Compassion, Empathy, Kindness

A homeless man got on the train this morning during my morning commute and the conductor immediately announced over the loudspeaker to have the security officer remove him. This instance isn't special for any specific reason, there are homeless individuals all over town and in such great numbers. But I bring this up because it has become so day-to-day. There are forgotten men and women all over cityscapes. I just felt it was time to ruminate on the subject and spark a conversation about the topic of humanity. Defined by Merriam-Webster as compassionate, sympathetic or generous behavior or disposition.

The conversation around the issue of widespread homelessness is far more difficult than "My Man Godfrey" illustrates. The movie endures as a way Hollywood made the Great Depression and mass joblessness a tale of love and redemption. With the help of Willam Powell a Boston socialite fallen on meager ground the true misery of many was glamorized in the typical silver screen gloss. The villain was the eldest daughter and her constant degradation of the 'Forgotten Men'. But nowadays in regards to our performativity are we any different than Cornelia? We don't need to be bathed in riches and entitlement to gaze upon these forgotten people and feel a level of disdain and disgust. I even do it, and I like to think of myself as compassionate and empathetic.

So as most deep social issues in life inspire, I got to thinking about the people behind the smell and dirt. Who were they when they were a person? Since we no longer categorize them as fulfilling the role of being a person in society. They are all over the place and we see them but they too have been forgotten. I get to wondering, what led them to their current state? I imagine, almost have to believe that it was something horrific. Childhood abuse, sexual exploitation, war trauma, death/murder of a loved one, mental illness, fleeing a murderous lover or being abandoned on the streets and left for dead. I denounce the idea that as a basic principle, each one of these individuals woke up one day and decided the future for them was going to be a hard life of living on the streets.

To me, I look at their eyes and I feel, despite all the problems they cause society, on scale, they probably deserve the most compassion. Out of all the ways we show compassion and to whom, do not the benevolent religions teach us show compassion for those who have experienced the worst of life. Out of the participants in a community, they definitely seem to deserve more compassion than the likes of Brian Thompson former UHC CEO and billionaire martyr. These people I am unfortunate enough to see every day carry a pain, and hurt so powerful it manifests in such an aggressive manner that they don't feel life is worth living. I don't know maybe it's not. I make no judgement on what defines worthiness in a life lived. Some people find it through kids, some fame, some money. Me, I find my worth through experience. Maybe they are right not to play into the capitalist cog, I don't know.

All I am making conversation on is that in the year of 2025 it doesn't matter if you live in a small town, suburb, or big town we are all blessed to live in an economic environment that amplifies the struggles of the most vulnerable without a care to alleviate the symptoms. We are too advanced to allow for informal settlements, but not advanced enough to provide economic alternatives of shelter. We are rich with pharmaceutical money but not social enough to provide accessible health care. We are religious enough to preach superiority but overly drenched in hypocrisy to show true acts of humanity such as showing kindness to the weak and meager. Solutions are difficult and controversial but the act of continuing to do nothing in regards to homelessness, drug abuse and mental health will mean an erosion to our social contracts laid down in the constitution will continue to degrade and with it the prosperity of our nation.

What is their fate? And what is our fate as a society that fails to address the social and long-term economic damage the unhoused addict population is reaping on this country? Because shying away in disgust or pontificating about bootstraps is as much of the problem as the homeless are. Even better what is compassion in these cases? Is it giving them money so they can buy more drugs? Is it looking them in the eye when you say no? Is it giving them food, or is it kicking them out of public spaces? What is the right thing to do in this situation? Is it arresting them for loitering or drug possession, or continuing to let them pollute our public streets? Is it giving them the Narcan when they overdose or just letting them overdose? What is humanity in a situation like we are experiencing now?