When He Says, ‘I’m A Human Being,’ I Tear Up, Too

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.upworthy.com/when-he-says-im-a-human-being-its-hard-not-to-get-choked-up-right-along-with-him?c=upw1





“It's really humiliating to be shaking a cup 24 hours a day and people just look at you like you some kind of little bum. ... I have had people that walk past me and say, 'Get a job, bum!' And I say, 'Wait a minute — I'm not a bum, I'm a human being.'"
See the rest of his story here:

Now's probably a good time to remind ourselves that many of us are not that far from being in a similar boat. Here's a graphic from the National Coalition for the Homeless:

[gwheezie]

1. Homeless can happen real fast

And you really can't pull yourself out without help. The winter is rough out there. Those of us that have a little extra can give a couple bucks.
I was homeless once. Someone gave me a bag of oranges. I'll never forget that person. I was really down that day and those oranges saved me from utter despair.

[zeemike]

2. I have seen that before, and it is hard to watch.

And it has occurred to me before that people are poor because they have no land.
If that man had a small plot of land, even if it was bare ground he would have a home to go to.
And he owns nothing in that city and it chews him ups ans spits him out.

People are poor because they have no land...and it has always been true and is true now.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. "Just cause I'm down on my luck doesn't give anyone an excuse

to call me a bum."

It really is heartbreaking to think of the way some humans are willing to treat other humans.