As in many wars, insurgencies, low-intensity conflicts, and from those wonderful people who brought you Korea and Vietnam... outside declared war situations, and police actions, The front lines in the war on homeless nation are ill defined, fluid, exceedingly dangerous and chaotic. It's where it's happenin'.
And, yes. There is a war on homeless nation. A war conducted by the many cities, counties, states, agencies, associations, political entities, the United States government and just plain people against the citizens of homeless nation who exist in an abstract and parallel reality right inside the many cities, counties and states of this great country.
The rules of engagement in this war on homeless nation are mired in bureaucrateze and slogans and pronouncements and typically, only fully known to the forces who intend to use them. Whew, I'd say that's a big disadvantage, since we don't even know the the rules in the first place.
Ya might say...we're surrounded.
But we're not going to retreat. We can't, we're surrounded. So, we're here on the front lines of homeless nation, and going about our business, inside this "outside of declared-war situation" (That's an actual military term and it probably means, "What in the hell are we doing here, we don't even have enough headbands and boots and tanks for God's sakes!")
We're going to stay right here on this front line, and kinda let you know we are here, and who we are and so forth and what really happens here, and how we live in homeless nation. Kind of...crash through the information barricade that separates us from the other....nation.
I've learned a lot about homeless nation because I live here, and I have lived here for awhile. And I have learned about this place through experience and observation and wisdom gained through much struggle and hurt and pain, and love and humor. And I want to share all of that with you. And maybe by sharing who we are, I can help enough so that maybe this "outside declared war" on homeless nation might just, someday,end.
I'm a journalist by profession. I've covered a lot of stories for a lot of years. And I've covered a few wars, out there, in other nations. And when I came to this place, I was confused, frightened, and hurt with a deeply bruised soul,.... and homeless. And then....I was me, and homeless people were They. And then, They became me. And then me became we. And we.....are homeless nation.
Well, local government forces in Tampa/Hillsborough are preparing a counter-offensive against the invasion of street panhandlers driven out of adjoining Pinellas County.
ReplyDeleteLast year the County Commission/Zoning Authority refused permission for Catholic Charities to use church property/money and no government funds to create an emergency shelter/feeding-station/service center for up to 25 "street people." Some commissioners explained their NO vote as wanting to do something better for our treasured homeless than a tacky "tent city" like Pinellas. County. Strangely that better solution has never materialized.
So now the County and City are prepared to ban the street people from begging/selling on the street.....not even newspapers, ice water or charitable donations. Admittedly the proliferation of panhandlers is dangerous, "unseemly," open to fraud, and no real lasting solution to poverty/homelessness....but once again government offers no better answer....just No!...and move along....maybe try Orlando next.
Good luck with your counter-insurgency efforts Commissioners/Council. After declaring "Mission Accomplished" in this guerrilla struggle, you can tackle the War on Drugs....maybe make illegal drugs really, really illegal.___AND THIS TIME WE MEAN IT!!!!