I had to go to this meeting for work for like 1.5 hours this morning, but then I had the rest of the day off which was nice to recover. I went down to gasworks park to just chill for a bit. It was super windy! I stood up on a wall overlooking the water and the wind was just blowing me like crazy. It was great. I really like the windyness of fall. Anyways, I was walking around and this homeless guy starting talking to me. I ended up talking to him for a while, he was funny. He lives under the covering on top of some of the old machinery. After standing in the wind for a bit, my hands were a little cold. He noticed that I looked cold (although I was enjoying coldness) and he wanted to give me something. So he climbed up to his bedroom and grabbed a sweatshirt. He said it is a women's sweatshirt and it doesn't fit him, so he wanted me to have it. I told him I wasn't cold so I didn't need it, but he was insistent that I take it. So I threw it in my backpack and brought it home with me. He was such a cool guy. He showed me a bunch of pictures that he had taken on his phone of the sunrise at the park and different shots of the machines. They were legit really good shots. And he was telling me all kinds of other stuff that he has done. He does a lot of construction work under the table. He was also telling me about how when he gets his food stamps at the beginning of each month the first thing he does it buy a pound of honey ham, a bunch of swiss cheese, and some bread and brings it down to all of the other homeless guys and they all sit there and eat it together. It was just a good conversation with an awesome person. His name was Ronnie. I am just always amazed at how much the homeless want to help me out. They want to give me some of the little that they have. It has happened on NUMEROUS occasions that a homeless person has offered me some kind of assistance. It is humbling for sure. Most people think that the homeless are just trying to take advantage of people, but that is not the case at all. They are usually more generous than those that do have a house. Always sharing the little they do have with others. I didn't give Ronnie any money (he didn't ask for any and even if he did I wouldn't have given it to him), but I gave him some company and I treated him like a real person of value. When you see a homeless person on the street, don't ignore them. Even a simple smile will do, or a hello. If you have the time, stop and have a conversation, they usually have lots to stay and tons of stories to tell. Treat them as you would any other person who talks to you. You wouldn't ignore anybody else who was talking to you, so don't ignore them. If you want to buy them food or supplies or give them money, great! But know that a conversation is so much more. No matter what you do, just don't assume that they are lazy or trying to take advantage of you. They will prolly try and give you some kind of help if you actually stop and talk. You can learn a lot about generosity from the homeless population and it will teach you humbleness like crazy.
On a different note, have you heard about the Anti Homosexual Bill in Uganda? Basically they are trying to make it illegal to be gay in Uganda. Punishment would be life in prison for anyone committing the "offense of homosexuality". The Bill would also punish anyone who does not report someone who is gay with up to three years in prison. It is ridiculous to criminalize and punish homosexuality. In some cases Uganda is proposing to put to death people who "commit the offense". Here is an attempt to justify this ridiculous bill:
This legislation further recognizes the fact that same sex attraction is not an innate and immutable characteristic and that people who experience this mental disorder can and have changed to a heterosexual orientation. It also recognizes that because homosexuals are not born that way, but develop this disorder based on experiences and environmental conditions, it is preventable, especially among young people who are most vulnerable to recruitment into the homosexual lifestyle.It does not matter what your thoughts are on homosexuality, this is clearly not ok. To put someone to death or in prison for the rest of their life because of who they are sexually attracted to is really ridiculous. Homosexuality is not some kind of sexual violence. People should not be put to death for who they choose to have sex with. It's hard enough for people to be who they are in this country where there is "freedom". How much harder it is for these Ugandans, homosexual or not, to be who they truly are. I would never be able to feel comfortable in who I am knowing that I could be put to death if who I am happens to be something that the government is opposed to at the moment. I'm just sayin, this bill is really ridiculous. Do some research and see what you can do about it.
Alright lastly, some music. The Rocket Summer (prolly my favorite band ever) just put out a new EP, You Gotta Believe. He's been trying to release his new CD, Of Men and Angels, for a while now. I think it's now scheduled for early 2010, so he put out an EP to help us impatient ones. I just bought the four tracks and listened to them in the background like 4-5 times in a row. At first listen, they are pretty amazing. Bryce Avery is just really amazing. I mean I know basically nothing about music, but I'm pretty sure I can say he is a pretty amazing musician. For serious. He's just awesome. And his lyrics are always right on. Anyways, check out his new songs if you get a chance. Also musically, I am currently a BIG fan of this band called An Horse. I am all about their CD right now. It is constantly on repeat. My favorite is for sure Company, but there are others that are great as well. It is good to get back into the music scene. I haven't really been in the music scene for a while now, but it's nice to have some new tunes. Do you have any music suggestions for me? What are you currently listening to?
Ok, that was a lot of different stuff. But I haven't been around in a bit. Also I think my brain needs a little stimulation after being talked at for 4 days at the conference. It's so good to be home...in Seattle... I live in Seattle! It's crazy.
3 comments:
Ronnie sounds like such a cool guy. You always meet the nicest homeless people. There are a lot of homeless people around here in Baltimore. There is this one spot near the Inner Harbor that I pass every time I go and they all sleep next to each other with blankets or sleeping bags. and they are all there every time. Never asking for money or anything. Just hanging out together.
Then there is this other homeless guy who is in a more sketchy part of town and every time you pass him he screams something at you. Not really bad things, just things on his mind I guess.
But you can never tell if they are the ones that want to take advantage of you or the ones that just want to sit and talk. and me being in Baltimore by myself its probably not a good idea to try and figure that out.
Oh and to the last part of your blog. i'm going to the rocket summer concert a week from today! wish you were coming with me!
cool story about ronnie. i've been noticing the generosity of the homeless guys here more and more myself. even this morning in church when this woman who was visiting epic for the first time sneezed. and like no one around her really did anything except for one of the guys in church like made an effort to bring her a tissue. i mean it was like such a simple action and didn't require much but like the fact that he took the time to care and provide for this woman was cool to watch especially when no one else around her even acknowledged the sneeze. also, thanks for the rocket summer update. just downloaded it off itunes and i'm loving it!
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