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Respect the homeless

Bob Mills
Friday September 20, 2002

To the Editor: 

Discrimination based upon unfounded intolerance is a form of violence. Such intolerance comes in a variety of packages including racism, sectarianism, sexism and classism. Classism is a prejudice against a person because of their economic standing or lack thereof. Our current society favors the rich and the poor are excluded, especially the poorest of the poor, the homeless. 

In fact, this prejudice that is held and expressed against the homeless is comparable to one against a caste. America's homeless are treated with disgust and hatred, as the untouchables of America. While there is no denial that there are many of the homeless suffering from a variety of mental disabilities, substance abuse and behavior anomalies, such conditions do not make them any less human. 

Stop making the homeless into criminals for a condition they have not caused. They are human beings and have the same inalienable rights protected by the highest ideals of democracy. 

 

Bob Mills 

Berkeley