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Putting a face behind homelessness...
Aug. 23rd, 2010 12:32 amIf you've been browsing Youtube today, you may have noticed them promoting a channel called "Invisible People". Now, yes, I know I don't post much lately, but I figured it was pretty poignant and worth supporting. Mostly because some of these people really are like you and I, and have just fallen on hard times. And to take a moment at really how much we take for granted, and what others have to do just to get by.
Sure, we save money for expensive televisions, flights across the US or the globe, places to live and are driven to constantly buy more and more just to keep that level of consumption up, because we're 'never satisfied'. And yet, families, who are trying to make the most of their lives, just trying to do the best they can, have to keep their chin up with the clothes on their backs, a sleeping bag, and go day to day just hoping that things work out for them.
I felt moved enough that, if you bear with me for just a few minutes, watch a few videos that tugged at my heartstrings, and made me feel like I really should be doing more to help people like these out. And in particular, in one video, for a vet who risked his life in Vietnam is now homeless and not being cared for - it's honestly heart breaking. Words can't describe just how shocking that a country would turn its back on a war vet like him.
I'm gonna put three videos that called out to me, with the first one here and the second two behind a cut.
( Two more videos behind the cut... )
Sure, the label for homeless people may be that they're drunk, on drugs, and lazy, but that may be just an excuse to keep people from caring about their fellow men, women, and children. Granted, maybe some of them are. But some of these people genuinely want to get back on their feet and have a better life for themselves and their families. Maybe they've made some bad choices. But that's not to mean that they can't turn around or that we should damn them to never have a second or third chance in life. I mean, seriously, what if we were in their place? God forbid any of us have to deal with that, but seriously... Consider these people. Watch a few videos from the channel. Maybe you'll be moved like I was.
And to those that say they should just 'get a job at McDonalds', well, there's someone else that deserves their story told as well. And maybe she brought it on herself by having such a large family, but don't tell me you can watch this video and NOT feel something for her, and how much she's trying to make ends meet.
( One final video to consider... )
It hurts. Especially to see good people who genuinely try to make things work for their family and have to struggle so hard to do so.
Sure, we save money for expensive televisions, flights across the US or the globe, places to live and are driven to constantly buy more and more just to keep that level of consumption up, because we're 'never satisfied'. And yet, families, who are trying to make the most of their lives, just trying to do the best they can, have to keep their chin up with the clothes on their backs, a sleeping bag, and go day to day just hoping that things work out for them.
I felt moved enough that, if you bear with me for just a few minutes, watch a few videos that tugged at my heartstrings, and made me feel like I really should be doing more to help people like these out. And in particular, in one video, for a vet who risked his life in Vietnam is now homeless and not being cared for - it's honestly heart breaking. Words can't describe just how shocking that a country would turn its back on a war vet like him.
I'm gonna put three videos that called out to me, with the first one here and the second two behind a cut.
( Two more videos behind the cut... )
Sure, the label for homeless people may be that they're drunk, on drugs, and lazy, but that may be just an excuse to keep people from caring about their fellow men, women, and children. Granted, maybe some of them are. But some of these people genuinely want to get back on their feet and have a better life for themselves and their families. Maybe they've made some bad choices. But that's not to mean that they can't turn around or that we should damn them to never have a second or third chance in life. I mean, seriously, what if we were in their place? God forbid any of us have to deal with that, but seriously... Consider these people. Watch a few videos from the channel. Maybe you'll be moved like I was.
And to those that say they should just 'get a job at McDonalds', well, there's someone else that deserves their story told as well. And maybe she brought it on herself by having such a large family, but don't tell me you can watch this video and NOT feel something for her, and how much she's trying to make ends meet.
( One final video to consider... )
It hurts. Especially to see good people who genuinely try to make things work for their family and have to struggle so hard to do so.
