From: andyrose@netcom.com (San Francisco Fractal Factory)
Subject: 3 squares and a cot...
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 23:44:55 GMT

  I was down at Civic Center (SF) for some general
looking-around today.  The Homeless Death vigil is
going nicely.  138 hours for 138 dead.  There are
a number of Vietnam era vets involved in homeless
issues here and they provide a nice color guard with
their flags and all.  Food Not Bombs set up for lunch
as usual (M-F Noon and 6pm, Sat,Sun 6pm).  Channel
2 came down to interview some of the vigilant(ies):)
Keith McHenry (author Food Not Bombs handbook) said
on TV that the mayor (art agnos) could use city tax
structure to maintain buildings with donated labor
and materials to house the homeless full time not
just when it's cold.

  I was serving some soup when I heard some comotion
in the vigil space.  It seems that the vigil people
had asked for donations of clothes and blankets and
there was some mob thing going on yesterday, where 
people were getting greedy and taking things and not
respecting the little mock tombstone which seemed
vital to the vigil people.  So the vigil made a RULE
that things would be received there but given away
elsewhere (Tenderloin Self Help office).  This man, Derrick,
wnated a coat today, and was even willing to trade
the coat that he had on, but the vigil guy was 
adamant about enforcing this rule.
  I talked to Derrick for a bit and we related to how
this vigil person was POWER-TRIPPING.  He had himself
a RULE and he was enforcing it.  Now I've pulled
a box of cheesecake out of the truck too many times
to not know there's going to be a mob.  See, people
(single white/black poor males, possibly addicted, 
definitley disenfranchised, usually uncomfortable
(sick, cold, hungy, JONESING (needing something
disproportionately)) and strong-headed) know that
taking is easier than asking and if they don't take 
somebody else will.   So I make a RULE, usually
LINE UP.  We were all taught to line up 
early in life, so people are used to that.  
  So here we are, Derrick and I, at an impasse.  He
would like the coat, and has less concern for ORDER
than the vigil people.  The RULE does not make sense
to him, with his perceptions limited by history and
immediate need.  Just then a guy comes up and tries
to give a bag of food to the vigil (I don't know
why he gave it to them instead of to Food Not Bombs).
They turned him away so he gave it to the next person
available who was Derrick (imagine that).  Now Derrick
has hotdogs, crackers, a can of nuts, some bread, and
a box of shake'n'bake.  Some body asks him to share and
he says the food is for his little babies.  
  "Why don't you call that bag of food your coat?" I ask,
  "No, no, I want that coat." He says, looking at me.  I 
think he's starting to catch on.  "I like you." he laughs,
"What's you name?"
  "Andy", I tell him, and go on to explain that I am 
doing this feeding thing and that I am interested in
tutoring at the San Bruno jail where they've gotten some
computers.
  "Oh yeah, I been in prison." he says.
  "Oh, San Bruno or.."
   "No, no, I'm a con, not inmate.  I been to Folsom,
San Quentin, Solano..."
  "Uh huh, I see.  So... how do you like freedom?" I
ask rhetorically.
  "Shit," he rolls his eyes, "if this is freedom you
can have it."  This greatly distresses me, but I expected
it so I thought I'd go for confirmation.
  "But even though it's true that it's cold and hard outside,
you could get killed or worse in prison..."  I state.
  "Naw, naw, man it ain't like that no more, man,
three squares and a cot, man, three squares and a cot.  Just
mind your own business and don't borrow nothing from 
nobody 'cause when you can't pay back, that's when you
get killed."

  *
This is tough.  The group which represents itself
to the people as the keepers of justice and defenders
of liberty have taught a full grown man dependency,
and not to expect more than three squares and a cot.
This man was not patient, nor giving, but on the
defensive, willing to use physical violence to 
prove a point, and scarred by a knife on his face.

I think that anyone alive on this planet can have
food and shelter if they want it.  There is no shortage.
I think the 'owners' of the means of production
(land for food, mines for rock, factories for rails,
machinery for roads, buildings for teaching, 
airwaves for broadcasting) have divided the people
and have been insidious about it, giving us fear and hate
(ficitonal news, bullshit wars) in the place of joy
and love.  Our society is paying for it too brothers
and sisters, it is coming off our backs and out of our
psyches.  Suicide, helplessness, hopelessness are not
the symptoms of poverty but are the symptoms of our
society.  

This is of course all while the owners slice up the
pie for themselves and 'leave well enough alone'
and keep paying the cops to do what they do.

Share power, then we'll all have it.

*
Sometimes I like to be a tree.  I catch rays, I expire
and inspire, I provide shade, I grow and change color
with time, and I am quiet.  I like trees.  They
can be stately and revered by doing nothing but growing
and being.  And they don't pay taxes.
*

Alas, I am not a tree, but a person with dexterity
and vocabulary, hearing, vision, thought and emotions
through which to process sensation and create ideas
and action.

   Like Derrick, I am not thrilled by the freedom society
would have me accept.  I do not think 40 hour work week
is appropriate.  I do not think people should have to
work to eat.  I do not accept the power structure and
I don't believe you need people at the bottom so that
people can be at the top.  



  
-- 
Andrew Rose andyrose@netcom.com FAX   end killing