In Orlando, it is illegal to feed the homeless.
Faced with the question of what to do with the rising homeless population in its city, Orlando has fought to control the surging problem through legislation. A law banning panhandling was struck down in the courts, the city has fought to make homeless people carry special ID cards and now an official ordinance says those wishing to feed the homeless in a public place must have permission from the city to do so.
When this column finds its way into print, the Super Bowl will have come and gone. Thousands of Colts and Bears fans who migrated to Florida's sunny shores will be returning to the bone-chilling cold of a Midwestern winter. With South Beach cleared of ticket-seeking fans willing to pay anything for that shot at seeing NFL history in the making, the money-making juggernaut known as playoff football goes into hibernation for another year.
Meanwhile, two hundred miles north of Miami, it is illegal to feed the homeless.
It's easy to ignore the problem when we live in the heartland of Indiana. Hard work and perseverance are rewarded here. It is difficult to feel empathy for those less fortunate than we are. Often, it's more difficult to see the homeless situation in a city like Orlando, so far removed from the heartland, as any of our concern.
There is homelessness in Indiana, however.
Four homeless men were found murdered in South Bend this January. On Saturday, two men were arrested on suspicion of murder. These men were under watch for possibly having committed the crimes because the homeless men stole scrap metal from them - metal they intended to sell to make enough money to survive.
The case has attracted national attention because of the brutal nature of the crimes. It has also brought attention to the fact that there are homeless people in our communities, even in cities like South Bend, hardly a metropolis.
It is further proof that the homeless problem is our problem, not something to pass off as a "national" issue that doesn't concern us.
Thankfully there are those in our community who strive to bring this issue into the public consciousness. Saturday, with temperatures hovering in the single digits and a cutting wind pushing wind chills well below zero, nearly 500 Delaware County residents took part in the Muncie Mission's "Walk A Mile In Their Shoes" event. Participants raised money through the event to purchase beds and bedding for the Muncie Mission's new building.
"There are more than 18,000 homeless in Indiana," Muncie Mission director Ray Raynes told the Star Press. He says the group holds the annual walk in February to give people an idea of what it's like to be homeless.
Cities like Orlando want to use legal means to make homelessness illegal because visible homelessness stunts inner-city development. Human decency no longer factors in.
We in Indiana, however, need to pay attention to what happens in Orlando, if only to make sure the attitude never permeates our hometown values.
As we endure this latest cold snap and come down from our Colts-related euphoria, take a moment to think of those in our community who are accustomed to going without such necessities as food or shelter.
May we never stoop to Orlando's level.
Write to Jonathan at jonathansanders@justice.com
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
