By Jason M. Schlierman Santa Monica
I am a former resident of Santa Monica and I still work in Santa Monica. After reading all the comments on homeless that I have seen in your paper, I felt that I had to say my thoughts on the matter. To be honest I am a little tired of all the lack of human concern that I have read from my fellow readers. The Santa Monicans who turn a blind eye to the issue of homelessness need to reexamine the problem.
First off, it must be understood that this is not just on the shoulders of Santa Monicans, this is a national issue that every man woman and child who calls himself or herself American needs to deal with. I used to live in Santa Monica for 10 years and have seen just about every corner of the city. I’ve been to and seen a lot of the hangout spots for the homeless population such as the Promenade, Memorial Park and the pier. I’ve talked with many of them over the years and have had many interesting moments. I’ve seen drunken bums who want cigarette money; I’ve met good people who have just given up on normal society, folks who are just not with us mentally anymore, and people that we as a community have given up on. I’ve met nice homeless, homeless who have threatened my life, and homeless who just need a friendly ear to listen to them.
With all my years dealing with this issue firsthand, I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts here. As I understand it, years ago Santa Monica welcomed the nation’s homeless with open arms in hopes of helping them out. It was a great idea, but it is unrealistic for a single city to take on the entire nation’s homeless. You can not label every homeless on the streets 100 percent, but for the most part there are a few distinct groups. There are of course the mentally crazy. The people who need help but have been cast aside. Yes, they can be violent a lot of times, but it’s not totally their fault. They need help in a mental institution, but lack of government funds has put them on the streets. Then there are the veterans. Yes, the same ones who gave their lives so we could have it so nice. And I don’t mean gave up as in dead, I mean gave up as in before they went off to war they had lives worth living, and since they have come back have found their once happy lives ruined. Many say that it is the ultimate disrespect to burn the flag. I say it’s more of a disrespect to kick these brave folks that gave up all for us. Then there are folks who have lost their way in life, more times than not thanks to drugs or drinking, and again, they need a hand from their fellow man. Then there are the people who are just plain lazy, but the main difference between them and some lazy rich kid who is living off of mommy and daddy is chance. I mean, the roles could easily be reversed there. And lastly, the people who have just been dealt a bad hand by life. Yes, within all these groups there are mean people and nice people, people who would give you the world if they could and people that would stab you in the back if they ever got the chance. But that is the point of this — they are people like you and me. The biggest difference between the homeless and non-homeless is the hand a fate that life has given us. Some will never give up being homeless, that is a fact of life. But the So what do we do about it? Well, as I said, Santa Monica, or any city, can not do this alone.Also, it’s not fair to expect the government to do it all, nor is it realistic. Bottom line: Us private citizens will have to do this ourselves. If ever the golden rule applied, it’s here. Those with money and power especially will have to step it up. Look to the examples of men like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. They are giving money to people in need outside of this country, but we have plenty of problems right here at home. But you don’t have to have money to make a difference. Just a change in attitude will be a start. Instead of flip-ping the finger at the homeless guy you pass by, wish him a good day. Not always easy, I’ve done it, but the change in your own mind frame will go a long way. We in the Santa Monica area can’t do it alone, of course. But with all the tourists that come here and all the folks moved here from different states, we need to get the word out to them. Until every community in this country stands up and decides that they will do something, it will never get better. Stop waiting for Uncle Sam to deal with it and do it yourself.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 20, 2006. Read the original PDF.