This is a story you may, or may not, know about, but it is certainly something you should know is going on...and on it's way to your city (if it has not already arrived) once the weather breaks.
America is certainly better than this.
During the beginning of the Depression, several people wandering the nation in search of work started erecting, shanty-like, permanent shelters in large cities. These were comprised mostly of men, many of whom had left their families behind, with the understanding that once work was found, they'd be sent for.
As the Depression deepened, more shanty and tent communities started popping up all over the country, to the point where it was no longer looked upon as abnormal to see them. Because President Herbert Hoover was generally viewed (then) as the person responsible for ignoring the plight of the common-folk, thus allowing their situations to drift into such horrific conditions, these makeshift towns were named "Hoover-villes."
As more people started losing their homes and farms, ultimately being displaced from their longtime residences, the "cities" started to include entire families.
Naturally the conditions in these camps were preposterous when compared with any standard of modernity. There were few schools, no plumbing, and mice, rats, cockroaches and mosquitoes only added to the miasma residents fought to overcome around the clock.
With this background in mind, I was floored when I saw this youtube clip:
The video you just watched was posted in January of 2008, who knows when it was actually filmed.
Now, a year later, some major medias are starting to touch the subject. The only reason I want you to watch the following clip from the today show is to grasp how the subject is being dealt with.
Any normal human being that viewed such circumstances probably wonders, first, "how did this happen", followed closely by "how can I help." The Today Show piece below focuses in on, well you make your own determination. I just cannot beliee Matt Lauer decided to end the piece, after looking at deplorable living conditions of his fellow countrymen, by saying (paraphrasing here), "people were living above their means"!?!?!
Well Matt, are they at their means now? And if so, does that make you sleep better at night?
Just a stupifying display of arrogance and indifference. It brings to mind a quote from the great architect and humanitarian, Charles Luckman"
"The trouble with America is that there are far too many wide-open spaces surrounded by teeth."
Thousands of people saw the horror of this situation and decided to help, bringing food, money, bottled water and other goods to these unfortunate people, which is what I knew the American people would do.
If you would like to send a donation to aid these people, the Fishes and Loaves organization in Sacramento has been assisting the residents of their tent city for months.
Info for them is HERE.
This is development is not exclusive to Sacramento, California. Here are a few news articles I dug up on "Tent Cities" in other parts of the country if should you want to investigate the matter further:
The more fascinating articles come form sources that may explain why this has been swept under the rug until very recently. These are from news sources outside of the country and they are writing in a more stunned, disbelieving tone. To the readers of these publications, America has always been more than a country, it has been an idea.
America faces new Depression misery as financial crisis worsens
The credit crunch tent city which has returned to haunt America
If this economic downturn has not yet altered your habits, as well as your thinking, I hope this post has brought you one step closer to reality. Preparedness is not everything, but this is going to be a tough time for this country, so it cannot hurt any more by your being so.
No comments:
Post a Comment