Washblog

While we argue about Cantwell and Iraq...

By switzerblog
Sat Jun 24, 2006 at 03:24:03 PM PST
Section: Washington State Topic: Social Justice

This is happening in Spokane.  Now before you start leaving angry impassioned comments about "the biggest issue facing us today", know that I'm not trying to diminish the Iraq issue as something that we should discuss.  My point in bringing this up is this:  
There are many kinds of moral atrocities, and our spotlight should be wide enough to expose more than one of them.
This is not the first time a homeless person in this state has suffered some ignominious fate.  This woman died alone, just trying to keep warm...on Thanksgiving.  I urge you to read the short article in its entirety and really absorb what it says about us.  This man, burned while sleeping under an overpass last year.  In 1997, a homeless man burned in Seattle by two young boys (I do not agree with the linked article, btw - except for the part about Norm Maleng).  Read this list of unidentified dead from 2003 (Adobe pdf), and see how many of them are transient - unknown to society, completely lost and alone.  

More here

and here (an article that identifies Washington as the third most dangerous state for homeless citizens)

and here

According to Anitra Web:

Seattle Washington: In 1997 a Seattle man was set on fire as he slept on a bench outside an overcrowded homeless shelter. In 1998 the strangling deaths of four homeless women were tied to one serial killer. In 1999 five homeless men were stabbed to death in Seattle in five months.
This 2004 report tells of 8,300 homeless citizens in King County, 3,700 with no shelter.

Iraq is certainly a topic we must hash out amongst ourselves, and with our politicians.  I'm not asking that we see less stories about Iraq.  But we cannot discuss Iraq while ignoring the real moral crises that lie in our own backyard.  I know several of our readers have been homeless or in real danger of becoming so.  I spent nearly the entire last year one month away from losing my home and having no place to go.  

We do see diaries about other topics, sometimes even a bit light-hearted, which I think is great - a community that can't find joy in one another is a community that's destined to die, IMHO.  But I think we sometimes shrug our shoulders at the well-written local interest diaries, and I felt it would be useful to see that local stories, like Iraq stories, also often involve genuine people losing their lives - for no reason at all.  So I'd like to devote some time to this topic.  I freely admit I'm no expert on homeless issues, but every senseless attack and death is like a punch in my stomach, because I read of the violence and can feel the helplessness and aloneness of that victim, and of the many things we write about, this really is something about which we can have an effect.  So I'll write some more on this.  

I say, we need ourselves a homegrown cause.  I think there is a way for us as a group to have an impact, and I'll share more of that when I gather more information and focus my thoughts a bit.  My friends, this isn't a challenge - just Switzer's Saturday food for thought.  Spare a thought for the homeless man in Spokane today, and we'll talk again.

< and the Republicans want us to stay that course? | 'Operation House Call' and Meeting w Sen. Murray - topic - what else - Iraq occupation >
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While we argue about Cantwell and Iraq... | 20 comments (20 topical)
For the first time I can remember
  I've seen obvious homeless people here in Pullman. I heard of a few before, but they weren't visible.
  I also know of a woman who had been living in her van for several years, I haven't seen her lately. She is always well dressed and even volunteered at our Democratic HQ last cycle.
   My sister's kids, she died in 2001, would be homeless if I didn't pay the mortage and electrical on the family home in Klickitat County.
   The economic gap between the rich and the not rich (and I really don't mean the poor) is a major problem in this country.
   The fool immigration reforms aren't going to help and neither are the increasing incentives to out source off shore.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sat Jun 24, 2006 at 04:22:37 PM PST

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No need to be so careful Switzer - explore away
Homelessness and disenfranchised populations in WA state.  I've had 16 yr career in exactly these kinds of social issues, and Arthur has just about as many years now.  

It continues to remain important to have compassion in our own communities; homelessness has become an orphaned issue, yet is still very much a real part of everyday life.

Tell us more about where you're heading with this and I'm listening.  

On the matter of Iraq, I think the point and impact have been made, at least here at Washblog, unlikely anyone here at Washblog is likely to ignore that issue.  I don't think you were trading off one issue for another, Switzer, nor trying to diminish one issue to elevate another.

 

"I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war." - Barack Obama

by Lietta Ruger on Sat Jun 24, 2006 at 07:18:08 PM PST

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Thanks for speaking up about this, Switzer
Sherman Alexie has an interesting non-fiction piece on homeless people in the most recent issue of Willow Springs, the literary magazine of Eastern Washington University. He manages to combine, in his own characteristic fashion, humor and compassion. Check it out, if you get a chance.

how rich . . . is the lexicon of our self-absolving

--C. K. Williams, "Thirst"

by DWE on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 10:15:09 AM PST

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Further details
Homeless Veteran Attacked Outside Campaign Office
Had Been Fed by Campaign Staff

For Immediate >Release:
Contact: Jeremiah Levine (323) 842-1099
June 23, 2006, Spokane, WA
Jeremiah@Votepetergoldmark.com

One legged, homeless veteran Douglas Dawson was lighted aflame by
two delinquents this afternoon. Dawson had been sleeping near the
campaign headquarters of Peter Goldmark, candidate for Congress from
the Fifth District, which includes Spokane. Dawson was sleeping
outside the headquarters because the previous evening he was given
food, water, and blankets by Goldmark Campaign Manager Jeremiah Levine.

"My staff did the right thing," said Goldmark, "Jeremiah acted selflessly."

After finding Dawson across the street from campaign headquarters,
Levine pushed Dawson's wheelchair to the headquarters building, fed
him, and gave him blankets. Levine called six shelters in Spokane,
and none would help Dawson: five were closed, and the Union Gospel
Mission refused. The Mission argued that a disabled person would not
be able to perform the chores required of all who sleep at the
Mission. The Spokane Veterans Hospital was also not available to treat
Dawson.

"This points out that there is not enough care for veterans. We must
take better care of our veterans, and better care of our homeless
community," said Goldmark.

Levine first met Dawson at 9:45 PM Thursday night. Goldmark had just
driven Levine to campaign headquarters when Levine noticed Dawson
looking distressed in his wheelchair. When Levine asked Mr. Dawson
if he was okay, Dawson explained that he was a homeless veteran who
had just been discharged from Deaconess Hospital. Dawson complained
that he was out of money, was hungry, and had no place to sleep.
Levine provided a meal of baked beans and barbecued beef, as well as
blankets from the campaign office.

Once fed, Dawson again complained that he had nowhere to sleep.
Levine telephoned the six homeless shelters and was unable to find
Dawson a bed. At that point, formerly homeless Goldmark volunteer
Dave Bilsland helped Dawson from the sidewalk to  grassy area on
the north side of the campaign office. Dawson slept there until this
afternoon. Goldmark staff continued feeding him. At approximately
12:30 this afternoon, volunteer Ed Meadows charged into the campaign
office shouting that a man lying next to the building had been
terribly burned, and that the lawn was aflame. One staffer called
911 while volunteers Bilsland and Meadows used a garden hose to put
out the fire.

According to MSNBC, police have apprehended two young men who
confessed to having set Dawson on fire.
In honor of Douglas Dawson, Dr. Goldmark will host a free dinner for
homeless people at Goldmark Campaign headquarters this Tuesday
evening at 6 PM. The office is at 151 South Washington.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 11:38:24 PM PST

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