Why?

One wonders how and why we can possibly have so little regard and concern for others around us. Constant television ads for World Vision and other humanitarian organizations blare on the screens which we treasure so dearly. Representatives speak at schools, groups and other places of interest, where people can learn about the struggles and the strife that occurs all around the world. Throw a couple of dollars, get a nice tax receipt anyway... the money is always useful, but you don't really lose much, do you?

Yet we all seem to forget those nearby. There are tens of thousands of people living in the Downtown East Side (DTES), but they are given the cold shoulder treatment by the citizens of Vancouver. Government policy clearly has not worked (See: Low-Income Housing), and the new Tory government in power since early 2006 has managed to implement an extremely conservative (any surprise?) fiscal policy. The fact is that there are very few who take the time out there to display kindness to the people unfortunate enough to be living in these areas.

Still, it's hard to imagine this kind of pain. In the past, I've seen videos, newspaper clippings, presentations, and whatnot, about this topic. It never hit me as hard as it did today, volunteering at a street church. Dozens of people lined up to receive a hot dog, along with either coffee or water. Music, along with a sermon, was presented by volunteers. Very few stayed, with most choosing to receive the food before leaving the single-room entity immediately. I had the opportunity to talk to someone who came for coffee and food, and although the conversation was not sparkling, it hopefully meant being friendly to the guy and helping him realize that there are people out there who really care for him. Nonetheless, it still saddened me to see them lacking much hope for a bright future.

What hit me hardest, however, was when I looked out the back window and caught sight of one of the people who had previously received a hot dog. The man was just walking outside... but I struggled with how it was. Was there a way to really help them in the long run? Hot dogs can feed them for a day, but it doesn't fix a single major problem.

There has to be something that can be done. Living in ignorance of this fact won't help.