the jimmymac attack!

Big news in Toronto this summer is the record number of murders by hand guns. Most of them are young black men shooting other young black men. Other common factors include gangs, drugs and low income families. More social problems festering into major social tragedy. Today the news reported another murder on the streets of Toronto. This one was different. A fifty-nine year old homeless man was killed on a downtown street corner. Not by a gun. He was beaten and kicked to death. Not by black gang members. He was brutally killed by three young men who are part of the Canadian militia. How could something so violent and senseless happen? Only because it is a common view that poor, homeless people are less than worthy human beings. They are useless, despicable scum that don't deserve to live. I suppose these young men must have thought something like this when they beat and kicked the man to death. And what is the bottom line? One man living in poverty is gone. I hope he is in a better place in heaven. And the promising lives of three young men are ruined. Three lives and their families are forever negatively affected. Because poor, homeless people don't deserve the respect that normal human beings deserve. Our community and society are less because of the systemic disregard for the poor. When will things change? How many lives must be lost or ruined before we decide to do something about it?