Dirty Lens

It's often we Los Angelenos carry on our day without regard for others around us due to our fast paced city and social media community. Some can argue this desensitizes us from physical human interaction. Behaviors such as inviting each other out for dinner and Instagram our food and large bill and a video camera to see what a homeless person, in most cases a man, will do with the bill immediately afterwards or pretend to be homeless. The endgame with these socialites is comments and likes, instead of thinking of the endgame for the homeless man's necessity. Even the term "The Homeless" dehumanizes them leaving us to naturally be more so ignorant to their basic human rights and needs.

Facebook our locations instead of enjoying this time with those seated at the table. Twitpic our grandparents doing cool youthful trends instead of helping them with tasks that are seamlessly easy but are now difficult with age. When at the local beach and someone begins to drown you can count on more to take a selfie with the drowning victim instead of sending rescue. There is a lack of consideration for strangers and more common for the homeless. Lately the new trend is to take a

California ranks third out of the nation behind Hawaii and New York for highest homeless population since 2013 and has since grown at least 12% to date. It should call to attention more within the Los Angeles County community and isn't stressed enough in the media. Perhaps reason as to why most here are ignorant as to what to do or say when the subject of  homelessness is addressed is because no one is talking about it enough to understand.

     When socializing with friends or strangers, the homeless in immediate thought is excluded. Local residence are more likely to greet each other "Good Morning" than some who is without a residence. Even local business feel conflicted with addressing homeless people and may consult law enforcement or the local country government for their removal. The "right to rest" act this year made it clear that regardless of the assumption of a person appearing homeless they can not be harassed or removed. The only actions that would deem criminal behavior is spending the night on or inside property without permission of the owner or blocking public restrooms or walkways of the intent of begging for money. Of course there are the obvious soliciting and prostitution and more creepily hidden video cameras on person to film others in violation of their privacy. I've witnessed first hand waiting in line for my order at a fast food joint when a homeless man walks in, the manager is up in arms about him leaving. The man didn't get a chance to possibly fake an order before the police were phoned. The rest of us customers were bystanders who only looked on to the situation with no interjection. Once the homeless man was removed everyone carried on as if nothing happened, or perhaps what was supposed to happen.

      After speaking with a man named John, a vietnam veteran of Los Angeles county he explained he

had a normal childhood experiencing happiness and family loss. A man who came from money, served the war to return to mental illness. This was a crisis for our country that didn't get much attention. A great percentage of Vietnam veterans returned home from war feeling outcast from society resulting to instability leading to being without a home. Battling with PTSD and readjusting to society was difficult. When asked about his day he is generally a happy man with not too many complaints considering his strong faith in Christianity. His form of travel is a wheelchair possibly due to lack of healthcare over the years and and smiles and laughs regardless of his obvious need of dental care.

     Los Angeles County has spent over 100 million in the last year on the homeless. With a great amount of that budget has gone to the cities emergency services. Fire Department for any immediate public health concerns and the LAPD to remove the homeless for loitering, disorderly conduct, or just discrimination. Not all homeless people are the same, because not all people are the same. Many of

them fall into a stereotypical threat. Some common stereotypes are poor hygiene, mentally unstable or insane, lazy, drug and/or alcohol addiction. With stereotypes we have to be more conscious of when we place them. It usually happens with the initial image and then our immediate thoughts of how to recognize the. Millennials and Generation X grew up in a world of fast growing media where a lot of entertainment has overused satire. This satire becomes the image in many minds who have yet to encounter specific social groups. So when we see movies like Trading Places(1983) or almost any Adam Sandler movie where homelessness is very theatrically portrayed for comical relief, we are more equip to laugh at this critic situation rather than to show concern. When challenged to show concern it is common to ignore the homeless, or be fearful or angry with their presence. Sometimes its not only about charity but about learning tolerance. It's easier to recognize classist behavior in the more wealthy communities and with many politicians.

     Recently  Mayor Eric Garcetti has opted to veto two ordinance that all of the removal habitation of sidewalks and parks to become law. This creates a problem allowing for criminalization of homeless more frequent.With these ordinances becoming possible laws they also do no provide solution. It would call for in a sense extermination. Many are not pleased with this as it does nothing to help them of the streets to pursue a better way of life but to remove them from sight. The destruction of homeless encampments isn't just the possible loss of makeshift homes, its prescribed medicines, identification cards, hygiene, clothing, and food supplies. If only Los Angeles county geographical climate and terrain was that of Hawaii most of these supplies wouldn't be as stressed of a concern. While we are glued to our mobile devices with the internet in our hands maybe we should take a few moments to at least become more aware.