"Wars"

The photo by my friend Gary Introne. 

When I was homeless I never did this. Even though most think this is what traditional homelessness always looks like it isn't or wasn't. At least not ten years ago. Only one strata of us did this then. As with all human communities the Homeless have a complex social structure. There are classes, and intricate cultures within it.
Back in the day we or many of us made ourselves as invisible as possible.


However now we are so many that around the country there are whole Homeless Encampments. Literal Homeless Towns...mobile shanties. Unlike in earlier ages of want in this country. The poor are not allowed to form the traditional shanti as is common in the rest of the world. 

In this country we have to keep moving. Some states have now passed laws that not only forbid the feeding of the homeless, but are criminalizing sleeping in your car RV or truck.

Americans are at War with their Poor.

( I say "we" because part of me is still out there on the street, and always will be. The dreams, and flash-backs come still. As a soldier is always in their war. It is so for the few that have become persons again. We are survivors of the cruelest part of the decades long American Culture Wars. As with all veterans nobody wants to hear anything we have to say.)