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Blogs by Patrick Joesph Schnerch
Book Research / The Invisible Society 5/29/2009 10:17:03 PM
I am amazed that through my work I have found a lot of sincere and caring people that are involved in helping those with mental illness, addiction and homelessness. This is even true on a national level. This is true, but I confirmed that there are a great deal of others who just think of it as a job that is only another way to make a buck. This is a fact that starts from the very top and migrates through the systems and finally stops at the general public.
Currently, I am writing and doing research for my next book, "City of Gardens: The Invisible Society." I have been making appeals to our street people to stand up and tell their stories, observations and views, but it is the same as any where else. If there is no money to touch their palms, they don't want nothing to do with it.
I had money last year and the project went well. This year, the funding is just not there and the project will suffer for it. My work and experience in life showed me that a lot of peoples' morals and beliefs are stamped on a twenty dollar bill.
I can't blame them at all for feeling that way at all. I also put some value into currency, but it is not my driving force. Money is very important. Like it or not, people need it to survive, even if there is just enough for a cup of coffee.
There are a lot of other things that have more value to me than money. Unfortunately, I have been known to be quite strange. I still believe in the human heart and soul. I put value in humanity, equal rights and freedoms for all. Many people don't believe me when I make this claim because it is not very common for others to share my values.
I admit that I am from the old school and many people don't think that way even if it is to their best interest to do so. Today, money speaks louder than words. I still have faith in the unrevised version of that quote. I still believe in action and I don't have to be paid if it is for a worthy cause.
Victoria street people are worthy of my attention and actions to help them in any way I can. I find it very disappointing that there are so many people who don't want to help themselves. There are some strong and brave people out there who fight tooth and nails to change there situation around and I am more than honoured to help them.
I believe that my books have the power to cause a change in heart among mainstream society to reach out and help their neighbour. When you feed your dog, you don't expect to have your arm ripped off.
The sad thing is that this is also very common in mainstream society, no one is immune to selfishness and greed. It is in every walk of life and is almost impossible to find anyone who thinks differently.
People don't have the self-respect needed to fight for themselves anymore. Endosements, sponsors, investors or panhandling is more important that a loss of life on our streets.
You can't buy human rights, freedom of speach or the freedom to be your own person. We not only have to earn them, we sometimes have to fight for them. I may die as a pauper, but at least I can go to my grave knowing that I did a good thing.
My book research has uncovered a lot skeletons about human nature and society. We are all equally to blame for this. No one wants to fight with their fists anymore unless its filled with fifty dollar bills.
As you noticed, I do not believe in the material world. I think I earned my right to hate it as much as I do. I have watched it destroy human lives, families and whole communities. For those who have nothing, at least they have guts.
Many of us would curl in the fetal position and die if we left our wallet on the bedroom dresser, never mind being homeless. We find it difficult to seperate ten dollars from our wallet and put it in a Salvation Army Kettle at Christmas time.
None of os know what disparity really is until you experience yourself and not in a tent in front lawn of a university. Very few people in mainstream society has ever felt real pain. Those who have are now crippled and fallen through the cracks of society.
Once you know real pain, only then will you understand the significance of a mickey of rye or a crack pipe. To many, this is the only peace that they will ever have and then they will die. It is not about choice, it is a matter of survival and being able to live within your own skin.
To me, one day of peace is better than a lifetime of money. Don't measure pain by wearing a Barbie Band Aid. Pain is when you have a loaded pistol in one hand and a loaded syrienge in the other. Many see death as nothing more than a pernament change of address.
Many of our most vulnerable are dead already, they are just waiting for their bodies to catch up. As a society, we turn a blind eye. This is what I have witnessed during my book research. The glimmer of hope went out years ago for many of my brothers and sisters on the street. I can't blame them for not being more cooperative in fighting for their rights when they don't even know if they are going to wake up tomorrow morning.
