Wednesday, May 31
The War Today
I don’t know much about the wars going on today, except for what I see on TV or hear on the radio or on the streets. I don’t watch TV much and I don’t listen to everything I hear. But somebody somewhere decided that we have to put an end to tyranny and oppression, so we’re fighting big wars against terrorists and dictators in more than one foreign country. With the wars come bunches of uniforms, a variety of weapons and assorted rules of engagement. A whole lot of money gets spent and a horrible bunch of death and violence gets inflicted upon the guilty and innocent alike. I guess that’s just the way it has to be; like I said, I don’t know much about wars, except that wars will never end, at least not by the hand of mankind.
Today, somebody decided that we have to put an end to homelessness and poverty; that homelessness is cruelty and poverty is oppression and that we have to fight it together. So, we have a war on homelessness with weapons and uniforms and ‘rules of engagement’. We spend a whole lot of money, and the business of homelessness and poverty continues to grow just like any other war machine. Plus, we inflict a whole bunch of horrible pain and misery on the guilty and innocent alike!
A local non-profit got a big donation of shoes to pass along to the homeless, and all of the sudden, half the homeless were wearing the uniform: ‘microsoft-blue’ sport shoes with Velcro fasteners. You could spot the homeless a mile off (about as far the shoes would last)! Rules of engagement include “No Trespass” signs in city parks, “No alcohol” rules posted near the “whiskey stage” at the church social, and “poor personal hygiene” guidelines published at the new library. Hey, if we don’t give ‘em a place to shower or socialize or recreate, we can make them disappear, right? (Like capturing a dictator will put an end to oppression!)
And just like the business of war uses a variety of weapons, the war on poverty has its own … from propaganda (raising millions to build an orphanage that never gets built), to defoliation of shaded areas (so the homeless won’t have a place to rest), to placing punji sticks under bridges for God only knows what reason?
When terror strikes close to home, everybody seems ready to go to war, as long as the war is not conducted in our own backyards! Maybe that’s the answer: finding a different backyard to play ‘war on poverty and homelessness’. If only we could find a country nearby that we could ship all of our poor and homeless to, like maybe Mexico? Hey, it’s already illegal to be homeless in many American communities, and we’re about ready to ship Mexican immigrants back to Mexico like we did in the 1930's. Maybe we could even make a trade; Prisoners for Hostages (keep the Mexicans who work in this country and send the homeless to Mexico who will otherwise always be with us)?
Hell, I don’t know. I’m just a plain chap in this war, but I know of what I speak. I work in the trenches, out of the sight and minds of people who've made this a game. I know any war is hell and most victims of war are innocent in God’s eyes; especially, victims of a war waged against the poor and the needy.
¶ 9:00 PM
I don’t know much about the wars going on today, except for what I see on TV or hear on the radio or on the streets. I don’t watch TV much and I don’t listen to everything I hear. But somebody somewhere decided that we have to put an end to tyranny and oppression, so we’re fighting big wars against terrorists and dictators in more than one foreign country. With the wars come bunches of uniforms, a variety of weapons and assorted rules of engagement. A whole lot of money gets spent and a horrible bunch of death and violence gets inflicted upon the guilty and innocent alike. I guess that’s just the way it has to be; like I said, I don’t know much about wars, except that wars will never end, at least not by the hand of mankind.
Today, somebody decided that we have to put an end to homelessness and poverty; that homelessness is cruelty and poverty is oppression and that we have to fight it together. So, we have a war on homelessness with weapons and uniforms and ‘rules of engagement’. We spend a whole lot of money, and the business of homelessness and poverty continues to grow just like any other war machine. Plus, we inflict a whole bunch of horrible pain and misery on the guilty and innocent alike!
A local non-profit got a big donation of shoes to pass along to the homeless, and all of the sudden, half the homeless were wearing the uniform: ‘microsoft-blue’ sport shoes with Velcro fasteners. You could spot the homeless a mile off (about as far the shoes would last)! Rules of engagement include “No Trespass” signs in city parks, “No alcohol” rules posted near the “whiskey stage” at the church social, and “poor personal hygiene” guidelines published at the new library. Hey, if we don’t give ‘em a place to shower or socialize or recreate, we can make them disappear, right? (Like capturing a dictator will put an end to oppression!)
And just like the business of war uses a variety of weapons, the war on poverty has its own … from propaganda (raising millions to build an orphanage that never gets built), to defoliation of shaded areas (so the homeless won’t have a place to rest), to placing punji sticks under bridges for God only knows what reason?
When terror strikes close to home, everybody seems ready to go to war, as long as the war is not conducted in our own backyards! Maybe that’s the answer: finding a different backyard to play ‘war on poverty and homelessness’. If only we could find a country nearby that we could ship all of our poor and homeless to, like maybe Mexico? Hey, it’s already illegal to be homeless in many American communities, and we’re about ready to ship Mexican immigrants back to Mexico like we did in the 1930's. Maybe we could even make a trade; Prisoners for Hostages (keep the Mexicans who work in this country and send the homeless to Mexico who will otherwise always be with us)?
Hell, I don’t know. I’m just a plain chap in this war, but I know of what I speak. I work in the trenches, out of the sight and minds of people who've made this a game. I know any war is hell and most victims of war are innocent in God’s eyes; especially, victims of a war waged against the poor and the needy.
¶ 9:00 PM
Comments:
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Kelly,
My name is Ben. I'm part of a church group that's been reaching out to a group of homeless in the Dunwoody area of Minneapolis lately, and a couple people (Wounded Shield and Charlene) directed me to your websites. We're from The Rock, a church based out of Jefferson Community School on Hennepin and 26th, and we've been doing a weekly homeless outreach every Sunday at 3:30 since December.
We've heard a lot of great things about your meetings with them, and some of us would like to meet you. We're all very interested to hear what you have to say from your experience with long-term involvement with the homeless, and we're anxious to hear ideas for how we could help improve our ministry. I came down yesterday with one friend yesterday around 12:30, but we couldn't find you. Could you suggest a time that would work best? Or we could just communicate through email if you prefer. My email address is unspar@gmail.com, and even though my blog is somewhat strange, it mildly confirms my identity. Thanks!
~~Ben Robison
My name is Ben. I'm part of a church group that's been reaching out to a group of homeless in the Dunwoody area of Minneapolis lately, and a couple people (Wounded Shield and Charlene) directed me to your websites. We're from The Rock, a church based out of Jefferson Community School on Hennepin and 26th, and we've been doing a weekly homeless outreach every Sunday at 3:30 since December.
We've heard a lot of great things about your meetings with them, and some of us would like to meet you. We're all very interested to hear what you have to say from your experience with long-term involvement with the homeless, and we're anxious to hear ideas for how we could help improve our ministry. I came down yesterday with one friend yesterday around 12:30, but we couldn't find you. Could you suggest a time that would work best? Or we could just communicate through email if you prefer. My email address is unspar@gmail.com, and even though my blog is somewhat strange, it mildly confirms my identity. Thanks!
~~Ben Robison
Ben ... look forward to meeting you and finding out more The Rock and your outreach efforts to the homeless.
GOD DOES BLESS!
GOD DOES BLESS!
Kelly, I am so proud of you with all of the years you have put into being available unconditionally loving each and every person that you come into contact with. You have always been a sweet, and generous brother. My Brother, my Dear Friend. I love you so very much. God Bless and Keep you safe on your journey. You listen, pray, and feed those that have been forgotten every day. God is smiling. Your Sister.......Neece
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