The handling of yesterday's homeless man sleeping on our apartment office bench brought to mind what had happened in Washington, DC, when Trump sent troops and literally bulldozed their encampments.
What do YOU see - and more importantly, what do you FEEL - when you view these photos, especially the last one?
This is a picture of Bill Theodie, a homeless man that was living in one of those tents. As you can see, there's another tent behind him with a wheelchair next to, meaning a disabled person was living there.
Bill works in construction, though he's been out of full-time work since 2018.
This is a picture Trump posted to Truth Social, just 4 days before bulldozing it - and Bill Theodie is in it.
And this is a picture of bulldozers wrecking the tent encampment.
Bill said "You know, I understand he doesn't want to see mess, that's why we go out of our way to maintain it clean. We're not trying to disrespect the president or any other person who comes by."
So what do you see/feel, viewing these photos and hearing Bill's story?
What I see when viewing these photos and hearing Bill's story is a sense of despair, completely powerless, but still trying to be hopeful, stay positive.
What I feel is sorrow, compassion, and then fear - not fear of the homeless, but fear of what more is to come.
Apparently, what Trump and others see is a gang of criminals, guilty until proven innocent.
What they feel is disgust and fear of a different kind - fear of who are actually the most powerless people in America might do, what criminals may be lurking there, without proof.
(I wonder if these same people also avoid looking in mirrors 😂)
What they see does not reflect the America they envision, it's not within their scope of reality - so they just want them removed from their line of sight, their fantasy.
I understand, like yesterday, it can be unsettling if you don't know a homeless person is there - but in DC, everyone knew the camps were there, for years.
And my point yesterday was - there's a way to deal with it and a way not to.
Because the reality and facts are that homelessness is increasing as a result of this economy - and not all of these people are drug addicts, mentally ill, or former prison inmates.
Many of them ARE working, at minimum wage - and it's not enough to make ends meet.
Some, like Bill, were already living paycheck-to-paycheck, but hadn't had steady work in his field of construction since 2018 and the house of cards crumbled.
Moving them out of our line of sight may help US, but it doesn't help THEM.
It also doesn't remove the reality of our economy and the increasing amount of homelessness in this country.
If you need to demonize them for their situation to feel better about having the government remove them, feel free - but DO realize THIS - that is your fantasy of the world, it's not reality.
It's also the exact opposite of what Christ said to do, fellow Christians.
In fact, Jesus said he would judge humanity based on how you treated the least of these.
Today's Christians seem to imagine that there will be some kind of heavenly reward for themselves for Christian Nationalism and supporting the kinds of things Trump is doing with homeless and immigrants.
That Christ will say "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Not according to scripture.
Christ said the exact opposite will happen to you, if you treat the least of these poorly.
To include the reality of what would be said to you in heaven versus your fantasy: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 21:40-45
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
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