Homeless in Abbotsford, BC
I DO NOT, HAVE NOT, WOULD NOT ever suggest throwing money at a problem. I am a REALIST, believing in examining a problem to understand what the situation IS. I am not an Ideologue who, wearing the blinders of ideology, looks at a situation and sees what they want to see, not what really is. There is NO perfect solution. A system dealing with people demands flexibility and denies neat, easy answers. Rigidly applying Ideology guarantees failure. How I came to homelessness: click Backstory below.
Youth, Drugs and Addiction
I read the blog below and the question it posed and felt the need to answer it:
I am greatly concerned about how drug use is affecting our communities. It worries me that young children are taking drugs and becoming addicted. how do we get our youth out of the pattern of drug addiction after they are addicted at for example, age 15?
As a First Nation educator I am working on changing the worldview of our youth for them to look into education as a viable option. instead of taking drugs for it could and probably would be a long road to get out of that to get back on the Red road
It is my experience that addicts - no matter what their age take drugs as an unhealthy way to deal with what, to avoid a long and involved listing, I shall simply call issues. Examples would be mental illness, the effects of growing up in an alcoholic household or enviroment, feelings, abuse etc.
Over the past several years I have been dealing with my mental health and growing up with alcoholism and it has and is a long, uncomfortable, often painful journey requiring a lot of effort and willpower.
Having been homeless and currently working at an shelter I have observed that those who go to treatment and get sober without dealing with the underlying issues they have, soon fall back into using.
Feel pain, unhappy, etc? The quick easy solution is to take a pill in our society. The reason so many fall back into addiction is that we do not provide the counselling and support they need to deal with their issues in a healthy manner and build good mental health habits.
Not just those with addiction either. As I worked to restore my mental wellness I observed that most of us have some kind of issue(s) that we should learn to deal with in a healthy way.
We forget or ignore the importance of the Spirit in our lives - at out peril.
It worries me that youth today seem to think the only way to party or have a good time is to get drunk or stoned. I am not claiming that when younger I and friends did not get drunk, merely that it was not the whole idea of partying to get high.
We seem to have, pretty much society as a whole, forgotten how to have fun without mind altering substances.
I recently read an article with which I agree that stated the only real "solution" to drug and alcohol problems is very long term and lies in raising healthy kids. Mentally healthy kids who when feeling sad, mad or upset have the tools and skills to deal with these negative emotions instead of turning to drugs for escape (temporary escape).
I went through a course at Triangle Resources a few years ago and was left wishing that the life skills and self knowledge had come to me as a youth.
My experiences with addicts, the mentally ill, my own mental illness (If I could and did catch the unhealthy mental attitudes and thought patterns of an alcoholic parent, then it follows that parents and society can pass mental unhealthiness on) and issues have convinced me that at the middle school level we need to have life skills courses. Imparting knowledge on anger, self esteem, that happiness is an inside job etc.
Not an easy task, but it is a necessary task if we want to raise a truely healthy and balanced generation - and end the human nissues that lead people to drugs as a dead end solution to their pain.
I read the blog below and the question it posed and felt the need to answer it:
I am greatly concerned about how drug use is affecting our communities. It worries me that young children are taking drugs and becoming addicted. how do we get our youth out of the pattern of drug addiction after they are addicted at for example, age 15?
As a First Nation educator I am working on changing the worldview of our youth for them to look into education as a viable option. instead of taking drugs for it could and probably would be a long road to get out of that to get back on the Red road
It is my experience that addicts - no matter what their age take drugs as an unhealthy way to deal with what, to avoid a long and involved listing, I shall simply call issues. Examples would be mental illness, the effects of growing up in an alcoholic household or enviroment, feelings, abuse etc.
Over the past several years I have been dealing with my mental health and growing up with alcoholism and it has and is a long, uncomfortable, often painful journey requiring a lot of effort and willpower.
Having been homeless and currently working at an shelter I have observed that those who go to treatment and get sober without dealing with the underlying issues they have, soon fall back into using.
Feel pain, unhappy, etc? The quick easy solution is to take a pill in our society. The reason so many fall back into addiction is that we do not provide the counselling and support they need to deal with their issues in a healthy manner and build good mental health habits.
Not just those with addiction either. As I worked to restore my mental wellness I observed that most of us have some kind of issue(s) that we should learn to deal with in a healthy way.
We forget or ignore the importance of the Spirit in our lives - at out peril.
It worries me that youth today seem to think the only way to party or have a good time is to get drunk or stoned. I am not claiming that when younger I and friends did not get drunk, merely that it was not the whole idea of partying to get high.
We seem to have, pretty much society as a whole, forgotten how to have fun without mind altering substances.
I recently read an article with which I agree that stated the only real "solution" to drug and alcohol problems is very long term and lies in raising healthy kids. Mentally healthy kids who when feeling sad, mad or upset have the tools and skills to deal with these negative emotions instead of turning to drugs for escape (temporary escape).
I went through a course at Triangle Resources a few years ago and was left wishing that the life skills and self knowledge had come to me as a youth.
My experiences with addicts, the mentally ill, my own mental illness (If I could and did catch the unhealthy mental attitudes and thought patterns of an alcoholic parent, then it follows that parents and society can pass mental unhealthiness on) and issues have convinced me that at the middle school level we need to have life skills courses. Imparting knowledge on anger, self esteem, that happiness is an inside job etc.
Not an easy task, but it is a necessary task if we want to raise a truely healthy and balanced generation - and end the human nissues that lead people to drugs as a dead end solution to their pain.
Immutable Laws of Weirdness?
I found myself pondering the possible existence of a universal law of Weirdness or The Weird, along the lines of the law of gravity. If in the
same way that a planet has mass and attracts passing asteroids to itself, does Weirdness have a pseudo-mass such that at a certain level of Weirdness it begins to attract any nearby Weirdness, thereby increasing the Weirdness in a given area or in a person’s life?
These days I will admit that my headspace has always contained a certain amount of Wyrd, that my world view could/can be considered from slightly to a great deal skewed.
For many years my mental illness together with the effect of being an adult child of alcoholism caused me to hide and suppress my idiosyncratic thought processes and off-beat way of seeing or thinking about the universe around me. With all the negative connotations, the stigma, associated with the words mental illness I certainly did not want mental illness linked in any manner to me. Growing up with an alcoholic parent is all about keeping secrets and you are as sick as your secrets.
You become fixated on appearing, being normal. You stuff any problems or issues until their mass reaches the point that it collapses in on itself becoming a black hole that devours your life. Perchance black hole, while colourful, is not quite accurate in that there is no escape from a black hole, while there is escape into recovery from mental illness and the ‘isms of being an adult child of alcoholism.
Escape is not easy requiring years of effort and a willingness to face your true self, to do the work needed to change the way you think about yourself and the universe around you.
As part of the recovery process I became comfortable in my own skin and instead of denying the writer, the words inside of me, my Chi, I set them free. In setting them free I set free a part of me I had locked up, setting ME free. With that freedom came not only acceptance of the fact my head can be a Weird place to dwell, but I came to treasure that Weirdness and the little spark of madness that is an essential part of ME.
I found myself pondering the possible existence of a universal law of Weirdness or The Weird, along the lines of the law of gravity. If in the
same way that a planet has mass and attracts passing asteroids to itself, does Weirdness have a pseudo-mass such that at a certain level of Weirdness it begins to attract any nearby Weirdness, thereby increasing the Weirdness in a given area or in a person’s life?These days I will admit that my headspace has always contained a certain amount of Wyrd, that my world view could/can be considered from slightly to a great deal skewed.
For many years my mental illness together with the effect of being an adult child of alcoholism caused me to hide and suppress my idiosyncratic thought processes and off-beat way of seeing or thinking about the universe around me. With all the negative connotations, the stigma, associated with the words mental illness I certainly did not want mental illness linked in any manner to me. Growing up with an alcoholic parent is all about keeping secrets and you are as sick as your secrets.
You become fixated on appearing, being normal. You stuff any problems or issues until their mass reaches the point that it collapses in on itself becoming a black hole that devours your life. Perchance black hole, while colourful, is not quite accurate in that there is no escape from a black hole, while there is escape into recovery from mental illness and the ‘isms of being an adult child of alcoholism.
Escape is not easy requiring years of effort and a willingness to face your true self, to do the work needed to change the way you think about yourself and the universe around you.
As part of the recovery process I became comfortable in my own skin and instead of denying the writer, the words inside of me, my Chi, I set them free. In setting them free I set free a part of me I had locked up, setting ME free. With that freedom came not only acceptance of the fact my head can be a Weird place to dwell, but I came to treasure that Weirdness and the little spark of madness that is an essential part of ME.This train of thought arose as I found myself holding a digital video camera, zoomed in on a piece of paper hand towel that was full of crap, zooming out and panning over to the SCN correspondent so he could comment on the philosophical, ethical and societal implications inherent in the existence of this crappy piece of paper towel.
No, no metaphor; I mean full of crap literally - as in someone had used it as toilet paper.
You are correct this scenario was just a little Weird. Hence my contemplating whether Weirdness has some bizarre sort of pseudo-mass that could attract more Weirdness into my vicinity and life. I began to wonder if in accepting, even treasuring, the Weird in my head and sharing my thoughts through writing had resulted in a pseudo-mass of sufficient magnitude that it had begun to pull this kind of Weirdness into my life.
The whole chain of fate(?) began innocently enough over a cup of coffee at a coffee house. Hmmmm, I suppose it would be more accurate to say that this chain of events began as a result of events I had observed and that had set my mind to wondering and my fingers to typing about the conduct of the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) in terms of Orwellian Big Brother-ism and a police state. I emailed this article off to Something Cool News, leading to an exchange of email that led to a phone conversation that resulted in the conversation over coffee.
The conversation began about some of the unacceptable behaviours the APD has been increasingly engaging in with respect to the homeless and this behaviour’s expansion even into negative treatment of youth members of a local church for daring to “encourage” the homeless by giving out sandwiches. As interesting conversations tend to do this conversation ranged outwards into broader discussion of homelessness and the uncaring treatment of the homeless and others in need in Abbotsford.
At some point in this wide-ranging discussion the correspondent spoke of his chance observation earlier in the day in Abbotsford of paper towelling that had been used as toilet paper by someone forced to use the great outdoors as a washroom. We passed on by this conversation point to talk of other improper APD behaviours and City Hall’s love of paying lip service to the epidemic of homelessness and poverty on the streets of Abbotsford while actually doing nothing to address these grave social problems.
We left the coffee house to shoot the video report on the observations of APD behaviour and the thoughts and concerns that the observed APD behaviour raised in my mind. When we had finished the video report the SCN correspondent returned to his observation of the soiled paper towelling and what it said about Abbotsford. Thus it was I found myself following him to the site of the paper towel sighting to help him make a video record and commentary.
I found myself on video putting context and comment into this pile of crappy paper towelling. Pointing out that in Abbotsford washrooms are for “Customer Use Only”; or that there are “No Public Washrooms” in stores; that the keys to the locked washrooms of gas stations are not handed to the homeless; that while at the Clearbrook Library branch the washrooms are not locked, at the downtown MSA Library branch beside Jubilee Park the washrooms are locked and accessible only with a key.
Thus it is that the homeless are forced to either hold it in indefinitely or urinate and defecate outdoors like animals. Perhaps, even less than animals considering that just the day before I had seen a business truck whose business was cleaning up after people’s dogs.
I touched briefly upon what this says about Abbotsford, particularly in light of the (false) pride so many take in all the churches in Abbotsford and how very “Christian” Abbotsford is. This led to reflecting on the question of just how Christian it is that a community with all the wealth and resources of Abbotsford does not find the homeless situation intolerable and take the necessary steps to end homelessness and address poverty in Abbotsford.
When we had finished taping the commentary on the paper towelling and the treatment of the homeless in Abbotsford, I could not resist taking advantage of having a conversational associate to bounce a somewhat heretical train of thought off of.
It occurred to me that despite their claims to be Christians many, if not most, of those who name themselves as Christians behave in a totally Un-Christian manner. They appear totally willing to sacrifice the homeless and the poor in order that they not be required to put forth effort or even worse – money – in simple Christian charity.
Given that blasphemy is defined as: profane or contemptuous speech, writing or action concerning God. Are not all those who label themselves Christian but behave in the most Un-Christian of ways, committing contemptuous actions concerning God? Are not their actions in showing disrespect and contempt for the golden rule, the parable of the Good Samaritan, the admonition to love your fellow man and so forth, profane?
Do they not then Blaspheme?
Does it not follow that rather than being the most Christian of communities, that through their actions these self-labelled “Christians” in fact cause Abbotsford to be the most Blasphemous of Communities?
So there we were in between the two parts of the video commentary on the implications contained within these soiled paper towels, debating whether, in their inactions and uncaring indifference to the homeless the smugly superior Christian community does blaspheme? After a moment for both of us to reflect on that question we concluded: How could it not be blasphemy?
I then found myself holding a digital video camera, zoomed in on a piece of paper hand towel that was full of crap, zooming out and panning over to the SCN correspondent so he could make a comment on the philosophical, ethical and societal implications inherent in the existence of this crappy piece of paper towel.
As we shook hands and parted company I found myself reflecting on just how much and often the Weird enters into my life. This is only to be expected if there is a universal law of Weirdness along the lines of the law of gravity. The Implication being that I can expect increasing amounts of the Weird in my life as the increasing pseudo-mass of the Weird around me attracts more and more Weirdness.
There is no point in worrying about an immutable law of the universe regarding which I can do nothing. Besides it should fill my life with creativity, interesting challenges, and passion and prove to be downright fun.
No, no metaphor; I mean full of crap literally - as in someone had used it as toilet paper.
You are correct this scenario was just a little Weird. Hence my contemplating whether Weirdness has some bizarre sort of pseudo-mass that could attract more Weirdness into my vicinity and life. I began to wonder if in accepting, even treasuring, the Weird in my head and sharing my thoughts through writing had resulted in a pseudo-mass of sufficient magnitude that it had begun to pull this kind of Weirdness into my life.
The whole chain of fate(?) began innocently enough over a cup of coffee at a coffee house. Hmmmm, I suppose it would be more accurate to say that this chain of events began as a result of events I had observed and that had set my mind to wondering and my fingers to typing about the conduct of the Abbotsford Police Department (APD) in terms of Orwellian Big Brother-ism and a police state. I emailed this article off to Something Cool News, leading to an exchange of email that led to a phone conversation that resulted in the conversation over coffee.
The conversation began about some of the unacceptable behaviours the APD has been increasingly engaging in with respect to the homeless and this behaviour’s expansion even into negative treatment of youth members of a local church for daring to “encourage” the homeless by giving out sandwiches. As interesting conversations tend to do this conversation ranged outwards into broader discussion of homelessness and the uncaring treatment of the homeless and others in need in Abbotsford.
At some point in this wide-ranging discussion the correspondent spoke of his chance observation earlier in the day in Abbotsford of paper towelling that had been used as toilet paper by someone forced to use the great outdoors as a washroom. We passed on by this conversation point to talk of other improper APD behaviours and City Hall’s love of paying lip service to the epidemic of homelessness and poverty on the streets of Abbotsford while actually doing nothing to address these grave social problems.
We left the coffee house to shoot the video report on the observations of APD behaviour and the thoughts and concerns that the observed APD behaviour raised in my mind. When we had finished the video report the SCN correspondent returned to his observation of the soiled paper towelling and what it said about Abbotsford. Thus it was I found myself following him to the site of the paper towel sighting to help him make a video record and commentary.
I found myself on video putting context and comment into this pile of crappy paper towelling. Pointing out that in Abbotsford washrooms are for “Customer Use Only”; or that there are “No Public Washrooms” in stores; that the keys to the locked washrooms of gas stations are not handed to the homeless; that while at the Clearbrook Library branch the washrooms are not locked, at the downtown MSA Library branch beside Jubilee Park the washrooms are locked and accessible only with a key.
Thus it is that the homeless are forced to either hold it in indefinitely or urinate and defecate outdoors like animals. Perhaps, even less than animals considering that just the day before I had seen a business truck whose business was cleaning up after people’s dogs.
I touched briefly upon what this says about Abbotsford, particularly in light of the (false) pride so many take in all the churches in Abbotsford and how very “Christian” Abbotsford is. This led to reflecting on the question of just how Christian it is that a community with all the wealth and resources of Abbotsford does not find the homeless situation intolerable and take the necessary steps to end homelessness and address poverty in Abbotsford.
When we had finished taping the commentary on the paper towelling and the treatment of the homeless in Abbotsford, I could not resist taking advantage of having a conversational associate to bounce a somewhat heretical train of thought off of.
It occurred to me that despite their claims to be Christians many, if not most, of those who name themselves as Christians behave in a totally Un-Christian manner. They appear totally willing to sacrifice the homeless and the poor in order that they not be required to put forth effort or even worse – money – in simple Christian charity.
Given that blasphemy is defined as: profane or contemptuous speech, writing or action concerning God. Are not all those who label themselves Christian but behave in the most Un-Christian of ways, committing contemptuous actions concerning God? Are not their actions in showing disrespect and contempt for the golden rule, the parable of the Good Samaritan, the admonition to love your fellow man and so forth, profane?
Do they not then Blaspheme?
Does it not follow that rather than being the most Christian of communities, that through their actions these self-labelled “Christians” in fact cause Abbotsford to be the most Blasphemous of Communities?
So there we were in between the two parts of the video commentary on the implications contained within these soiled paper towels, debating whether, in their inactions and uncaring indifference to the homeless the smugly superior Christian community does blaspheme? After a moment for both of us to reflect on that question we concluded: How could it not be blasphemy?
I then found myself holding a digital video camera, zoomed in on a piece of paper hand towel that was full of crap, zooming out and panning over to the SCN correspondent so he could make a comment on the philosophical, ethical and societal implications inherent in the existence of this crappy piece of paper towel.
As we shook hands and parted company I found myself reflecting on just how much and often the Weird enters into my life. This is only to be expected if there is a universal law of Weirdness along the lines of the law of gravity. The Implication being that I can expect increasing amounts of the Weird in my life as the increasing pseudo-mass of the Weird around me attracts more and more Weirdness.
There is no point in worrying about an immutable law of the universe regarding which I can do nothing. Besides it should fill my life with creativity, interesting challenges, and passion and prove to be downright fun.
Will someone please get them a Dictionary
A new notice posted at ARC: Attention Customers, the Parks, Recreation and Culture annual fee increase will take place September 1st 2007.
It is no wonder that with Parks, Recreation and Culture involved Plan A is such a bungled tragedy in progress for the taxpayers of Abbotsford, where the only sure results are that the taxpayers will be saddled with a ruinous burden of debt, the costs will keep rising, and should the City irresponsibly rush headlong into starting the arena construction – they will run out of funds before it is completed.
But then what can you expect from a department where management does not even comprehend a concept as simple as annual – happening once a year.
Or have management already forgotten the fee increases put into effect on July 1 of 2007? Is it that in their focus on squeezing every penny of cash flow possible out of taxpayer’s pockets that what was imposed just two short months ago was a “Plan A surcharge”? Perhaps it is just that city management is so use to misleading the public they “cannot help themselves prevaricating”?
Whatever the pretext, patrons will be forced to pay this second “annual” increase of the year, be left wondering when the next “annual” fee increase will occur or awaiting imposition of another “surcharge” and wistfully yearning for competent management at Parks Recreation and Culture.
A new notice posted at ARC: Attention Customers, the Parks, Recreation and Culture annual fee increase will take place September 1st 2007.
It is no wonder that with Parks, Recreation and Culture involved Plan A is such a bungled tragedy in progress for the taxpayers of Abbotsford, where the only sure results are that the taxpayers will be saddled with a ruinous burden of debt, the costs will keep rising, and should the City irresponsibly rush headlong into starting the arena construction – they will run out of funds before it is completed.
But then what can you expect from a department where management does not even comprehend a concept as simple as annual – happening once a year.
Or have management already forgotten the fee increases put into effect on July 1 of 2007? Is it that in their focus on squeezing every penny of cash flow possible out of taxpayer’s pockets that what was imposed just two short months ago was a “Plan A surcharge”? Perhaps it is just that city management is so use to misleading the public they “cannot help themselves prevaricating”?
Whatever the pretext, patrons will be forced to pay this second “annual” increase of the year, be left wondering when the next “annual” fee increase will occur or awaiting imposition of another “surcharge” and wistfully yearning for competent management at Parks Recreation and Culture.
A Picture is worth a thousand words.
Explaining to people the differences I have with the manner in which Abbotsford City Hall runs and behaves can be time consuming since the list of behaviours and actions that demonstrate City Hall’s mastery of mishandling the city’s business, finances, service delivery, citizen’s interests etc is mind numbingly long and wordy.
So I always keep an eye out for some way to illustrate, in a short and snappy manner, that Abbotsford City Hall sees a completely different reality from that its citizens live in and just how devoid of common sense Abbotsford City Hall is.
When I came across the city sign in the picture I knew I had found that concise piece of evidence. I did wonder if perhaps City Hall’s cognitive difficulties arise from mind altering substances rather than problems with the oxygen levels within city hall.
This sign, posted on a signpost carefully set in a big cement footing in Mill Lake Park, bears irrefutable testimony to the twisted, confused reality Abbotsford City Hall sees and inhabits. The sign’s existence providing the viewer clear evidence of the absence of common sense.
It also leaves the viewer tp ponder the question: Ice? What Ice??
Explaining to people the differences I have with the manner in which Abbotsford City Hall runs and behaves can be time consuming since the list of behaviours and actions that demonstrate City Hall’s mastery of mishandling the city’s business, finances, service delivery, citizen’s interests etc is mind numbingly long and wordy.
So I always keep an eye out for some way to illustrate, in a short and snappy manner, that Abbotsford City Hall sees a completely different reality from that its citizens live in and just how devoid of common sense Abbotsford City Hall is.When I came across the city sign in the picture I knew I had found that concise piece of evidence. I did wonder if perhaps City Hall’s cognitive difficulties arise from mind altering substances rather than problems with the oxygen levels within city hall.
This sign, posted on a signpost carefully set in a big cement footing in Mill Lake Park, bears irrefutable testimony to the twisted, confused reality Abbotsford City Hall sees and inhabits. The sign’s existence providing the viewer clear evidence of the absence of common sense.
It also leaves the viewer tp ponder the question: Ice? What Ice??
Abbotsford’s Stairway to Nowhere.
A Stairway to Nowhere; how fitting as a symbol for Abbotsford.
Over the winter, on the corner of George Ferguson Way and the Mission Highway a mysterious structure has slowly been rising. Once it became obvious that it was a stairway people began to wonder: 1) why build the stairs first? 2) when does the foundation and structure get built and what is it to be?
When the dirt was mounded around the stairway and covered with sod and the fence moved tightly around the stairway it became obvious that what it was in fact a Stairway to Nowhere. The addition of the sign giving this monument the appearance of being the entrance to a housing development made clear its association with Abbotsford.
I find it unbelievably ironic just how appropriate this stairway is as a symbol of Abbotsford.
A fence surrounds it to exclude people, to have them pass by to somewhere more friendly and welcoming. A fence lest those in need of rest and respite should choose to stop and seek refuge rather than moving along.
No foundation, no structure just the empty promise of a stairway going nowhere. One could not describe Abbotsford more succinctly.
No structure of thought or planning to provide leadership to effectively and efficiently govern Abbotsford. No foundation of common sense, compassion and the consideration of citizen’s needs and priorities. Just an endless rise built of empty promises.
A Stairway to Nowhere: one would be hard pressed to better sum up the current state of affairs in Abbotsford. This Stairway to Nowhere is truly Irony personified.
A Stairway to Nowhere; how fitting as a symbol for Abbotsford.Over the winter, on the corner of George Ferguson Way and the Mission Highway a mysterious structure has slowly been rising. Once it became obvious that it was a stairway people began to wonder: 1) why build the stairs first? 2) when does the foundation and structure get built and what is it to be?
When the dirt was mounded around the stairway and covered with sod and the fence moved tightly around the stairway it became obvious that what it was in fact a Stairway to Nowhere. The addition of the sign giving this monument the appearance of being the entrance to a housing development made clear its association with Abbotsford.
I find it unbelievably ironic just how appropriate this stairway is as a symbol of Abbotsford.
A fence surrounds it to exclude people, to have them pass by to somewhere more friendly and welcoming. A fence lest those in need of rest and respite should choose to stop and seek refuge rather than moving along.
No foundation, no structure just the empty promise of a stairway going nowhere. One could not describe Abbotsford more succinctly.
No structure of thought or planning to provide leadership to effectively and efficiently govern Abbotsford. No foundation of common sense, compassion and the consideration of citizen’s needs and priorities. Just an endless rise built of empty promises.
A Stairway to Nowhere: one would be hard pressed to better sum up the current state of affairs in Abbotsford. This Stairway to Nowhere is truly Irony personified.
Treat animals better than people?
Being in a risk taking mood (or should that feeling suicidal?) I thought I would hazard commenting on recent letters on the treatment animals. The recent BCSPCA advertising blitz featuring Sara McLaughlin adds impetus to my need to comment.
Having an intimate acquaintance with the realities of poverty, mental illness and homelessness in our province and our country causes me to wince deeply when ever I see letters, ads or campaigns to protect and shelter animals.
Not because I do not believe in applying ethics to the treatment of animals, but because this highlights a profoundly disturbing and troubling reality of our society. It is far easier to raise money, to get the public and “STARS” to support animal care and rights causes than it is to accomplish these task for the care and ethical treatment of human beings.
What does this say about us as people, a society or a race: that with the use of pictures of cute kittens, injured animals and animals that look profoundly sad you can raise far more funds and support than you can with the picture of a mentally ill person in filthy clothing wandering the streets arguing with the voices only they can hear in their heads?
Abbotsford City Council and city hall plead poverty when the issue of helping the homeless is raised. They have been studying, or is that stalling, for over two years while the problem worsens as they sit around talking instead of acting. Yet they quickly decided on and found thousands of dollars for a local animal shelter – while people live without shelter on the city streets.
To those animal lovers who are feeling a little upset at this point I say consider the words of Mr. George F. Evans: “Except for perceived compassionate people …who speak out, many if not most, take an apathetic role; This plays right into the hands of indifferent …”.
When was the last time you spoke out about the treatment of PEOPLE in need of help, shelter and healing? Or do you just sit apathetically by, thereby playing into the hands of the indifferent and permitting them to ignore and do nothing.
Why should this matter to those who pursue animal’s rights and ethical treatment? What is the connection between these two issues?
How can you expect a society to behave ethically towards animals when it does not treat human beings ethically? When you have permitted society to have created a class of disposable human beings; when you permit society to allow this class of disposable humans to continue to exist and grow; how could you possibly expect society not to treat animals in exactly the same disposable manner?
Open your eyes look around and see how unethically people are treated. Why would you expect animals to be treated differently?
In fact with some treating animals far better than they treat fellow humans; with others apparently more concerned about food, shelter and medical treatment for stray animals; with some fighting, advertising, advocating or writing letters for the ethical treatment of animals while sitting by with indifference and apathy to the reprehensible, unethical treatment of people – are they not contributing not only to the mistreatment of their fellow man but to society’s attitudes to and lack of ethics in dealing with animals?
I am not calling for advocates to stop working for the ethical treatment of animals or to not work to provide homes and healing for homeless animals. I am not demanding that stars such as Sara McLaughlin do not support the BCSPCA.
What I would ask is to think about the homeless – the mentally ill, the addicted, the poor – research/ think about these issues and when the opportunity presents its self, help bring about changes in attitude of the public and government so that we can begin to put in place the resources and programs needed to end homelessness. This applies to “stars” as both the person (Sara) and “(Sara) the Star”.
I am saying that these advocates and their supporters cannot sit around apparently indifferent, apathetic and condoning society’s current treatment of homeless people and those in need of help but must help bring about changes in attitude of the public and government so that we can begin to put in place the resources and programs needed to end homelessness
Because until we begin to treat our fellow man ethically, there is no hope we will treat animals ethically either.
Being in a risk taking mood (or should that feeling suicidal?) I thought I would hazard commenting on recent letters on the treatment animals. The recent BCSPCA advertising blitz featuring Sara McLaughlin adds impetus to my need to comment.
Having an intimate acquaintance with the realities of poverty, mental illness and homelessness in our province and our country causes me to wince deeply when ever I see letters, ads or campaigns to protect and shelter animals.
Not because I do not believe in applying ethics to the treatment of animals, but because this highlights a profoundly disturbing and troubling reality of our society. It is far easier to raise money, to get the public and “STARS” to support animal care and rights causes than it is to accomplish these task for the care and ethical treatment of human beings.
What does this say about us as people, a society or a race: that with the use of pictures of cute kittens, injured animals and animals that look profoundly sad you can raise far more funds and support than you can with the picture of a mentally ill person in filthy clothing wandering the streets arguing with the voices only they can hear in their heads?
Abbotsford City Council and city hall plead poverty when the issue of helping the homeless is raised. They have been studying, or is that stalling, for over two years while the problem worsens as they sit around talking instead of acting. Yet they quickly decided on and found thousands of dollars for a local animal shelter – while people live without shelter on the city streets.
To those animal lovers who are feeling a little upset at this point I say consider the words of Mr. George F. Evans: “Except for perceived compassionate people …who speak out, many if not most, take an apathetic role; This plays right into the hands of indifferent …”.
When was the last time you spoke out about the treatment of PEOPLE in need of help, shelter and healing? Or do you just sit apathetically by, thereby playing into the hands of the indifferent and permitting them to ignore and do nothing.
Why should this matter to those who pursue animal’s rights and ethical treatment? What is the connection between these two issues?
How can you expect a society to behave ethically towards animals when it does not treat human beings ethically? When you have permitted society to have created a class of disposable human beings; when you permit society to allow this class of disposable humans to continue to exist and grow; how could you possibly expect society not to treat animals in exactly the same disposable manner?
Open your eyes look around and see how unethically people are treated. Why would you expect animals to be treated differently?
In fact with some treating animals far better than they treat fellow humans; with others apparently more concerned about food, shelter and medical treatment for stray animals; with some fighting, advertising, advocating or writing letters for the ethical treatment of animals while sitting by with indifference and apathy to the reprehensible, unethical treatment of people – are they not contributing not only to the mistreatment of their fellow man but to society’s attitudes to and lack of ethics in dealing with animals?
I am not calling for advocates to stop working for the ethical treatment of animals or to not work to provide homes and healing for homeless animals. I am not demanding that stars such as Sara McLaughlin do not support the BCSPCA.
What I would ask is to think about the homeless – the mentally ill, the addicted, the poor – research/ think about these issues and when the opportunity presents its self, help bring about changes in attitude of the public and government so that we can begin to put in place the resources and programs needed to end homelessness. This applies to “stars” as both the person (Sara) and “(Sara) the Star”.
I am saying that these advocates and their supporters cannot sit around apparently indifferent, apathetic and condoning society’s current treatment of homeless people and those in need of help but must help bring about changes in attitude of the public and government so that we can begin to put in place the resources and programs needed to end homelessness
Because until we begin to treat our fellow man ethically, there is no hope we will treat animals ethically either.
Hmmmmm? Does her family flee when they see her coming?
This is the flipside of "I had not known Hunger took Holidays" which has been appended to the end of this piece. Ironically this was written almost exactly one week before Hunger took Holidays; the two pieces forming bookends, truely Ying and Yang. I have also appended the Invitation I sent out to some newspeople I know inviting them to the holiday Monday (emergency) lunch.
Last year it was her mother, this year it was her brother and sister-in-law. Which is what has me wondering if her family is tempted to flee at the first sight of her blonde head approaching?
I feel I must protect her identity lest people take to fleeing at her approach since, with her short legs, catching them could be problematic.
The need to press-gang family into service arises at this time every year as the Seventh Day Adventists of the Open Door congregation gather out of town for a several weeks long church camp. This church retreat gives rise to the need to find someone to make and serve the bagged lunches the Open Door serves the homeless 40 Sundays a year.
I had someone who labelled themselves a christian tell me that as Adventists the were not really christians. All I can say to that is that the poor, the hungry, the homeless and those in need in Abbotsford would benefit from a lot more congregations who “are not really christian” but who live the golden rule, practice Christrianity and live their faith.
To her brother, sister-in-law and her “sister” thank you for not running, thank you for the lunch and thank you for the pleasure of your company. To her mother, thank you for the fine job you did with this daughter and son.
I don’t suppose you would consider writing a book on parenting? The world could use many more loving daughters and sons, practicing their faith.
I had not known Hunger took Holidays.
Evidently in Abbotsford hunger takes the last summer long weekend off. What else explains the “meal gap” from lunch Saturday August 4th through lunch Tuesday August 7th, a gap of 72 long hungry hours - if hunger was not taking a Holiday that is?
Usually lunch is available Sundays and Mondays, but with hunger on Holiday the fellowship of the organizations that had taken responsibility for serving lunch on those days joined hunger on Holiday.
Imagine my surprise at finding Hunger on Holiday, as my personal experience with homelessness was that hunger was a pretty constant companion, a gnawing worry.
A simple phone call was all that was needed to set in motion the provision of lunch on Monday, that and a willingness to ask some people to volunteer some time to set up and serve lunch.
Which is what made Hunger Sunday so frustrating – another simple call and Sunday 41 for the year could have been covered with those simple, but hunger appeasing bagged lunches.
I suppose that if the sacrifice to serve lunch on this holiday weekend was to much, I should not expect the effort to give warning so those who understand the meaning of commitment could step in and serve lunch.
Hunger, need, suffering and our host of other social ills take no Holidays.
That is not to say that those who give to their community and the less fortunate in that community do not deserve holidays. It is just that being responsible adults requires making provision for those depending on us for sustenance to be served and not left hanging – and hungry.
This is the flipside of "I had not known Hunger took Holidays" which has been appended to the end of this piece. Ironically this was written almost exactly one week before Hunger took Holidays; the two pieces forming bookends, truely Ying and Yang. I have also appended the Invitation I sent out to some newspeople I know inviting them to the holiday Monday (emergency) lunch.
Last year it was her mother, this year it was her brother and sister-in-law. Which is what has me wondering if her family is tempted to flee at the first sight of her blonde head approaching?
I feel I must protect her identity lest people take to fleeing at her approach since, with her short legs, catching them could be problematic.
The need to press-gang family into service arises at this time every year as the Seventh Day Adventists of the Open Door congregation gather out of town for a several weeks long church camp. This church retreat gives rise to the need to find someone to make and serve the bagged lunches the Open Door serves the homeless 40 Sundays a year.
I had someone who labelled themselves a christian tell me that as Adventists the were not really christians. All I can say to that is that the poor, the hungry, the homeless and those in need in Abbotsford would benefit from a lot more congregations who “are not really christian” but who live the golden rule, practice Christrianity and live their faith.
To her brother, sister-in-law and her “sister” thank you for not running, thank you for the lunch and thank you for the pleasure of your company. To her mother, thank you for the fine job you did with this daughter and son.
I don’t suppose you would consider writing a book on parenting? The world could use many more loving daughters and sons, practicing their faith.
I had not known Hunger took Holidays.
Evidently in Abbotsford hunger takes the last summer long weekend off. What else explains the “meal gap” from lunch Saturday August 4th through lunch Tuesday August 7th, a gap of 72 long hungry hours - if hunger was not taking a Holiday that is?
Usually lunch is available Sundays and Mondays, but with hunger on Holiday the fellowship of the organizations that had taken responsibility for serving lunch on those days joined hunger on Holiday.Imagine my surprise at finding Hunger on Holiday, as my personal experience with homelessness was that hunger was a pretty constant companion, a gnawing worry.
A simple phone call was all that was needed to set in motion the provision of lunch on Monday, that and a willingness to ask some people to volunteer some time to set up and serve lunch.
Which is what made Hunger Sunday so frustrating – another simple call and Sunday 41 for the year could have been covered with those simple, but hunger appeasing bagged lunches.
I suppose that if the sacrifice to serve lunch on this holiday weekend was to much, I should not expect the effort to give warning so those who understand the meaning of commitment could step in and serve lunch.
Hunger, need, suffering and our host of other social ills take no Holidays.
That is not to say that those who give to their community and the less fortunate in that community do not deserve holidays. It is just that being responsible adults requires making provision for those depending on us for sustenance to be served and not left hanging – and hungry.
Is a simple coffee simply coffee?
A short time ago a forwarded email came to me asking if I knew anyone in need of help. There was a church group who wanted to help some of their fellow Abbotsfordians in getting on their feet and moving forward with their lives. Towards that end they had requested suggestions for people they could help. The person they made the request of forwarded it on, it was forwarded on and so on until it landed in my email box.
It was heartening to hear of people interested in making a difference, who had gotten together to take positive action on their own initiative without waiting around for instructions. What I particularly liked about their approach is they wanted it to be hands on, not looking strictly to give money or some other material object, although such actions were a possibility. They were looking to be involved with the people they would be helping on a continuing basis over the year.
One of the realities I have observed is that continuing support is needed to help achieve a successful outcome in changing lives. Your time, concern and a willingness to listen and just talk are in many ways far more important a contribution than merely material items be they money, furniture, food etc.
We often forget that Man is a social animal. For years due to mental illness and other issues I was a loner, able to go for days (weeks or months at my lowest point) without seeing or interacting with people. One of my concerns as my recovery progressed was slipping back into that isolation. It turned out one of my counsellors was correct; I had reached a point in my recovery where I could not comfortably go back to being a loner.
I am still sometimes surprised by my need these days for social interaction, make that healthy social interaction. What with car troubles and other looming changes life has been a little stressful lately. A good friend called and we did coffee, finishing just minutes ago.
Some of the conversation was about the car and forthcoming changes, but most was about other interesting things going on in Abbotsford and our lives. Being able to sit down and write this comment on the “help needed” email and the thoughts it raised in my mind, is a reflection of what a calming, centering effect a simple coffee and conversation can have.
I also really liked the education possibilities. The church group would get the opportunity to know the people involved and see past the stereotypes; get to observe the many barriers that have come to exist in our society and its structure for those trying to get on with their lives after some problem or trauma had knocked them down; they would also see what difference even simple actions like sharing a coffee can have.
For those who would be on the receiving end of the help there would be the opportunity to change mental thought patterns. It is amazing just how negative an effect on your thought processes, patterns and outlook the beating your mind, your Self, takes in being homeless, addicted, poor or just on a unlucky streak has. An important aspect of your recovery turns out to be to change your way of thinking, of perceiving.
It is an idea with plenty of potential on both sides of the equation, the catch?
Even off the tops of people’s heads and on short notice the list of those in need in our community was overwhelming, far outstripping what this group could do. The request revealed a breadth and depth of need that is daunting and a little frightening.
It is perhaps a little damning that we as a community have failed to see this need and have allowed it to become so deep and wide spread. As a positive balance to this, those forwarding the request are working on finding ways to address the rest of the listed needs.
In that lies what is truly needed for our City, Canadian society, to begin to successfully address the social ills and problems we face: the involvement of the people of the community in helping other members of the community. Sitting around, waiting for someone to tell you what to do, fancy planning or plans will not do it.
The beginning of the end of social ills lies with people simply getting out, getting together and taking actions to address what is needed.
A short time ago a forwarded email came to me asking if I knew anyone in need of help. There was a church group who wanted to help some of their fellow Abbotsfordians in getting on their feet and moving forward with their lives. Towards that end they had requested suggestions for people they could help. The person they made the request of forwarded it on, it was forwarded on and so on until it landed in my email box.
It was heartening to hear of people interested in making a difference, who had gotten together to take positive action on their own initiative without waiting around for instructions. What I particularly liked about their approach is they wanted it to be hands on, not looking strictly to give money or some other material object, although such actions were a possibility. They were looking to be involved with the people they would be helping on a continuing basis over the year.
One of the realities I have observed is that continuing support is needed to help achieve a successful outcome in changing lives. Your time, concern and a willingness to listen and just talk are in many ways far more important a contribution than merely material items be they money, furniture, food etc.
We often forget that Man is a social animal. For years due to mental illness and other issues I was a loner, able to go for days (weeks or months at my lowest point) without seeing or interacting with people. One of my concerns as my recovery progressed was slipping back into that isolation. It turned out one of my counsellors was correct; I had reached a point in my recovery where I could not comfortably go back to being a loner.
I am still sometimes surprised by my need these days for social interaction, make that healthy social interaction. What with car troubles and other looming changes life has been a little stressful lately. A good friend called and we did coffee, finishing just minutes ago.
Some of the conversation was about the car and forthcoming changes, but most was about other interesting things going on in Abbotsford and our lives. Being able to sit down and write this comment on the “help needed” email and the thoughts it raised in my mind, is a reflection of what a calming, centering effect a simple coffee and conversation can have.
I also really liked the education possibilities. The church group would get the opportunity to know the people involved and see past the stereotypes; get to observe the many barriers that have come to exist in our society and its structure for those trying to get on with their lives after some problem or trauma had knocked them down; they would also see what difference even simple actions like sharing a coffee can have.
For those who would be on the receiving end of the help there would be the opportunity to change mental thought patterns. It is amazing just how negative an effect on your thought processes, patterns and outlook the beating your mind, your Self, takes in being homeless, addicted, poor or just on a unlucky streak has. An important aspect of your recovery turns out to be to change your way of thinking, of perceiving.
It is an idea with plenty of potential on both sides of the equation, the catch?
Even off the tops of people’s heads and on short notice the list of those in need in our community was overwhelming, far outstripping what this group could do. The request revealed a breadth and depth of need that is daunting and a little frightening.
It is perhaps a little damning that we as a community have failed to see this need and have allowed it to become so deep and wide spread. As a positive balance to this, those forwarding the request are working on finding ways to address the rest of the listed needs.
In that lies what is truly needed for our City, Canadian society, to begin to successfully address the social ills and problems we face: the involvement of the people of the community in helping other members of the community. Sitting around, waiting for someone to tell you what to do, fancy planning or plans will not do it.
The beginning of the end of social ills lies with people simply getting out, getting together and taking actions to address what is needed.
denouement
It was not unexpected for me in the course of this week to today, Friday August 10, 2007, be given a letter from the Salvation Army serving notice to move from residence at the Salvation Army.
My biggest worry about moving on is that at my car is not running well. So if you know someone would could donate their time to get my VW running at least semi-well and passing Air Care or has a station wagon or van (I am not a small person) for sale cheap .... send me an email at homelessinabbotsford@hotmail.com.
Better yet if you know someone who has a place to rent out at a low rental price OR someone who has an employment need for a literate, computer friendly ex-accountant with a passion for bringing about social change. Send them my way or my email address.
It was not unexpected for me in the course of this week to today, Friday August 10, 2007, be given a letter from the Salvation Army serving notice to move from residence at the Salvation Army.
My biggest worry about moving on is that at my car is not running well. So if you know someone would could donate their time to get my VW running at least semi-well and passing Air Care or has a station wagon or van (I am not a small person) for sale cheap .... send me an email at homelessinabbotsford@hotmail.com.
Better yet if you know someone who has a place to rent out at a low rental price OR someone who has an employment need for a literate, computer friendly ex-accountant with a passion for bringing about social change. Send them my way or my email address.
I had not known Hunger took Holidays.
Evidently in Abbotsford hunger takes the last summer long weekend off. What else explains the “meal gap” from lunch Saturday August 4th through lunch Tuesday August 7th, a gap of 72 long hungry hours - if hunger was not taking a Holiday that is?
Usually lunch is available Sundays and Mondays, but with hunger on Holiday the fellowship of the organizations that had taken responsibility for serving lunch on those days joined hunger on Holiday.
Imagine my surprise at finding Hunger on Holiday, as my personal experience with homelessness was that hunger was a pretty constant companion, a gnawing worry.
A simple phone call was all that was needed to set in motion the provision of lunch on Monday, that and a willingness to ask some people to volunteer some time to set up and serve lunch.
Which is what made Hunger Sunday so frustrating – another simple call and Sunday 41 for the year could have been covered with those simple, but hunger appeasing bagged lunches.
I suppose that if the sacrifice to serve lunch on this holiday weekend was to much, I should not expect the effort to give warning so those who understand the meaning of commitment could step in and serve lunch.
Hunger, need, suffering and our host of other social ills take no Holidays.
That is not to say that those who give to their community and the less fortunate in that community do not deserve holidays. It is just that being responsible adults requires making provision for those depending on us for sustenance to be served and not left hanging – and hungry.
Evidently in Abbotsford hunger takes the last summer long weekend off. What else explains the “meal gap” from lunch Saturday August 4th through lunch Tuesday August 7th, a gap of 72 long hungry hours - if hunger was not taking a Holiday that is?
Usually lunch is available Sundays and Mondays, but with hunger on Holiday the fellowship of the organizations that had taken responsibility for serving lunch on those days joined hunger on Holiday.Imagine my surprise at finding Hunger on Holiday, as my personal experience with homelessness was that hunger was a pretty constant companion, a gnawing worry.
A simple phone call was all that was needed to set in motion the provision of lunch on Monday, that and a willingness to ask some people to volunteer some time to set up and serve lunch.
Which is what made Hunger Sunday so frustrating – another simple call and Sunday 41 for the year could have been covered with those simple, but hunger appeasing bagged lunches.
I suppose that if the sacrifice to serve lunch on this holiday weekend was to much, I should not expect the effort to give warning so those who understand the meaning of commitment could step in and serve lunch.
Hunger, need, suffering and our host of other social ills take no Holidays.
That is not to say that those who give to their community and the less fortunate in that community do not deserve holidays. It is just that being responsible adults requires making provision for those depending on us for sustenance to be served and not left hanging – and hungry.
Why?
Why is the City of Abbotsford dragging its heels over giving support to an initiative to help some of the homeless through a card program modelled on Mission’s successful Red/Gold card programs?
Is it not disgraceful enough that once again an initiative to supply basic humanitarian aid in meeting fraction of the life sustaining needs of the homeless and poor in Abbotsford has to be carried forward by so very few caring citizens?
Through the hard work and inspiration of the few involved with gathering the support and resources to launch even this limited, but so badly needed program, a hundred meals a month will be added to the battle against hunger in our city. The program will also provides some other acutely needed items, but will not at this time be able to provide showers.
A proposal, a request, that the city support this program by providing a hundred showers a month has apparently fallen on deaf ears. Not only has the city failed to grant this request, they have failed to grant the courtesy of a reply on the matter to the hard working citizens who are seeking to contribute to the spirit and well being of Abbotsford.
With two recreation centres in the city it would cost the city… nothing but the political will to act in providing showers to the homeless.
A simple, effective action and yet the city does nothing.
Why?
Why is the City of Abbotsford dragging its heels over giving support to an initiative to help some of the homeless through a card program modelled on Mission’s successful Red/Gold card programs?
Is it not disgraceful enough that once again an initiative to supply basic humanitarian aid in meeting fraction of the life sustaining needs of the homeless and poor in Abbotsford has to be carried forward by so very few caring citizens?
Through the hard work and inspiration of the few involved with gathering the support and resources to launch even this limited, but so badly needed program, a hundred meals a month will be added to the battle against hunger in our city. The program will also provides some other acutely needed items, but will not at this time be able to provide showers.
A proposal, a request, that the city support this program by providing a hundred showers a month has apparently fallen on deaf ears. Not only has the city failed to grant this request, they have failed to grant the courtesy of a reply on the matter to the hard working citizens who are seeking to contribute to the spirit and well being of Abbotsford.
With two recreation centres in the city it would cost the city… nothing but the political will to act in providing showers to the homeless.
A simple, effective action and yet the city does nothing.
Why?
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