Another American Tragedy by ctfchallenge

ctfchallenge | all galleries >> CTF Challenge 173 - Concrete >> C173 - Exhibition > Another American Tragedy


10-MAY-2008	Mary Anne

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ctfchallenge		29-Nov-2008 22:12
Very powerful image Mary Anne. I hesitate to comment on what was said below because I tend to get too emotional about such things. I guess I will say I think neither being sad or bitter about the homeless and their situation is going to feel good. At least being sad puts you in a place where you can try to help. ~Brent

ctfchallenge		27-Nov-2008 03:05
Well, I figured that the discussion would run its course, as homelessness is too complex an issue to be resolved here. I find scenes like this sad and disturbing and don't generally shoot them, as it feels too intrusive. However, this man's identity was completely hidden and other elements fell together so well (color, compositional elements, and the people in the background) that I couldn't resist taking just one shot. --Mary Anne

Rod		25-Nov-2008 07:19
Poor ole Mary Anne, I think she is in shock:-) Anyhow it was all Lydias fault Mary Anne:-)

ctfchallenge		24-Nov-2008 19:44
Unemployment payments are different from Welfare and Wica and whatever else is paid out. I do know that they get more if they have more dependants. I don't think Jesus would ask you to walk to the River Jordan if you had no legs. He'd figure out some other way to give you a miracle, Rod. Poor Mary Anne... I won't mess up your fine image anymore with our banter. grin ~Lydia

Rod		24-Nov-2008 07:14
Gawd you have had some bad experiences with the ones you have tried to help. I never realised the US had such a welfare state as the one you describe Lydia. We were under the impression there was no ongoing welfare payments in the US like there is in Europe & down here. From my ever decreasing memory from when we lived in Canada in the early 1970s we were told that in the US you had to work for at least three months in every year to qualify for unemployment benefits otherwise the funding is cut off. From your post it seems the homeless get ongoing government money as do the single Mothers, that really surprised me. Just one point though, if I had no legs how would I get to the River Jordan:-)

ctfchallenge		24-Nov-2008 03:01
Oh... I have empathy. Enough to try to help them. But, when they won't help themselves... Even Jesus required the person to make an effort to be healed... "Go wash in the River Jordan..." Sure. He could have healed them on the spot. But, he didn't. He wanted them to want it. I find that throwing food and money at the problem does not solve the problem. They need to want to help themselves. I can feed them for the day, and show them love and care... but in the end, it's much better to teach them to feed themselves. I used to have pregnant teens (to stop them from aborting) live in our home (one at a time) when our kids were little. Their own parents had kicked them out. I offered one pregnant teen (at a free dinner our church put on) a way out of her situation with adoption so she could make a change in her heritage and life. Her mother, grandmother, and even greatgrandmother had been unmarried teens and they were all living in the same house. Her reply? "No. It's the way we support ourselves. If I don't keep the baby, then we won't get extra money on our check each month (from the government)." You see where I'm coming from? It's much easier to have a baby and let the working folks pay for them and the extra mouth, than to work themselves. It is, in fact, their plan. Perhaps I'm jaded... Perhaps I've seen too much. You decide. But... in the end, I agree with Penny. It is depressing. ~Lydia

ctfchallenge		23-Nov-2008 15:47
For me, I can hardly look at this photo even though I see this, in real life, everyday. I know there are lots of reasons why people wind up homeless but to me, all of them are depressing. But what's really heartwrenching to me is that we (the government) are not exploring more solutions. Offering someone a job is a great idea but it's complicated - these people are not living a 'normal' life and so can't be expected to think or react the same way you or I might, particularly if the offer has no immediate personal benefit. I really can't believe that any homeless person has made a conscious decision to let the government pay for their room and housing just because it's easy. This is not easy. And unfortunately we are in a position now, as a country, where things are going to get worse in this regard before they get better. Penny Street

Rod		23-Nov-2008 09:06
Obviously you have not had a good experience with the ones you have met Lydia, I can't say I've had any experience interacting with the homeless. I would imagine there's mental problems, alcoholism along with other factors that may make them unsuitable for working. I just find it hard to believe there's a conscious decision made to end up on the streets, well for most anyhow. It's a bit funny really that you a devout Christian apparently showing little empathy with the homeless & me a devout Atheist seeing a picy like this having it tug on my heart strings. Anyhow it takes all sorts to make a world & you & me Lydia are doing our bit a:-)

ctfchallenge		23-Nov-2008 04:56
So sad. Not on the same note really, but I just saw the movie "The Visitor". It is thought provoking in some of the same ways as this photo. Penny Street

elips		23-Nov-2008 04:15
A very brave photograph, Mary Anne. Good for you for taking this. ~Sharon

ctfchallenge		23-Nov-2008 02:44
No, Rod. I'm not going to say it. That would be rude. grin But, just on a lark.. .offer the next one you see a job for the day. See what happens. My husband used to do it daily for as much work as they wanted to do, when we lived in Orlando. NOT ONE ever took him up on it when he told them it would be paid a week later and taxes would be taken out. As a 'normal person', just think on that. grin ~Lydia

Rod		23-Nov-2008 02:38
Thanks for the info Lydia I didn't realise these people were just lazy sods. Anyhow don't hold back your opinions, you have as much right as us normal people to express wot you think a:-)

ctfchallenge		23-Nov-2008 02:15
I'm thinking about it myself... Seems a lot easier to let the gov't take care of my housing and food than to work to support myself and these others. Have you ever offered these folks a job for the day at $10 an hour... A select few of them seem to consider it... UNTIL you tell them that you're going to take taxes out of it...But, I don't think I'm going to say all of that.. .because that might start some trouble. Never mind. :) ~Lydia

ctfchallenge		22-Nov-2008 21:53
Yup I fear we're going to see many more folks like this one. -tv

Rod		22-Nov-2008 21:45
Concrete for a pillow, poor bloke. This tragedy can be seen all around the world now since globalisation has improved our lives.

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