Voices: Weak-minded citizens

April 30, 2008 10:22 pm

— Recently, I read an article about the intent of the City of Refuge to set up shop in the old Baptist church on Seventh Street. Personally I think this would be a great idea. The City of Refuge is meeting a huge need in our city, helping to lend a hand to those among us who have found themselves in a desperate situation. This facility would be ideal for meeting their needs.
I was given a cruel reminder however of how ignorant, shortsighted, elitist and foolish people can be when reading the online comment section of the article. A few people who responded to the article did not like the idea of homeless people being near their home. Clearly every poor person is a dangerous criminal whose sole desire in life is to take from others.
Fearing the homeless shows a self-absorbed, materialistic ignorance that is completely messed up. It belies the emptiness of one’s own weak-mindedness. If you’re afraid of homeless people, do one of two things.
First, meet a homeless person and realize they are dealing with many of the same issues as YOU are. Second, have your own job terminated and lose the security that allows you to have such a warped perspective.
Two comments even suggest euthanizing the less fortunate in our community. This type of thinking is so evil I almost don’t want to address it, but I feel I must. Having this perspective indicates that the person holding it thinks very highly of themselves. So highly, in fact, that they consider human beings expendable simply because they are considered a nuisance. I have not read “Mein Kampf” but it would seem that some in our community would enjoy it.
I have a lot of respect for the citizens in our community, but this is unacceptable. Have the violent lessons of our history taught us nothing?
Derrick Harper
Joplin