Interestingly, the Republican Party politicians are now expressing incredible concern about the effect our massive debt will have on our children. I share their concern.
However, I have just enough memory to remember that these same budget-balancing leaders had far less concern when Bush was invading Iraq and driving the debt to unheard-of levels.
Finally, I find it amazing that they don't even feel self-conscious when, acting on behalf of our kids and grandkids, they cut education funding.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Denver and the homeless - one on one
Denver, like many cities, has a newspaper sold by the homeless. Ours publishes monthly. By selling the paper, homeless folks can make a sort of living while trying to recover. Working downtown, I see the vendors daily.
While not by choice, I’m pretty much a big city boy. I’m tough, calloused, and unresponsive. At least I was until I saw a woman doing this. Being a female paper vendor didn’t move me. I’ve seen that many times. However, she was stooped (osteoporosis?), had very poor vision, and had a service dog.
I wisely knew it was a service dog because it wore a vest that said “Service Dog”. It also had a muzzle, although it didn’t look very fierce (neither dog nor muzzle).
The dog moved me. So, I pulled out a dollar and bought a paper. The dog eyed me somewhat cautiously. I’m not sure how much of me the woman saw.
By today’s newspaper standards, it was a good newspaper. By that, I mean it wasn’t telling me old stories and had several interesting reports. The only issue with the issue was its publishing frequency. I could only rationally buy a paper monthly.
Fortunately, it was almost the end of the month so I could buy another soon. I did. I’m not sure the woman recognized me but the dog did. And, sensing his keeper’s joy (in selling a paper), the dog seemed happy.
I decided that, regardless of publishing frequency, I would buy from her every time I see her. So, I’ve bought four or five March papers.
I suspect the woman recognizes me now. She speaks to me, in a kind voice and uses proper grammar. She demonstrates amazing coherence as little is required for the position. The dog began sniffing me. Today the dog licked my hand. I had to rush to get away to keep from crying.
I’ve started paying more attention to the homeless. Certainly there are those who have serious problems that probably led to their homelessness. Thirty years they would have been in institutions and we would have taken care of them. Now we don’t. That’s so sad.
Maybe even sadder are the folks who, 30 years ago, would have had jobs, places to live, and hope. She’s one of those folks. I see so many of them in downtown Denver.
Where have we gone and what have we become as a nation?
If you're at Glenarm and 16th in the morning, buy a paper.
While not by choice, I’m pretty much a big city boy. I’m tough, calloused, and unresponsive. At least I was until I saw a woman doing this. Being a female paper vendor didn’t move me. I’ve seen that many times. However, she was stooped (osteoporosis?), had very poor vision, and had a service dog.
I wisely knew it was a service dog because it wore a vest that said “Service Dog”. It also had a muzzle, although it didn’t look very fierce (neither dog nor muzzle).
The dog moved me. So, I pulled out a dollar and bought a paper. The dog eyed me somewhat cautiously. I’m not sure how much of me the woman saw.
By today’s newspaper standards, it was a good newspaper. By that, I mean it wasn’t telling me old stories and had several interesting reports. The only issue with the issue was its publishing frequency. I could only rationally buy a paper monthly.
Fortunately, it was almost the end of the month so I could buy another soon. I did. I’m not sure the woman recognized me but the dog did. And, sensing his keeper’s joy (in selling a paper), the dog seemed happy.
I decided that, regardless of publishing frequency, I would buy from her every time I see her. So, I’ve bought four or five March papers.
I suspect the woman recognizes me now. She speaks to me, in a kind voice and uses proper grammar. She demonstrates amazing coherence as little is required for the position. The dog began sniffing me. Today the dog licked my hand. I had to rush to get away to keep from crying.
I’ve started paying more attention to the homeless. Certainly there are those who have serious problems that probably led to their homelessness. Thirty years they would have been in institutions and we would have taken care of them. Now we don’t. That’s so sad.
Maybe even sadder are the folks who, 30 years ago, would have had jobs, places to live, and hope. She’s one of those folks. I see so many of them in downtown Denver.
Where have we gone and what have we become as a nation?
If you're at Glenarm and 16th in the morning, buy a paper.
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