Is America Apathetic to the Homeless?

“The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied...but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which as beggar is a reminder of nothing.”

― John Berger

“How can we worship a homeless man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday?”-unknown

I have wanted to speak about this for some time.  And when I saw the first quote, it of course reminded me of the second, and it also got me to write about society’s seemingly growing apathy to the poor and homeless.  In my city of Yakima it is quite evident to see this apathy.  It has grown past merely people driving by beggars as if they are not present, and moved past people yelling “get a job!”, as if that is something anyone can do at the moment.  This apathy has moved into hate as there have even been those who have protested against the presence of beggars.  With signs saying “aren’t you tired of beggars?” “Help us rid Yakima of these people”.  Now thankfully I saw many reject these protesters, yet others praised them.  All this while a poor homeless sat, pitifully, while the protestors (a group of elderly ladies who claimed to be devout Christians) harassed the man calling me things such as “worthless”.  I am no theologian, but I have read the New Testament, and Jesus never called the poor worthless, actually his kind of advice to us is to live like the poor, by giving up ALL of our possessions to follow him.  He treated the weak and poor with the utmost respect and said they would inherit the world. 

Yet, many don’t feel that is the way to approach beggars.  I have many conversations from LDS members (Mormons), to mainstream Christians, to Catholics, Muslims, and even Atheists; all of which I have heard many different ways to approach the issue of beggars.  Note that none of the religions had a consentient answer when I talked to their members (except Islam, but I know only a handful of Muslims as opposed to the majority of people I know being in the other mentioned groups).  The worse approach is the automatic accusation that the beggar is somehow a vile person and should be avoided.  Also, don’t dare give them money since they will blow it on alcohol and drugs, and they could even be faking since of course all homeless are really con-artist in a giant conspiracy.  Now, are any of those accusations possible? Of course they are.  I have members in my own family who have been tricked, and are now extremely cautious when handing money to beggars.  However, I highly doubt that most fall under those accusations, and even with those accusations, it still doesn’t matter for we need to give. 

The very sad thing is that the religious, the ones who should be the most charitable, often turn their backs the most (at least from what I have seen).  Now I am not going to judge any one single person, it’s not my place, but there is a possibility that they are merely saying they are religious yet their hearts are far from truth.  I have been there before and I understand; I have been false in my religious convictions when I was Catholic, so I am just as guilty of doing it.  I have been to General Conference twice (for those who don’t know, it’s a semi-annual Church wide conference that is held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons, which it is filmed in Salt Lake City, UT).  We literally could have a leader of the Church preach about charity and helping the less fortunate than us; then everyone leave and walk outside where there are plenty of beggars that could be helped and those far more prosperous than I, will walk by with their heads turned away.  I am only 21 years old, I don’t have much money, but I give what I can.  This  frustrates me to see some many just not care.    

As I am sure some readers by now will be thinking, “well Mister high and mighty on your high horse, what do you do?”  Well, I am glad you asked semi-fictional reader.  I always give if I have money on me.  Let me correct myself,  I usually give, there are days when I am weak and greed takes hold of me, I am human of course.  When I recognize what I did was indeed sinful, I try and repent.  I always feel that, a couple dollars to me really doesn’t matter, but if it can get a meal for someone who is without a home, then clearly it matters to them.  Also, it’s not enough to buy drugs or alcohol so I never get paranoid about that.  And, really if they are a con-artist, who cares, they manage to take two or three dollars from me.  I should be lucky that a con-artist only takes a few dollars from me, since others can have their whole live savings stolen from a deceiver.  Of course, I still get a good feeling for what I did, and still following Christ, even if the person begging was lying (which I think happens far less than many claim). 

Something a friend of mine I met in Russia, named Sarah, told me really impacted me on this subject as well.  She has lived in the Salt Lake City, the heartland of “happy valley” (nickname for the Utah/South Idaho area).  She told me how frustrated she would get when seeing fellow LDS (Mormon) members talk down about the needy, or not reach out to help.  God is always watching if we are following him or not.  She said how Jesus mentioned that helping the least of us is helping Christ himself.  Also, she did bring up how many will say that they could be con-artist or want the cash for negative items, such as drugs.  Yet, we don’t really know if an individual intents to do with the money.  If we turn our back from them and not help a fellow human in need, then we are sinning, but if they are deceiving us, then the sin is theirs.  Really by not helping someone we are digging ourselves a hole.  Many Russians amaze me since some who don’t have much, still give to those who need it more.  A friend of mine, who is only 19 living on her own in Moscow and doesn’t make a lot of money, still gives anytime she can.  She jokes how if she continues to give her money away she will be just as poor as the ones she tries to help.  Honestly though, that attitude is the attitude that Christ wants us to have, help others even if it means we don’t live comfortably.  Many might point out that it’s not logical to give so much if you don’t have much, but the Gospel is not one of logic (as much as I hate to mention that) but one of faith and trust in God that you will be given opportunities and a path will be made for you. 

However, I am not doing the most I can do, because just given money, usually doesn’t help them.  My friend Sierra told me that many times what these people need more is a friend, or someone to talk to.  Life is extremely hard for them; to think it isn’t is ridicules.  Something I will never forget is the last time I went to General Conference.  While yes, many walked right by the needy without even a glance, there was one man who shocked me.  A beggar was sitting, with just a sign.  He was a veteran of either Iraq now or 1991, I am not sure right now.  He was missing a leg.  I gave money, but kept walking, I truly didn’t know what to say.  Though, someone behind me stopped as well.  And he sat down with the man and began to talk to him.  A couples hours later I was walking again passed this area and that man was still with the veteran.  The veteran was in tears, telling this man his story and thanking him so much for caring to speak with him.  I have never seen someone who was so appreciative in my life, as that veteran looked right then.   It looked as if this one man who stopped to understand the veteran and share a message of Christ’s love, did far more than my two dollars. 

It’s true, even us who give when we can, can do more, and should do more.  I have always been afraid and timid to talk to them, which is an issue I am trying to deal with.  Instead of giving money, we could take them to a nearby fast food place or restaurant and feed them and hear their story.  This I am sure can help make a great difference, since money and food can only help the physical issues, but their loneliness and rejection by the world creates many mental issues, that to help through, they could use a good friend. 

Us Christians are commanded to help the poor and needy and to reach out.  And if you are not religious, or an Agnostic, or an Atheist well those in need are our fellow brothers and sisters.  We need to give up these fictions that divide us and come together to help each other.  If we truly helped each other, maybe we could eradicate poverty.  It won’t be easy, and will take a long time, but I honestly believe we can.  In America, we have the resources to do it; we just need to rid ourselves of our selfishness and greed.