Current Affairs
May 15th, 2009
Recently, a reporter from a current affairs show in Australia dressed as a homeless person and hit the streets of Melbourne, sitting outside stores and buildings begging for money and mimicking others in the same situation. I think we’ve all seen these types of reported segments from time to time. It’s always distressed me to see that some people are so destitute. I also know that our personal life’s journey can lead to any junction or time when a choice we make can have a long term affect on our lives which is often not the way we had wished for it to go. Nobody asks to be born into a dysfunctional family or lose their job, and I always think “there but for the grace of God go I”.
The reporter spent some time with a youth who had a very sad story to tell and he’d written his request for small change on a cardboard sign and sat outside Myers, a large department store in Australia.
Our government do have funding for people in these situations, but of course it is a pittance and would be hard to exist in that budget. There are also organisations that offer meals and a roof over their heads, but I understand that funding is limited.
Our son lives in Melbourne and last weekend we flew down for a visit. We had a wonderful time. Melbourne was celebrating their annual Moomba Water Festival, so there was something happening all weekend and we enjoyed everything they had to offer.
On one of our days with our son and his girlfriend, we went to Myers Department Store and my husband recognised the youth sitting at the entrance and pointed him out to me. I was digging in my purse for some loose change until I had a second glance. There he was with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Now, I hope your not thinking I’m a prude, because I’m also a victim of nicotine addiction and often found with the same ugly thing hanging from my mouth, but it really made me stop and think of priorities.
No food? No roof over your head? No job? No money? ………….ummm… maybe no cigarettes would be a good start! I’m really hoping I wasn’t too judgemental. Thoughts?
Chrissy
