The most callous and oblivious letter to the editor I've ever seen
So, back in July 27, I picked up that week's issue of News-Star community newspaper at the Devon Market grocery store, where I do most of my shopping. I was reading the issue on the bus ride back when I came across a letter to the editor written in response to the front page article in the previous week's issue. The article talked about how the City of Chicago was not-so-subtly trying to discourage homeless people from camping out under one of the underpasses leading to the lake by putting in a bike lane on the sidewalk. You know, the bike lanes that usually go on the road. The article argued, convincingly, that there was no logical reason why the city would do something like this - unless they were trying to reduce the space where homeless people could camp out.
Personally, I never had an issue with these encampments. Underpasses offered some measure of protection against the elements, and it's not like they ever got in my way. I knew other people might feel differently... but I never expected to read something like this
Seriously - where do I even start? The part where Jean SmilingCoyote misstated what Greenfield's position actually was? The part where it didn't even occur to her that people might want to camp out somewhere near social services, places that have much better access to job opportunity than the middle of the forest preserve? About how she said that, well, if she was homeless, she would do so and so, without even stopping to think that other people might not have access to the same resources and equipment as she has? Or how about just the general astonishing callousness, the utter lack of empathy and compassion for fellow human beings?
A quick Google search reveals that SmilingCoyote has written quite a few letters to the editor to a number of newspapers and magazines over the last three decades or so. They paint a picture of someone who enjoys camping and living in cabins. It may explain where she's coming from... but the lack of empathy is still astonishing.
Personally, I never had an issue with these encampments. Underpasses offered some measure of protection against the elements, and it's not like they ever got in my way. I knew other people might feel differently... but I never expected to read something like this
Seriously - where do I even start? The part where Jean SmilingCoyote misstated what Greenfield's position actually was? The part where it didn't even occur to her that people might want to camp out somewhere near social services, places that have much better access to job opportunity than the middle of the forest preserve? About how she said that, well, if she was homeless, she would do so and so, without even stopping to think that other people might not have access to the same resources and equipment as she has? Or how about just the general astonishing callousness, the utter lack of empathy and compassion for fellow human beings?
A quick Google search reveals that SmilingCoyote has written quite a few letters to the editor to a number of newspapers and magazines over the last three decades or so. They paint a picture of someone who enjoys camping and living in cabins. It may explain where she's coming from... but the lack of empathy is still astonishing.