by LUCIA

Created on: May 20, 2008

COMPASSION IS THE FIRST STEP

Have you ever wondered about the tragic circumstances that lead to homelessness?

Homeless people weren't always homeless. They had a family, a job, friends, and maybe even a healthy financial life. But life is about change, an unexpected events as well.

A lay-off, an incapacitating disability, a diagnoses of an acute mental illness, a divorce, or the death of a loved one, can change our lives forever. Who asks for invite these types of events into our life? No one.

That homeless person on the corner of the store, or wrecked house on your neighborhood-might have had it all, and then, lost it all.

OUR SOCIETY: THE EFFECT OF POWER, CORRUPTION, APATHY

Our society, is one driven by competitiveness, ambition, and superiority. It constantly fights for power, and whoever has it, constantly plots on ways to maintain it. Power is not necessary bad by itself; but power in the wrong hands can cause a lot of harm.

For one, it can instigate all types of negative assumptions and judgmental attitudes. A homeless person might be seen as someone who wasn't competitive enough, or ambitious enough. Someone who is now unworthy of being seen or respected.

THE INVISIBLE?

The homeless are the invisible ones, not because they refuse to be seen, but because society has refused to address their dilemma, the events that led to their helplessness and misery. Even now, people are losing their jobs, their houses, everything they worked so hard to attain. They too are losing their dreams; their stability and emotional wellness.

No one plans to become homeless, but the apathy with which homelessness and poverty are regarded with, doesn't leave much remedial hope for anyone in these conditions. Compassion is a heart-felt emotion, but empathy is deeper. It is about making the distinct connection, that we all connected; that one's pain is also our pain. We need see that the current situation of homeless individuals, might be the condition in which we will find ourselves in the near future.

So treating them with compassion is good, but not good enough. Compassion is not going to effectuate enough changes, change enough hearts-or enlighten consciences. Realizing that there is a problem, one that we may possibly find ourselves in the near future, should mobilize us to fight against apathy, aggression, and corruptness today. Today while we still have a chance.

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