COVID 19 – Does Being Disenfranchised Mean They Deserve to Die?
Most people don’t care about the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the drug addicts… Most people want to forget they exist and go on to their jobs and social lives. Thinking that there are people looking out for the frail of society.
Most people think we can forget they exist.
You might change your answer for that if you realized that the people society discards are now armed vectors to spread the disease to you and your loved ones, because the govts of your country aren’t taking their needs into account.
They are refusing them a place to self isolate. The shelters and food banks are closed or even further limited than usual, the libraries are closed.
They are refusing them a place to wash their hands. Most public bathrooms they previously used are closed as the restaurants, bars, gas stations refuse access to them to contain the spread of the disease.
They are refusing them a safe way to pan-handle. And even if they could,
They are refusing them places to buy food. When they have no ID, no credit cards. And a lot of places of business are refusing to trade in cash. Because it takes more handling than credit or debit cards do.
But maybe you’ll care about the fact that people who used to be somewhat contained by things like shelters and drop in centers no longer are.
And are wandering the city, looking for food and shelter. And since they are more mobile are more at risk of getting the virus,
And more at risk of giving it to you and people you might care about.
This is a country that claims to care and act in a crisis. But they have left out a group that could bring this country and others to it’s death.
Maybe you’ll care about that.
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty held a news conference outside to high light these issues to the media and the govt. Because the people they are acting for are dying. As they would be any winter. But now as they try to follow directives (to wash hands, to isolate in place) that will reduce the spread of the virus. Directives from govts that have shown their callousness and disregard for their lives, they find that if they do so, it will cost their lives. Lives that didn’t need to be lost.
This has been a long time coming and the govts have ignored the threat they have been creating. Maybe now they will see that cutting funds to programs not only leaves people destitute, but also creates vectors when a pandemic hits.
You may not care about the homeless or the poor. You may not care about the mentally ill or the drug addicts. But maybe now you’ll care that they are a threat to you and those you love.
So what do you want to have the govts do?
ACT.
Meanwhile, tourism is closed down and hotels are empty. So there is a way to help them and protect us.
It was suggested in the conference that homeless people could be set into them so they can be fed, washed and isolate safely.
Speaking at OCAP’s conference were:
Speakers included Gaetan Heroux
and Yogi Acharya from OCAP,
Greg Cook of the Shelter and Housing Justice Network,
Dr. Ritika Goel, physician who has extensive experience working with people who are homeless,
and Franky Morris, overdose prevention worker in the downtown east end.
the conference:
held outside in Regent Park, one of the poorest, most crowded areas of Metro Toronto, which is the biggest city and govt HQ for the province of Ontario. The most populous province in one of the riches nations on earth.
OCAP
point to ponder:
Canada claims to have a govt based on Judao-Christian beliefs. So I leave you with a Bible verse with the words of Jesus Christ:
Matthew 25:40-45
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
mspeachierocks 