I'm Not a Bum, I am a Human Being

"There is a cure for homelessness,
It shouldn't be a death sentence"

A quote from Providence Journal

A picture of a homeless man

 In Providence, Rhode Island, there are homeless people young and old that have died. Some from disease, sleeping out in the cold, and overall living in a dirty environment. Others have died because they were unable to go to the doctors for their sickness mentally or physically. Some even died from suicide, unable to cope living outside like an animal.

"I have people sayin' 'Get a job Bum', but hold on wait a minute I'm still human not a bum"

Acts of violence has been a common trend with homeless people. Many teens and other individuals go out and have "bum fights" on YouTube. Aside from making homeless people do immoral acts such as murder, defecation of on the streets; even many people are also the culprit of randomly harassing and punching the homeless according to Philly. Homeless people are not for our entertainment. They are not your pet or toy that you can boss around.

Numerous times I have heard, even from the kindest people, that homeless people are lazy and need to find a job. However, one must look at it through their perspective.

"I go in with my resume, not looking presentable. They [employees] leave me with 'leave a number and maybe we'll call you back.' But how am I going to leave a number if I don't have a phone?"

That quote was from the homeless man in the video above. Much of these people are war veterans, and even educated people.

"I have a masters degree in mechanical engineering and physics from Dartmouth. I moved here to accept a job offer; but apparently, they gave it to someone else. Now I'm here sleeping in a homeless shelter and on the streets."  Maurice Johnson, a homeless man stated.

I have also heard that some people deserve it, they set up this lifestyle for not taking initiative in their life. Although it may be true that some were reckless, do they deserve to be dehumanized, and forced to simply become objects of entertainment or even someone negatively looked down upon? Would you want to be looked on with such pity, full of humility, and even judged for something that isn't necessarily your fault? We don't know their story, but many just want recognition that they are human beings, not simply a bum with a sign and  a cup.

Acid Attacks: Domestic Violence

three young women learn that acid attacks don't define them

"He warned me that if I left him, he would hunt me down. He was going to shoot me. He was going to paralyze me. He was going to throw acid on my face."

This woman, Nicole Beverly, was interviewed by the Huffington Post about her abusive husband. Unlike thousands of other women in the world, she was able to escape her partner before the abuse got out of hand. According to the BBC, about 1,500 acid attacks occur every year worldwide. However, much more go undetected. Attacks range from disputes between relatives and other close people, to just being too beautiful or handsome. 

"It's not a knife attack, it's not a gun attack, it's an acid attack-- we don't                    want to kill you, but we want to humiliate you."

This is what a former gang member, Jermaine Lawlor said. There has been an increase in acid attacks in numerous gangs across the United States. Not only is it painful physically, it is humiliation. Imagine our society, the one where teenage girls aspire to be magazine models. Models with perfect figures, thick hair, and a beautiful face. Now imagine being in this society, with a face that is melted off, you can only see through one eye, there are remnants of the trails of acid that has seared through your flesh forever, like a tattoo. Your pride and confidence gone as people stare,  knowing that once you were "normal." According to multiple articles, including this CNN article, Young teenagers are hit with acid, making them the victims of depression and often suicide. 

Albeit, these victims should not be humiliated. The criminals who have done these immoral acts should be the ones embarrassed. Yes, there are laws against these attacks; however, what's the use when criminals still do it and get away with it? In many places you can easily purchase acid in local markets. Something needs to be done to enforce the rules to stop these horrendous attacks.

Sources: Huffington Post, CNN, BBC, International Business Times, Safe Horizon