GET IN THE LIGHT

April 29, 2013


Vagabond Journey No. 1,994



We can readily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark, the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

(Plato)

*************************

Hello Arlene

*************************

The realities of life happen in the broad daylight, and that's why most people don't notice them. A lot of attention has been paid to the victims of the Boston bombings who need artificial limbs as a result. But how many of those people will not be able to afford them.



One evening in New York City a man entered the subway car sitting on a wheelchair. He had no legs. He didn't say a word, he didn't need to. He merely passed through the car with a cup in his hand and people gave him money. When he passed me I put a dollar in his cup. Two words passed between us. I said "Nam?" and he said Yup." Why was that man begging?



Then there's the irony of the homeless. I remember a woman who said she wanted to give her leftover Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless but she didn't know where they live.



Again in New York there was an outdoor book store in Columbus Circle. It was run by the homeless. I bought a few books from them. They were polite, orderly and looked out for each other's books. One day the police came and took them all away. A wealthy and therefore powerful woman had complained about homeless people living in her neighborhood.



The number of children who die everyday in Africa is appalling. The list of wrongs goes on and on and yet it goes unnoticed by all except a few. Politicians, governments, news media, church leaders are the ones who should be shining the bright lights on the world,s problems but they don't because they are afraid..



Churches that should mobilize people to confront and solve the obvious but overlooked circumstances of real life are cloistered in dogmas. The media spends a lot of time worrying about their popularity, telling a lot of stories that look good and asking stupid questions like "What went through your mind?" Congress wastes our money arguing about unimportant things because none of them have the guts to step outside of the party line and face facts.



Go live on the street Senator and see how many peopled don't notice you, pass you buy or cross the street to avoid you. Make friends with the other smelly homeless guys and learn the ropes. And if the police come to take you in, do what they say and don't argue. I've been homeless and I've been a beggar. I know what I'm talking about.

*****************************

Dana Bate

Vagabond Journeys

Never give up.

*******************

.