Housing for sale or rent
Can’t afford and got no tent
I hear Suella’s voice
Telling me this is my choice.
I’ve got blanket and begging cup
Laddie who’s my faithful pup
If she’d choose this life for free
She’s a Braverman than me
Vouchers I get for Greggs
A kindness to a man who begs
Society’s lost dregs
Scum of the earth.
Shop doorways I lay my head
Or a park bench for a bed
Fear not, Sue, I’ll be soon dead
Scum of the earth.
Really like this tongue in cheek poem John. Every person on the planet has a story, a context, from which arose their current living situation. I have several very close friends who have a family member living on the streets. It is heartbreaking beyond words and there are no easy solutions. To say that human behavior is complex is an understatement. I applaud every social worker, government worker, etc. who faithfully continue to reach out and try to balance the competing needs of the bedraggled person on the street and the average citizen trying to peacefully navigate said street. One thing to me is simple and clear: we should try hard not to judge. Guys, I always appreciate your vigorous discussion. Please pray for a good outcome in usa 2024 presidential elections! (Oh oh that prayer request might trigger a vigorous discussion.)
There but for the grace of God, Uilleam. I have to say that I never give money but I buy vouchers at Greggs to give them so they can get something to eat and a hot drink.
It's hard to envisage a more pessimistic view of human nature, MC.
Thanks John, a heartbreaking state of affairs.
Speaking of “respect” for Armistice Day.
https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/how-many-veterans-are-homeless-in-the-uk/
This from the above published 9/11/22
“The most recent rough sleeping figures for London, the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain), found 5% of the people counted on the streets of the English capital had an armed forces background.”
Xenophobia: fear or hatred of people perceived as being different from oneself; based on a person’s race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or other distinguishing characteristics.
Philoxenia: love of strangers.
From the Christian Bible...the source of many of our allegedly "British Values".
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
It's called reality, JC. Those who deal with it professionally get to
know all too soon the why's and wherefores. Somehow,
society at large seems unable to find a solution, perhaps because
ultimately, it comes down to human frailties and sheer bloody-mindedness. It's all too easy to appear virtuous as long as
you have no responsibility for finding the answer, which,
sadly, seems temporary at best for many. It should speak
volumes that the Vagrancy Act still has relevance two centuries
on from its creation.
Or not, Stephen. And Thankyou for the Likes, Red Brick and Tim.
There but for the grace of God go we, John. It's great to see how a poem like this can dismantle pig- ignorant views.
We used to have a phrase in the Coal Board of "working without enthusiasm". It was written all over Charlie's face.
You're all heart, MC. Let's clear out these eyesores, eh?
And thanks for the Like, Greg.
"The Streets of London" seems a more recognisable source in my own considerable experience in dealing with what goes on in big city streets.
The Vagrancy Act 1824 was the result of what was faced upon the return from the Napoleonic wars of its veterans. It contained three levels of culpable responsibility for those who fell foul of its provisions: Idle and disorderly persons, Rogues and vagabonds, and finally, Incorrigible rogues.
Today there are numerous charities that should be able to assist our modern veterans but what of the rest? There
are certainly some for whom it is a choice, fuelled by not being willing to comply with the requirements of obtaining a roof over their heads. Drugs, drink, dogs and a determined resistance to instructions that sees them
intent on doing their own thing, funded
by the eternally well-meaning hurrying passers by, convinced of their own virtue. I confess to have found myself
in the latter catepory on occasions and
can't say I actually contributed to getting the momentarily grateful individual off the street.
Thank you John. The Home secretary typifies this governments attitude to those who lose everything and through no fault of their own become destitute. The face of the King as he read the speech given to him by this government is a clear example that we are led by people with no heart, no vision for the future and contempt for the unfortunate. Soon may they go, never to return.
Than you again for this,
Keith
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John Coopey
Sun 12th Nov 2023 15:57
Thankyou for your thoughts, Helene. I don’t know how familiar you are with UK politics but the backcloth to this is that the UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said that we should crack down on the homeless using tents for shelter, as homelessness was their “lifestyle choice”. Presumably she’d prefer them to get cold and wet in the rain.
And thanks for the Like, Pete.