LOVE THEY NEIGHBOR, CARE FOR THE POOR, THE HUNGRY, THE OUTCAST..??.

ISN'T THAT WHAT JESUS AND OTHER SPIRITUAL LEADERS TAUGHT?

Yet how does America, our governments and most citizens treat the poor, the hungry, and the outcasts. The federal government cuts benefits to the poor and hungry, medical benefits for the mentally ill are cut, and local governments pass ordinances inimical to our outcasts (the homeless, many of whom are mentally ill) and even in some instances levies fines against citizen Good Samaritans who help them.

Las Vegas Makes it Illegal to Feed Homeless in Parks
They are a nuisance, they frighten respectible citizens away and people who feed them encourage them to stay, and others to congregate. People who feed them will be charged and fined.

They can go to shelters and soup kitchens? Often the homeless are far away from shelters and soup kitchens and have no means to get there. Such places are often situated in mid town areas or in far flung communities. When scores of homeless established squatter's rights on Houston's downtown streets they were a nuisance. They dragged up cardboard, old mattresses, cloth items with which to make beds on the cold, hard sidewalks, piled their pitiful store of possessions around them, urinated and defecated where ever they chose. They blocked passage of citizens about legitimate business during the day, panhandled and otherwise accosted citizens. Businesses complained, citizens complained, rights groups counter- complained and a fine hullaballoo ensued. Eventually the police were ordered to clear the homeless from the sidewalks and general areas.

Where did they go? Many joined others in setting up unsightly households under the freeway overpasses. More complaints about the ugliness and stench, and panhandling persisted. They were chased away from there. Where did they go? I don't know. It and they were a problem. But it is OUR collective problem.

These people are - like it or not - our neighbors, our poor, our outcasts and they are America's problems. Chasing them away from place to place, forbidding citizens to feed and succor them is not the answer.

Should another sign be added to cartoonist Herb Block's flagpole? Like "abandons poor, hungry, and homeless".

BUT THERE IS MORE ABUSE AND CRUELTY TO THE HOMELESS.

Beating the Homeless - a Sport For American's Teens and Young Men? How could our children be so cruel? Why not? They are inundated from early childhood to adulthood with violent cartoons, TV shows, movies, video games; some psychologists say they become inured to violence and lose a sense of compassion. They see our government engage in wars where other humans are routinely slaughtered through violence, and enemies dehumanized with epithets. They are exposed to racists and haters who dehumanize anyone who is different. It is a wonder that the majority are able to rise above this and retain their sense of humanity.