tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post993102064865771072..comments2024-03-22T18:43:00.710-04:00Comments on Unam Sanctam Catholicam: Interview with a Homeless ManBonifacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10672810254075072214noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-57342599743719891452019-07-05T03:48:18.764-04:002019-07-05T03:48:18.764-04:00^ ahh i see, well that makes more sense. i've ...^ ahh i see, well that makes more sense. i've known other traumatized relatives of hoarders, at least in my experience if they do not become subsumed into the hoarding they tend to want to move away and never look back, and hold onto too little material comforts thereafter. (btw seems like a hugely American phenomenon, a logical conclusion to the materialist spirit). sadly when this refusal of the world happens out of reaction and compulsion, not true freewill, it can lead to cold earthly wandering as opposed to divine missionary zeal for truth.<br /><br />all that said, thank God your friend is still alive and well. speaking of outcomes and callings, perhaps you are called to be there talking to him too...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-29746875161486383202019-06-30T12:23:46.520-04:002019-06-30T12:23:46.520-04:00I don’t think he is under any illusion that the li...I don’t think he is under any illusion that the lifestyle he lives is a direct result of his decisions. <br /><br />I knew him since childhood...his homelike was not good. His parents were basically pathological hoarders—-the sort of house where there was only a single narrow path through the garbage. Every space stuffed with rubbish. Mice and roaches and all that sorta stuff. My personal feeling is that his disposition towards transients is the kind of reaction against what must’ve been an extraordinarily cluttered, stuffy, and uncomfortable upbringing. It does not surprise me he craves the open road and skiesBonifacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10672810254075072214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-20343306456257622202019-06-30T11:12:51.522-04:002019-06-30T11:12:51.522-04:00certainly interesting interview. though the tent c...certainly interesting interview. though the tent cities and unrealistically high minimum wage in the liberal dominions only encourage more homelessness, it is hard not to see that most "nice" places just kick out the homeless away. it is a problem hard to deal with, what with the drugs element (most pressing issue i think), high cost of land and living (lots of homeless live in cars), ethnic mix issues in the cities, inner migration and foreign one swelling job market, consequent lowering of wages and decay of unions, lack of mental hospices - really, all the hodgepodge both from current secular left and right wing policies. an easy example, leftists tolerate recreational drugs and want to hand them out even, rightists tolerate the free market for easily-prescribed opioids. it is almost as if they collaborated... lol<br /><br />i'd add to this the lowering of intelligence and standards - this transient guy sounds nice and all, and i respect his choice to be transient. however, deciding to move to hip Portland for an online girlfriend and not caring about becoming a squatter, not caring about leaving roots for a family to grow - sounds a bit lacking in prudence to say the least. maybe now he has to live with the consequence of his rash actions and thus claims "transient as a lifestyle", or was he always like this? that said, it does seem like people will get the outcome of their actions which may include any calling - and thus maybe some people are just called to the wandering life. maybe if he and/or other homeless were believers, their transient temperament/character would give at least more fruits.<br /><br />thus, while maybe we cannot encourage rootlessness, we cannot harden our hearts so much towards those who have it. the homeless are cold already. <br /><br />and well, He did tell us to clothe Him and feed Him...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-63500426799983347202019-04-25T22:26:49.673-04:002019-04-25T22:26:49.673-04:00I have had the same reaction. I decided to start ...I have had the same reaction. I decided to start giving to the homeless to help myself.<br /><br />You see, I had begun to see within myself a true pride and contempt towards these folks. Yet I have no idea what is going on in their lives, yet I judge them?!?<br /><br />We see everyday how bad society is, and who can be surprised at the fall-out of homelessness? As far a drugs and booze goes, who knows what the manager of my 401k is spending my fees on? If a homeless guy needs to get a beer or two, to make it through another day, then I am glad to help.<br /><br />Once, when I was younger, in a mocking tone, I asked a 'bum' what it was like in his world. I will never forget his answer, and I often think about it:<br /><br />"It is cold...really cold."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-4921342840373182692019-04-21T14:30:20.133-04:002019-04-21T14:30:20.133-04:00^ Sorry I wasn't ignoring your comment, I just...^ Sorry I wasn't ignoring your comment, I just only get around to moderating comments every few days if I am busy.<br /><br />Ugh...sorry again. I am a bad blogger.Bonifacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10672810254075072214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-86525196520441606262019-04-15T15:43:20.682-04:002019-04-15T15:43:20.682-04:00Ignoring that you seemly won't allow that comm...Ignoring that you seemly won't allow that comment, what the hell, Boniface! Why wouldn't you announce on this blog that you've collaborated with Athanasius in a podcast. Not all of us follow you both!<br /><br />JANnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-70715418567951820332019-04-14T18:27:50.152-04:002019-04-14T18:27:50.152-04:00Hm. I suppose it's harder to stop caring and f...Hm. I suppose it's harder to stop caring and focus on yourself when you've seen them beat up the homeless and a woman is group-raped on your street.JANnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-14093366796838729882019-04-14T10:43:36.215-04:002019-04-14T10:43:36.215-04:00Well, he is fairly progressive and an atheist (or ...Well, he is fairly progressive and an atheist (or at least an agnostic very hostile to religion). <br /><br />I have stopped caring whether the money I give the homeless goes for booze or not. As I figure, it is about ME, not them. It's about me being able to exercise generosity and part with mammon. I don't care what they do with it.Bonifacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10672810254075072214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6086833995941525990.post-73334532977845636542019-04-13T20:34:07.731-04:002019-04-13T20:34:07.731-04:00Interesting interview. How would you say your opin...Interesting interview. How would you say your opinions differ?<br /><br />In my country in Europe, the question of giving to the homeless is further complicated by failed immigration and gypsies. By giving to these groups you are often supporting and furthering drug-abuse, oppressive cultures, and intrinsically criminal elements within society. There's also the problem of the latter group pushing out other, actual homeless beggers. It's a hard question and I do my best to discriminate well. It would be easier if my Church had programs to help them, soup kitchens and what have you.JANnoreply@blogger.com