American Society & Christian Values?
As most of you know our Foundation works in rural areas and except for a few necessary trips into the big cities have I have lost almost all contact with that part of American Society.
Yesterday, my heart was struck with sadness by an article on Fox News and other Internet media sources about large cities passing laws which target the homeless and now those who would try to feed them.
We at the Foundation are aware of the imbalance of power between the poor and the rich and powerful every day. Prosecution and sentencing of perpetrators glaringly swayed by who you are or who you know. It takes far less than a rocket scientist to see that a wealthy business owner and an illegal immigrant from Mexico charged with the same crime will see different charges levied and if convicted, vastly different sentences. We see it and we deal with it, but this new trend is a new low for the rich politicians and their economic development partners.
Laws have been passed in Florida and elsewhere making it illegal to feed the homeless. Think of it. First, they passed laws to outlaw being homeless and living in public places. Areas where the rich like to hang out and sell expensive real estate. Now they have passed laws making it a criminal offense to feed the homeless. That means church groups and nonprofits trying to fulfill their mission to help the poor are now criminals.
This my readers, is a new bottom mark for our lawmakers and public officials and another blow to the values and teachings of Christianity. It is now a crime in Florida to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
We all know most of the homeless are there because of mental illness not lack of desire for a better life. Our government started by taking away help for the mentally ill by reducing financial support to churches and charities that help. Seeing this, good Americans of Christian faith, responded by giving more to their charity and their church. Now a head-on collision between developers and their friendly elected officials and the homeless has happened. The developers and greedy politicians strike another blow for cash by taking from the poor. But this time it is blow to our way of life, and our Christian desire to help others in need by making us guilty of a crime for trying to help.
When do we draw the line… when do we stand up for what we believe in and when do we return a civilized society based on Christian and humanitarian values and not the power of the dollar?
Yesterday, my heart was struck with sadness by an article on Fox News and other Internet media sources about large cities passing laws which target the homeless and now those who would try to feed them.
We at the Foundation are aware of the imbalance of power between the poor and the rich and powerful every day. Prosecution and sentencing of perpetrators glaringly swayed by who you are or who you know. It takes far less than a rocket scientist to see that a wealthy business owner and an illegal immigrant from Mexico charged with the same crime will see different charges levied and if convicted, vastly different sentences. We see it and we deal with it, but this new trend is a new low for the rich politicians and their economic development partners.
Laws have been passed in Florida and elsewhere making it illegal to feed the homeless. Think of it. First, they passed laws to outlaw being homeless and living in public places. Areas where the rich like to hang out and sell expensive real estate. Now they have passed laws making it a criminal offense to feed the homeless. That means church groups and nonprofits trying to fulfill their mission to help the poor are now criminals.
This my readers, is a new bottom mark for our lawmakers and public officials and another blow to the values and teachings of Christianity. It is now a crime in Florida to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
We all know most of the homeless are there because of mental illness not lack of desire for a better life. Our government started by taking away help for the mentally ill by reducing financial support to churches and charities that help. Seeing this, good Americans of Christian faith, responded by giving more to their charity and their church. Now a head-on collision between developers and their friendly elected officials and the homeless has happened. The developers and greedy politicians strike another blow for cash by taking from the poor. But this time it is blow to our way of life, and our Christian desire to help others in need by making us guilty of a crime for trying to help.
When do we draw the line… when do we stand up for what we believe in and when do we return a civilized society based on Christian and humanitarian values and not the power of the dollar?
posted by The Merlin Foundation | 5:11 PM
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