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Modern social structures don't really have a solution to homelessness. Ultimately all the programs to help get people off the streets rely on our ability to befriend those who haven't been able to cope with the world.  Mental illness, addiction, even thievery (in most cases) are rooted in the instituitionalized practice and conditioning of social isolation into every aspect of our lives.

We've relegated the work of homeless outreach to "social workers" , as if common people have nothing to offer one another.  This is our social dysfunction, and I've grown weary of the heartless, cavalier attitudes of the privileged.

I'm not saying everyone has to take in a homeless person, but I am suggesting that we need to honestly observe how we perpetuate the social isolation in our daily lives, how we label the unfortunate as "worthless", and blatantly discriminate against poverty and the poor in our midst.

Work toward changing your priorities to reveal the ways you could offer compassionate action and rebuild human dignity into every day's work and deeds.

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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Wow. Tom Ford - All you cynics, telling others "what to do" isn't working so well.

There is a culture in portland of people intervening to stop crime,(on MAX, etc) that has modified the social contract about what is appropriate intervention. I liked the bike portland guys response that it's important to be humble when you decide to call someone out. be aware that it may be none of your business, but that you can observe and have perspective. At the same time, I often respond to screaming children who typically just need to be reminded that they are embarrassing themselves in public. Didn't some stranger remind you of the "rules" when you were being obnoxious to your parents? Those moments stuck with me longer than my parents reprimands.

What ever happened to asking politely for a behavior change? The neighbor instead of chasing the dog owner down with a bag of poop, could have just asked for the owner to return to clean it up. Or he could have offered an empty bag to the woman for her to do it herself seeing that she didn't have one. Taking each infraction as a personal assault, is the escalation. It's ok to offer help and perspective. Maybe the old [ghast!] asking nicely will encourage a more generous spirit toward one another and engender community and social evolution.

posted 4 years, 10 months ago
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For most of my adult life, huge landslides within the primary and general elections had definitely eroded my faith in the democratic process. I do feel like the primary season being so close is changing the way people feel they can be a meaningful part of the democratic process. (also our own mayoral race also having a "history in the making" choice) With every state being potentially the deciding factor, each locale is gearing up for the fight!

posted 5 years ago
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I work out in Washington County where the county government is already preparing for a hit to their budget in the next few years, thereby not investing in affordable housing and other services for the poor most hit by economic hardship these days. A retorical question at best: Why is it that when things go down, the collective "we" is not prepared?

posted 5 years ago
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I work with a community organization hosting an inter-religious faith forum on violence, including school violence next wednesday 4/23 at Providence St. Vincents Hospital. www.ianofwashingtoncounty.org

Locally I hope that we look at ways we can discover and take an active role in preventing the social conditions that predicate violence against each other.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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I raced to work to be able to join this disussion!
Raised in Seattle, I've been a Mariners fan since I won tickets in a potato sack race at age 5. My family goes to about 20 games every year. I love choosing a player each year to be my "baseball boyfriend". I am not one of those stats people, but do enjoy the long standing rivalries between teams and players. I could be excited to have a Portland MLB team, but I am loyal to Seattle. I haven't been able to muster the strength to go to a Beavers game yet, but i've been excited about making time to go and perhaps see OSU spring training will inspire me to go more locally. I think UofO developing a new team is a great idea. More baseball is always good!
On another note: Keep congress out of MLB.

cheers,

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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