These letters are the result of the continuing interest in the Arnold Abbott , "Out of site, out of luck", and "No picnic on the beach" articles written by Jane Musgrave on February 10,February 24, and March 10 respectively, and the letters to the editor that followed on the weeks of February 17,February 24,March 3, and March 10.
Included in this week's letters is a thank you note from Arnold Abbott for all the kind things people have written and about the articles Jane Musgrave has written about Arnold and Love Thy Neighbor.
I am writing to thank you for printing so many complimentary letters from your readership, giving me far more credit than I deserve for my activities on behalf of the homeless.
As a point in fact, most of the homeless, my friends, are wonderful people, and I get much more back from them than I could ever possibly give. They give me love, loyalty, and warmth in amounts that defy measurement. That giues me the satisfaction and joy which is just as rewarding in its reception as is the satisfaction and joy others get from receiving material gifts. So, now you know that I am nobody special - just a guy doing what he feels is right, and fighting for the survival of his friends.
I am something else also, I am blessed. When I founded Love Thy Neighbor seven years ago, I never dared hope that so many outstanding humanitarian from all walks of life - rich, poor, Republican, Democrat, from every possible church - would come together, and contribute their time and efforts to an undreamed of degree, to build our organization into the multifaceted entity which has evolved.
Please understand that when your stories talk about Arnold Abbott, you are actually recognizing over 100 Love Thy Neighbor volunteers, board members and contributors, who work unceasingly in our many programs: feeding, clothing and blankets; Homeward Bound (over 200 persons reunited with families); Kids for Kids (working with children with AIDS, and those needing prostheses); jobs; low-cost housing, and re-entry into society through training.
Your references to me, in reality, are tributes to the many hundreds of individuals who have brought us food and clothing for us to distribute, who have served the homeless in our feeding lines, and have enjoyed the experience. Thank the Girl Scouts, Big Brothers & Sisters clubs, church groups, synagogues, business groups, college and high school personnel and individuals - they have all come and done their part to help the least fortunate of God's children.
Look back to the erstwhile Tent City, and think about how the occupants were kept strong and healthy. One man couldn't do it, but many dedicated men and women, all volunteers, provided meals at least twice daily, seven days a week, for over five years. Heap praise on St. Thomas Aquinas School, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Light Your World, Christ Church United Methodist, Mount Herman AME, St. Philips Orthodox Church, Jesus House of Faith, St. Bonaventure Church, Body and Soul Ministry, St. Helen's Catholic Church, Deeper Life Christian, Plantation Workshop Center, Shepherds Way, Karla Sanchez, Pat Hankerson and many others. These are the warriors, the faithful, those who labored in the trenches, receiving no publicity, just thanks and recognition from the homeless.
Now you know who the heroes really are. Please add Love Thy Neighbor to that list, and top it off with the best of the best, the Cooperative Feeding Program. Headed by a super lady, Marti Forman, the group that feeds the homeless six days a week every week. Forman's program also helps needy families with their food pantry, and provides many other services, plus compassion to those families.
Please, enough about Arnold Abbott. The one letter to answer a hateful one [Mail Call, Feb. 17] would have been sufficient. Instead, let's concentrate on working to convincing the city and county that the homeless cannot be chased away, they are here to stay. They are not meant to be outdoor residents. They need roofs over their heads. Love Thy Neighbor will continue to fight for their civil rights and a place to reach them, to provide food and necessities of life. We call on all men and women of compassion and goodwill to enter the battle. Convey your thoughts to the city manager, mayor and commissioners, and let's all join in to bring back man's humanity to man.
We need to change Fort Lauderdale's current image of "The City Without a Heart" to what it would prefer to be called: "The Venice of America."
Arnold P. Abbott
President and founder
Love Thy Neighbor
Fort Lauderdale
I haven't written City Link since the Jan. 21, 1998 "Don't feed the homeless" article appeared. I praised Arnold Abbott stating that it takes men like him to "promote general welfare." Well, now I write because people seem to be missing the boat (Recent letters to the editor).
It has been said "if you know the exceptions, the rest is the rule." Everyone has been focusing on what their idea of the rule is, when in fact, they are concentrating on the exceptions.
Of course, there are "Give a man a Fish and Watch Him Smoke Some Crack"[Mail Call, Feb. 17] types who need intervention by officials because of mental disorder or addiction. There are also "Down on their luck" individuals [Mail Call, Feb. 24] who "got dealt bad cards" and want help. Last but not least, there are some homeless individuals who are content with being homeless.
To generalize my idea of the rule, I look at it like this: All people are either focused on the past, future or present.
In the homeless scenario, the ones who are stuck in the past need intervention. It is quite possible these persons have not learned how to deal with events that happened in their lives or maybe it's shame they cannot get over. There should be more programs to address these people, in particular, and, when necessary, mandate intervention practices. (By mandated intervention I don't mean Hollywood Police Officers beating the s___ out of someone and using pepper spray on them for waking up on the wrong side of the park bench.)
The people who focus on the future are generally active in seeking help. I hate to say it, but the "political whores," like "Name withheld" [Mail Call, Feb. 17], also fall into this category. From a homeless standpoint, these are the people who seek help, get it, and become productive members of society.
Now, let me comment on the last category, people who focus on the "now" and are happy being there. These are the newspaper peddlers, daily laborers, and semi-functional addicts. These are also the type I know best. Occasionally, I go up to the park and have a few beers with them. They don't want help, they are satisfied having no responsibility and they will probably be homeless months down the road.
My generalization is just that, a generalization. I am not saying that at any specific time people don't fall in another category and need help, seek help, or are content. I am saying not all homeless are the same. Like myself for instance, I have a home, I am future-oriented, but sometimes I go to the park to feel the "now".
In 1886, William Wadsworth wrote, "And homeless near a thousand homes I stood; And near a thousand tables pined and wanted food." This is not a new problem. The main thing that bothers me is the one-sidedness people have toward this issue. They don't think some of the people living on the street just plain like it. These homeless people don't want to have to buy peanuts to feed the squirrels just so they don't get hauled off to jail for being in the park. The happy homeless are the most reliable network of people the past and future types have. They talk to the disturbed who are lost, and they recommend places for those who seek help to go.
Gregory J. Bach
"The Polish Hillbilly"
Hollywood
There is a different side to the homeless situation that no one talks about. I live where a lot of homeless people wander around with beers in their hands. As a stay-at-home mom, I stroll and walk with my 2-year-old son around the Galleria, Borders, Gateway Plaza area. Since December, we have had numerous incidents with disrespectful, aggressive, drunk homeless men, who invade the area during the winter months.
In January, a man loitering around Tiffany's photographic studio drinking beer and talking out loud told me and my toddler how he couldn't believe "a f___ing prostitute turned him down." When I tried to walk by him, he called me a "bitch."
Last week, in front of the coffeeshop at Gateway, my son and I were walking our usual after-dinner route when it became very clear that a disheveled man was following us, getting closer and closer. I had to enlist the aid of a couple leaving a restaurant and going to their car, and I pretended to be friends with them as the husband glared at the homeless man, who finally stopped and turned away.
Yesterday, walking home from Bayview Elementary Park with my son sleeping in his stroller, a vagrant walking toward us stuck his hand in my face and shot me the bird and snarled at us. He, too, was carrying a beer.
A policeman who lives near us said that these vagrants migrate here for the winter because of the weather. He also told me to walk to Fedco and get some pepper spray immediately because some of them were dangerous and were not to be taken lightly.
So, I just want to say thank you to all of you who feed the vagrants and make them so welcome to our area. We mothers and children in the neighborhood feel so safe and secure. We really appreciate it.
A reader wrote in last week [and City Link has written numerous stories] about how the homeless are fed at the park at the beach in a secluded, quiet area. Guess where it is? Right next to the playground!!!!! Hey, I can tolerate a few homeless here and there, but 400 people of questionable character invited to dine right next to the playground? What are you thinking? For the sake of the children, take it elsewhere.
Lillian Martin
Fort Lauderdale