America: My heart is breaking....

[glowing]

I'm working a night shift at a hotel.. I'm in Florida... Its a bit cold tonight. I had a homeless man walk in inquiring about a 3 week stay. I knew he was homeless and he knew I knew he was homeless. He just wanted to warm up and use a bathroom like a normal person. I didn't have any cash on me, or I would have given him $20.00 to take on his way and sit in Denny's for a while and sip on some coffee. This is America. This is what I see. I see families on their last legs, scrambling to pay for a week here or there. Using our address and room number as an apt, so the school system, friends, and children can feel a little bit normal... but as always, the money dries up and into the car they go, disapearing completely from site.

I cannot and will not accept that this is ok. This is America... the crumbling nation... the mighty fallen to its knees. I'm done with the squabbling and the little bickering posts. This homeless man on a cold, lonely night is one of the reasons I speak and work and do to fix what we have allowed to become broken. This is our fault. We are the Govt and we have failed so far. It is so time to get this right.

[NMMNG]

1. It's despicable that people are homeless

But America would rather throw money away on a senseless war, corporate welfare, perks for politicians who do nothing for anybody but themselves and countless other utterly wasteful things.

[glowing]

2. And you know, when he left, he asked me if I needed anything.. I should

have said screw it, let me put you up for the night.. But my mortgage is due, and I'm really tight right now. I hate this.

[Sadie4629]

11. I'll get flamed for this for sure--

but you can't lump all homelessness into a "despicable" category.

My niece's friend claims that she has been homeless, and lived in her car for awhile. But, it was HER OWN CHOICE! She has a mother, who would have gladly taken her back home. She hadn't been kicked out, they weren't on bad terms. This girl CHOSE to live in her car, whether it was to claim victim status, or to consider herself independent, or so that she could have a good story to tell, or whatever.

The girl later shared an apartment with my niece, and moved out with no notice. She left a note claiming her former homelessness as an excuse. ("I have to look our for ME.") My niece couldn't afford the total rent, and was stuck having to temporarily move herself and her baby back in with her useless and abusive ex-boyfriend.

[DDQ]

3. Great Post

Thank you for saying the truth. We have to take responsibility for what is happening.

[donheld]

4. I hear ya glowing

I see it everywhere I go, and wonder what the answer is. It's just so very sad and un-American.

[ClayZ]

5. It is snowing here, north of Seattle.

There is about 2 inches so far, and it is sticking. I was thinking about the homeless people we had seen earlier today, before it snowed. I hope they have shelter tonight.

What have we come to?

[Mr Rabble]

6. We are doing what we can to make sure this ends.

This is yet another heartbreaking example of what has been done to our country.

This hasn't just "happened" to our country, this has been imposed on us.

Sooner or later, this imposed veil of malevolence is going to lift, and when the men behind the curtain are revealed there is going to be hell to pay.

[ixion]

7. don't hold your breath for that... it was much worse in the 30's

and they let people starve and die, and in fact they very effectively made it almost impossible for them to band together and try and live.

[ixion]

8. This country holds the homeless in contempt...

they are treated as criminals who simply aren't in jail yet. I was effectively homeless for nearly a decade, albeit by choice. I was traveling around the country living out of a backpack. I can tell you first hand that this society despises people who don't have a physical address. Stray dogs get better treatment.

[melody]

9. Beautiful post n/t

[OneBlueSky]

10. and the sad part is that it's going to get much, much worse . . . no matter who is president . . n/t

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