Camp Out to Stamp Out Homelessness!

[shep]

Looks like the folks at the Interfaith Homeless Network, in Chattanooga, have lost their minds!

For just $135, the IHN is offering you and your family the opportunity Friday, Oct. 23rd, to "camp out" in a realistic "hobo camp", eat a real soup kitchen meal, participating in fun homeless past-times with music and crafts, competing for prizes in the "best decorated campsite" competition!! Nothing says, "let's mock the less fortunate" like gathering a bunch of folks with a Benjamin or so lyin' around to pretend to be poor.

Wanna participate in this crazy event? I've got a better idea! If you're blessed enough to have a house and want to sleep outside and pretend like you don't have shelter, go find a homeless person who will gladly swap spots with you for a night and let them sleep in your cozy bed for the night while you pretend to "rough it" in a 4-person tent set up at the First Tennessee Pavilion. But don't be surprised if they slap you for being completely insane!

There's more! Find out all the details through the link below!
www.chattanoogahasfun.com/?p=18232

[Babs]

This is unbelievable! What a mockery!

[Kordax]

It's appropriately featured on a site called "Chattanooga Has Fun"; mocking the homeless should be a lot of fun if done right....

[JC]

"participating in fun homeless past-times with music and crafts"

The sound of cans being flung out of a dumpster is music?
Who'd thunk! :shrugs:

[el Gusano]

Funny, but I know people here who make a lot of money who live that way by choice.

[ohwell]

I believe that it has been proven that about 90% of all "homeless" people actually have relatives and a place to live IF they choose that live style. Most are worthless bums living off the help of stupid people that don't recognize a drug addict when they see one. The people I feel sorry for are the children of the poor just barely making enough to live on.

[sargonkiadi]

Sept 9, 2009 22:50:57 GMT -5 el Gusano said:

Funny, but I know people here who make a lot of money who live that way by choice.

Wow, i can't believe I feel strongly about this statement too. Open minds!

[Jay]

This event raises money for the Interfaith Homeless Network.

[gridbug]

about 90% of all "homeless" people actually have relatives and a place to live

If those relatives care that is...

Where do I get one of those conservative Bibles? You know, the ones that quote him saying "love thyself, for thy neighbor is a worthless bum".

[el Gusano]

Supporting their bad habits is love?

[gridbug]

Sept 10, 2009 12:35:36 GMT -5 el Gusano said:

Supporting their bad habits is love?

And right on que is a preacher that makes my heart happy that I'm not a Christian like him

[el Gusano]

And I'm glad I'm not "helping" people by keeping them down like you.

[goomba]

no thanks, I'll go backpacking again, but Its free!

[pictureman]

Has anyone contacted Guinness World Records to see if there's one for The Town With The Most Asinine Ideas?
I'd start a list, but that's fodder for another Thread.

[gridbug]

It may not be the best idea and you will not find me down there, but I give them credit for trying to raise money and awareness for a good cause, as well as being a Mission that heeds the words of Christ more than most Christians.

Forget calling Guinness, there could never be a city that spawned more asinine ideas than the District of Columbia.

[professorx]

Sept 10, 2009 12:31:15 GMT -5 @gridbug said:

about 90% of all "homeless" people actually have relatives and a place to live

If those relatives care that is...

Where do I get one of those conservative Bibles? You know, the ones that quote him saying "love thyself, for thy neighbor is a worthless bum".

By relatives it is usually their wife and children. Moral and religiousity aside, don't be so naive. Don't be a rube all your life. Its a known fact that these folk's job is panhandling. Its a show. Give 'em a few dollars and feel smug and superior all you want, but no one else is fooled.

[Tsavodiner]

Sept 10, 2009 12:38:40 GMT -5 @gridbug said:

Sept 10, 2009 12:35:36 GMT -5 el Gusano said:

Supporting their bad habits is love?

And right on que is a preacher that makes my heart happy that I'm not a Christian like him

Christ challenged bad behavior at every level. He didn't take an adjustable-rate loan from the money-changers, didn't save the prostitute to get a better deal on a blow job, and didn't rebuke the Pharisees to get invited to Lodge night.

REALLY caring about people is rough; ask anybody with an alcoholic relative.

Buying them off and enabling their continued bad behavior by throwing them a buck to assuage your own conscience or preserve your "moral superiority" is VERY less than Christian.

[el Gusano]

God told Israel to leave the corners of the fields so THEY COULD WORK FOR THEMSELVES AND FEED THEMSELVES!

By the sweat of your face, so shall you eat.

[ScarlettP]

Helping the homeless is a good idea. The "pretend to be homeless" concept is what's wacked. I think we can all agree on that point.

Granted, many of the homeless are there because they made poor choices, but who hasn't screwed up a few times? Most of us, as in those of us sitting here with a roof and a computer, are lucky enough to have friends and family who could support us when we needed it and get us back on the right track. Not everyone is that lucky.

I WISH there was a way to re-rehabilitate every one out there. Get every substance addicted person straight. Get them all the medical and psychological help they need. Train them for jobs so they can live productive lives. But there is no guarantee that the next fast talking swindler won't give them another 'get rich quick' scheme and take it all away again. And there will always be those who would rather sit on their asses and let 'society' punch the time ticket while they lap up as many freebies as they can get and complain because what they got for free isn't as nice as what the other guy has... never quite realizing that "The Man" is not holding them down, THEY are.

But if Wishes were horses, then beggars would ride. Utopia does not exist. We each just have to do the best we can with what we have and show a bit of compassion now and then.

Give to the charity of your choice. The ones who do the type of work that you believe in. Pass the others by. Just like that 'bum' in the street who really deserves to be treated like trash even though you don't know how or why he ended up in that situation.

[Babs]

Excellent post! I see a lot of homeless people at work, and many are addicted or in legal trouble. Of course, by the time I see them, they're already in the troubled track. They don't keep appointments or take their meds. But how can they with no transportation or insurance or money? You would need a lot of energy and know how to dig your way out of that ditch. I, too, would like wishes to be horses. Wouldn't we all.

[gridbug]

Don't be a rube all your life. Its a known fact that these folk's job is panhandling. Its a show. Give 'em a few dollars and feel smug and superior all you want, but no one else is fooled.

Panhandling has nothing to do with helping the homeless. That is another issue altogether. Anyway, panhandling is illegal downtown. It is bad for tourism. The official alternative is to put the change in one of those artsy parking meters where that money will be spent to help these people with a meal or a cot or whatever, not to buy their next 40.

[julia]

This idea was stupid when Martin Sheen did it for publicity back in the 80s(?).
And it is stupid now.

[Jay]

Sept 11, 2009 19:32:46 GMT -5 @gridbug said:

Forget calling Guinness, there could never be a city that spawned more asinine ideas than the District of Columbia.

You're definitely right about that!!