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In front of City Hall
San Francisco, In front of City Hall
March 11, 2001 ˆ 450pm
March 11, 2001 ˆ 450pm
San Francisco, In front of City Hall March 11, 2001 ˆ 450pm
As a friend and I approach a memorial for the 138 homeless human beings that died on the streets in 2000, I am shocked to the point of internal failure at what I see before me. It just so happens that today
is the first Sunday before St. Patrick's day, apparently the day in which our grand city holds a parade to pass in front of city hall: with ROTC cadets, marching bands, green colored merchandise and brightly colored corporate sponsors.
As the contradictions begin to overwhelm me, as I look at the board holding the names of over 1,700 people who have died on the streets in our city since 1987, as the audience who has gathered not in protest,
but rather in somber silence to pay respect to their fellow human beings; who are only seeking a moment of silence in which to reconcile with the past, I begin to feel the urge to take someone marching by in a green uniform with a fake smile and shake them back into reality. I want to run up to the stage and scream out accusations to society about how it is precisely this, this attitude, this callousness, this
indifference that allows people young and old to walk on by, to make this problem invisible as they do in their everyday busy lives, trying to pretend like they didn't see.
In a way it is not anyone's fault. We are forced to make these people invisible, to make them less than human, because the problem is so huge that no one person can do anything about it. We make them invisible in order to carry on with our lives without breaking down. We rationalize the problem by pinning the blame on someone's inadequacies. We say that it isn't our fault that someone is homeless, it isn't even the system,
they're just unlucky, they just didn't have what it took, there is something wrong with them.
Our denial serves to perpetuate the injustices of our system, to rationalize that not everyone should be treated like a human being, that not everyone really deserves the basic right to a comfortable life where
they can pursue their own happiness.
It might not be anyone's fault as an individual, but we all bear the responsibility as a society.
It is wrong that we allow people to die on the streets who live in our community.
It is wrong that the problem is so bad that we have to walk by and look the other way, that we accept it as a matter of fact, as something that has always been, never
questioning for a moment if it really has to be.
So as I stand there while marching bands, bagpipes, cheerleaders and high school military cadets with polished rifles walk by the
judging stand; as they parade and bow to much applause and celebration,
directly in front of what was meant to be a somber recognition that we have let our people die for no good reason, that anyone can justify or rationalize, no matter how many politicians and news anchors skirt the
issue: I cry.
-Daniel Moffat
San Francisco Food Not Bombs
As a friend and I approach a memorial for the 138 homeless human beings that died on the streets in 2000, I am shocked to the point of internal failure at what I see before me. It just so happens that today
is the first Sunday before St. Patrick's day, apparently the day in which our grand city holds a parade to pass in front of city hall: with ROTC cadets, marching bands, green colored merchandise and brightly colored corporate sponsors.
As the contradictions begin to overwhelm me, as I look at the board holding the names of over 1,700 people who have died on the streets in our city since 1987, as the audience who has gathered not in protest,
but rather in somber silence to pay respect to their fellow human beings; who are only seeking a moment of silence in which to reconcile with the past, I begin to feel the urge to take someone marching by in a green uniform with a fake smile and shake them back into reality. I want to run up to the stage and scream out accusations to society about how it is precisely this, this attitude, this callousness, this
indifference that allows people young and old to walk on by, to make this problem invisible as they do in their everyday busy lives, trying to pretend like they didn't see.
In a way it is not anyone's fault. We are forced to make these people invisible, to make them less than human, because the problem is so huge that no one person can do anything about it. We make them invisible in order to carry on with our lives without breaking down. We rationalize the problem by pinning the blame on someone's inadequacies. We say that it isn't our fault that someone is homeless, it isn't even the system,
they're just unlucky, they just didn't have what it took, there is something wrong with them.
Our denial serves to perpetuate the injustices of our system, to rationalize that not everyone should be treated like a human being, that not everyone really deserves the basic right to a comfortable life where
they can pursue their own happiness.
It might not be anyone's fault as an individual, but we all bear the responsibility as a society.
It is wrong that we allow people to die on the streets who live in our community.
It is wrong that the problem is so bad that we have to walk by and look the other way, that we accept it as a matter of fact, as something that has always been, never
questioning for a moment if it really has to be.
So as I stand there while marching bands, bagpipes, cheerleaders and high school military cadets with polished rifles walk by the
judging stand; as they parade and bow to much applause and celebration,
directly in front of what was meant to be a somber recognition that we have let our people die for no good reason, that anyone can justify or rationalize, no matter how many politicians and news anchors skirt the
issue: I cry.
-Daniel Moffat
San Francisco Food Not Bombs
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In response to a comment mailed to me - no this is not a statement by San Francisco Food Not Bombs - that's why it was signed with my name - it was perhaps inappropriate for me to tag SFFNB on the bottom, I only did it because I associate myself and my work with that group.
I also apologize for any other offended readers - the article is not written to take anything away from struggles for recognition of Irish heritage - but rather to point out the sad realities of continuing oppressions.
I thought it was important to post this here...
"interesting. you forgot the part about the Irish unit that commemorated the 20 year anniversary of the hunger strikes for Irish indigenous rights in the nor6. la lucha continua.
although windy it was a nice march none-the-less. it has been a long struggle in some places to get Irish heritage recognized in America. Ironically the other day i had to
call an ambulance for an irish-american homeless guy at the library, who was treated by an irish-american ems tech and tended to by an irish-american food not bomber.
everyday is a new struggle. none-the-less it is nice to enjoy a bit of pride in having accomplished gains in our society for formerly oppressed peoples, such as the Irish in
America. One person in particular i would reflect on is the work of our celt brother, Keith McHenry. But also I reflect on the realities in Northern Ireland which have not changed much, poor Irish being stomped by powerful British troops. but still no cry of dismay by American progressives like there is in Chiapas. Sad Contradictions indeed.
was this sent out as an FNB statement. if so, unless i am mistaken, it should have been open to amendations and comments by other fnbers. in particular, it may be viewed as
ethnically derogatory by many irish americans no matter what the intention. "