Pain at the Door
Which is the victim? The homeless, or those of us who have a home? Homelessness is wrong, as we all agree, but it is not wrong-doing. The homeless hurt none but themselves. What I find wrong is suffering from the suffering of others, accusing others of causing one's suffering.
Am I callous because it is my firm opinion that nothing can be done about homelessness? There's no final solution to homelessness, nor should there be. You may feel relieved to know it is nobody's fault. That shouldn't be a problem, not, that is, unless laying blame is the object.
Blame, as such (fault), is but a symptom of the complaint. The problem is that blame leads to recriminations, which means, in simple terms, punishment. Those who are not homeless fear being blamed for it, and, as a consequence, being punished for a social ill that they did not cause, and about which they can do nothing.
Do you know the feeling? It is a vague feeling of guilt, carried-over from experience of injustice, resentment that fixates on the straw man of homelessness. It is a valid fear arising from a feeling of helplessness, of the inability to “do something,” and, yet, to be blamed for it. Somebody must be to blame for homelessness, so the thinking goes, and (this is important) someone should be punished for it.
The homeless make me feel guilty. I reproach them for causing me mental cruelty. The difference is, I also argue both sides. I argue the opposite with vehemence. I say do nothing. Above all, do no harm. Suffer the homeless. This opinion I attribute to my understanding of Ahimsa, Hindu for non-violence. I agree with Mahatma.
And, it puts me in mind of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which says, "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” If you are capable of empathy, you must admit homelessness fits the bill for "cruel and unusual."
Homelessness is just too cruel, intolerably cruel, to be so common a sight. Homelessness is the absolute zero of cold, remorseless, cruelty. What misdeed could possibly justify such an inhumane sentence as being made homeless? It is more suffering than anyone can endure.