I saw something yesteray that just broke my heart

[Stargazer99]

A young man around 30 yrs old, sitting on the edge of a parking ledge, rocking back and forth huddled with his meager backpack (obviously homeless) It was windy, rainy and cold. This country has torn his heart apart. Rocking like that usually means the soul is so scarred that one resorts to rocking as when one was an infant. To have so much hurt that one rocks to comfort self is a nasty comment on the conservative Republican and some demos that run this country. What a godless nation that permits any human being to end up in such misery and pain and be totally indifferent to it. This is a country to be proud of?

[mokawanis]

1. I know people who would say it was his own fault

and that kind of attitude really pisses me off. There's a lot of "haves" out there who think the "have-nots" deserve to suffer and go without basic human needs. I hope that man found a warm place and a warm meal.

[Aristus]

2. It would have broken my heart, too.

I see so many homeless people, since they make up most of my patient population. And I see heartbreaking things all the time. I did want to tell you, though, because you may not have the opportunities that I have to see these things, that there are good stories about the homeless, too. Success stories. People getting help, getting clean, getting healthy, and picking up the pieces of their lives. I see that every day, too.

I'll never forgive that rat-bastard Ronald Reagan for accusing the homeless of living that way by choice. But every day, I try to make a difference. We all can. In little ways. Because, after all, the man you saw wasn't a "homeless person". He was a person. And I'm so glad you saw him that way. Others will, too.

[gwheezie]

13. I have the same patient population

Some of the most courageous people I know are homeless and mentally ill, it's not an easy life and would bring most of us to our knees, in a modern society we need to care for people who need help.

[alphafemale]

3. So what did you do to help him?

Oh yeah....

Walk by and post about it on the internet.

[mrmpa]

4. So what makes you think...........

the poster didn't do anything? Perhaps he/she did.

[alphafemale]

5. I was asking.

I imagine if help was given itta been bragged.

[bluesbassman]

9. No you weren't. That was a lousy thing to say.

And you just doubled down on it with this post.

[alphafemale]

10. walk on by

and shake your head

[LeftofObama]

18. What a HORRIBLE thing to say!

Shame on you! And where is this bragging of which you speak? You should absolutely be ashamed of yourself!

[Demo_Chris]

11. WTF?!

[Stargazer99]

15. In response to your comment, alphafemale

I was a woman alone, not sure how this individual may respond (if mentally unstable it might be dangerous for me, I am not skilled in dealing with the mentally ill)
I do not have enough money to see a doctor or use the services of a dentist, for me or my family to be able to help someone else.
I work or am getting to work 12 hours a day...some days a little more than 12 hrs (I work 2 jobs several miles away from each other.
I have high blood pressure that cannot be controlled well along with class 2 diabetes
I also take care of my ex-husband who's mind is not totally functioning well
The work I do doesn't pay well but I'm lucky to have a job at 73 yrs of age
I'm in no position to personally help anyone as I cannot totally support myself or family despite working
The type of problem I posted about is solved when a community works and cares enough about human life instead of profit.

[Raine1967]

16. Ignore that person, Stargazer99

[orleans]

17. i understand your situation completely

and it makes total sense as to why you felt unable to offer help. your concern for this individual is important too. and by talking about it here perhaps it will have the effect on those who read this story to be more aware of someone in need and, in turn, they will be in a position of offering some type of assistance to someone.

[irisblue]

19. wow, that is a mean comment n/t

[alphafemale]

6. And everybody just walks by.

And say somebody should help.

[CBGLuthier]

12. Well not everyone is willing to make the effort to go on the internet

and tell people HOW WRONG THEY ARE.

Thank you for your efforts.

[HappyMe]

14. Yeah.

Your posts in this thread show that you are just a fountain of compassion and kindness.

[marzipanni]

7. Yet prisons are loaded with (mostly) men

at a cost of ....

<snip> The Vera Institute of Justice released a study in 2012 that found the aggregate cost of prisons in 2010 in the 40 states that participated was $39 billion.
The annual average taxpayer cost in these states was $31,286 per inmate.
New York State was the most expensive, with an average cost of $60,000 per prison inmate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/24/nyregion/citys-annual-cost-per-inmate-is-nearly-168000-study-says.html?_r=0

What if we began to break the cycle and spent more on education, mental health, and programs to help young people early to gain a toehold on a better life. A Civilian Conservation Corps would be one good start.

I heard on NPR this morning that a community college can't get funding to teach welding, though someone donated a welding machine ten years ago.
http://www.npr.org/2014/02/12/275796877/can-underfunded-community-colleges-provide-more-job-training

[grilled onions]

8. There Are Three C's When It Comes To A Situation like This

Criticism,condemn the person and care less. The person who gives a damn is not critical but feels compassion. Does not condemn the person nor the situation. A person who feels that those who are down and out are not alone and they are the same as those who are lucky enough to have a roof over their head, do not have demons such as alcohol,drugs or mental issues to deal with and have enough money to eat and have warm clothes. We need to care more and judge less. Sadly many of our laws are designed to be cold and unfeeling to the very people who need the most help.