty bad, looks and acts very out of place, wears rags, looks like a bum.  Most want him to disappear.  But no one can find any law that say he has to.  It's odd.

This has become a big matter now in the small, upper-class town I've been talking about.  I think that's the only reason they can't deal with the nuisance of a homeless person, who speaks strangely, begs for food, talks to little kids (who should know better), is because they're not accustomed to it, and that's why it's made the news at all.  They just don't know what's "pc" in this matter.  So most have decided he should be "escorted" out of town, let someone else deal with him.  He's just a bum, a troublemaker anyway, they figure, nothing to do with them. 

As I've said, he thinks he "belongs" in this town, it's his home or something.  But here's something else - that group who have taken time to chat, try to make contact, just attempt to be human to someone who otherwise is another big pain for the town to deal with, these people have decided to use him as a "cause celeb" to promote themselves, I'm not sure why.  They don't seem sincere.  But the cops sure do, they want him gone.

We'll see ...

 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

How does not wanting this man in town because he smells bad, talks strangely, and just doesn't suit the towns image, fit in with the notion of Christian charity? Since when is wearing rags, looking like a bum, and smelling bad a crime? Of course there is no law that says that he has to go.  The judge is absolutely correct; there is no law that says that a person's right to freedom may be taken away because he offends our sensibilities. Homeless people aren't any more dangerous than the rest of us.  Indeed, nine times out of ten when some person who has harmed a child is arrested, the first thing that his neighbors comment on is what a nice person he seemed to be and what a pillar of the community he was.  Homeless people used to have lives just like the rest of us.  Something happened, some set of circumstances that led them down a path from which they could not escape.  There but for the grace of God goes you, me and all the people in that town who believe that they are superior to this man.  I don't recall there being anything in the Bible that says love thy neighbor unless he is homeless, smells, and you just don't like the looks of him.  Upper class? These people have no class.--Sheria
http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

Anonymous said...

Hi my friend, I have been following this story with you of this man.  After I just read what you wrote about these people wanting him to be run out of town and the police also wanting him out, I without a doubt am so damn glad I dont live in that bigotted, narrow minded, cold hearted place.  I 100% applaud that judge for letting that man have his freedom.  Why dont those bigotted people try helping  him.  I personally worked with the "Friends of Schizophrenics" here in Canada and many of the people who suffered from this so very dreadful disease which is so very serious, were people of very good education, intelligent, for the most from very good family backgrounds.  Some thing in us at different ages triggers it, could be a traumatic happening or stress it definitely is a chemical imbalance but something brings it into the forefront.  The man or woman who was very well balanced with a good job, education and homelife, becomes this man who walks in this town.  He was I am sure one of these people at one time who so want to rid themselves of him.  Let them open up their eyes and hearts and learn about mental illness and that low and behold he is a human being just like them, misfortune has befallen him.  He fights demons every day just trying to figure out who he is and what those voices mean.  I wish with all my heart that I could go to that town and meet this man, I do not care if it took me the rest of my life I would try and reach him  and if i could not help him to reality, I definitely would help him clean himself up and reach out a hand in friendship which he really needs, not this bigotted crap this cold, mean town is showing him.  God bless you my friend who walk the town that has no heart.  May god shine upon you.  My blood pressure has shot sky high as this absolutely infuriates me.  As you know, but there for the grace of god, go many of us.  We were just more fortunate t

Anonymous said...

This poor man could use some kindness from some of those who discriminate.
Maybe instaed of calling his clothes rags and calling him smelly, they might consider giving him some new clothes and letting him take a shower. If they were as kind to rent him a hotel room for a night and a bite to eat he could clean up and have a taste of what they have.
Reach out and touch somebodys hand...dirty or clean.

Anonymous said...

Your previous commenters have said it all.  Well said to all of them.  This town is worried about ONE homeless man?? They need to come here and see what I see.  
Pam

Anonymous said...

My Dad worked with the mentally challenged his whole life.  These are real people with real feelings.  They did not ask to be hungry, dressed in rags, or to hear demons talking in their heads.
The sad thing is ,,,,is that there are some mental hospitals that will just put a person like this on a one way ticket bus ride out of town and that poor person has to fend for themselves.
Walk a mile in their shoes.
Understand Luddie I am not directing this at you because I know you are a caring loving person.
Your town needs to rally together and help this man.
Prayers for him from Texas, xoxBarbara