Homeless people

[tld221]

i'm a little tired right now to defend the homeless (or "people without homes, as my journalism professor would say - another story)... but i see my share of homeless folks in NYC. i will agree, most of the time they are annoying - they all that their sob stories and in my case, disrupt what you hope will be a peaceful commute home. then you've got to dig in your pockets for loose change which they will spend on anything from cheap boose and loosies to their children's school shoes. i had a homeless guy (according to him, he was a war vet and the government only gave him $60/month to live for him and his wife) follow me during my lunch hour last week and it freaked me out.

however, realize the homeless come in various looks - i was homeless off and on for 1.5 years at one point. but i didnt walk around reeking of urine and vodka. nor did i beg for change. i feel very fortunate for that.

my point to you, Kevin, is though you may think the homeless are annoying, and think that "theyre totally able to work!" consider the following:

1. the pride it takes to ask complete strangers for change. some of are too ashamed to borrow money from our friends and families for various things. these people are asking - begging - not because they want to but because they HAVE to.

2. survival of the fittest doesnt allow them to have the "privelege" of working. the job market is rough enough as it is. how many people (including ourselves) have a hard enough time finding a job with college degrees, decent references and past job experience? i know i am. now imagine having limited education, little to no job references, no means to even get an interview for a menial minimum-wage job? im sure that's a fraction of what the homeless face if they are even thinking about working. and let's be honest - if a seemingly homeless person walked into your place of business looking for work, would you tell him "Can you start on Monday?"

As much as i want to ridicule and blame you for your borderline "holier than thou" attitudes towards those less fortunate, i really cant - for all i know, you probably have never been in a position to have to ask for help, financially or otherwise. and im not talking about "man i need bucks to pay for my books next semester" or "wow, can i grab $10 for dinner tonight?" but some real destitute type help.