If you don't think about it, is it real?

While perusing the local newspaper, an article caught my eye; an article that not only piqued my interest, but also dismayed me to the power of the dollar. What am I talking about you might be asking? I am talking about our fair city's urge to be more "hip", more "attractive" to potential passerby and tourist.

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/10/news10-17-08-02.shtml

People toss the talk around like a game of volleyball, talk of beautifying our city and bringing in the all important American dollar. Yet as you see this city grow at a slower pace than the bigger cities, you can't help but notice something that is missing. I am not speaking of fancy lights, or properly painted facades...I am speaking of safety. Safety for those who aren't fortunate enough to have a warm home to go to. Safety for those who have to scrounge for every spare penny they can find or earn. I am speaking of a place for our city's homeless to go to get a decent meal, a good night's sleep, and a shower, maybe even some work rehab assistance.

We are so concerned with how our city looks to others, yet we don't take care of some of the people who live here. Influential city leaders and citizens are eager to spend money to put in flashy lights that are only really visible from the River or Union Street. Not to mention that to some, it might be considered a potential distraction to their driving or boating.

Ooh, stare at the pretty light display. Watch it change colors everyone!

I don't think people here realize how much this city (our tax dollars at work here, mind you) is going to pay to have these lights put in? According to The Dalles Chronicle, it is going to cost $107,432.20. Not only is this money going to be put to use for a rather useless project, but only $16,930 of that budget is going to be put back into the local economy, to the winning bidder, Hire Electric.

What has this city come to, when it doesn't even open it's blinded eyes to reality? When are we going to notice that there is more to life and our city than what we see beyond our rose colored glasses? Do they see the man on the bicycle, his life possessions in the back of a little cart; his faithful friend, a dog, riding along behind him? Does anyone remember seeing the man who would do our duty of picking up after ourselves? He is the one who pulls his cart around, gathering recyclables and trash. He makes use of whatever he can; he is commonly known as "Jesus" to the locals due to his appearance and his talk of God.

Does anyone remember these people and the others we have all seen? I bet no one has ventured a guess at how many homeless live in The Dalles? I would put a guess at around 9 at any given time; sometimes more, but usually not less. Do they notice them when they see them; reach for their pocket to get out some change, but then think otherwise? Do they actually look them in the eye, or do they turn away, as if the sight of them was just a mirage?

We should be ashamed of ourselves at the sheer audacity of our leaders and ourselves. We put in "lights" to attract tourists and beautify our city, but how beautiful can a city be when the sadness of the homeless lurk around every corner? We put out all these dollars to put in lights, but trash litters our streets and highways.

As a friend says on her MySpace page, "Makeup can cover a lot of things; stupidity isn't one of them."

St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army are doing what they can to help out with the homeless and less fortunate. They hand out vouchers, clothes, backpacks, bicycles, even furniture if it's needed. They help with getting medical and dental care through their ministry services. But is it enough; is just handing out stuff and having someone to listen to you enough? What about employment counseling, helping them find work to get back on their feet more securely?

No matter how much "makeup" we put on our city, we can't hide what is down deep. We can't hide the litter, we can't hide the homelessness, we can't hide the fact that we are superficial and care more about our appearance then the meaning of community togetherness.

Back To Top