Research paper

Submitted By eharris28
Words: 1359
Pages: 6

“… With liberty and Justice for all.” If you were to dissect these last few profound words in our pledge of allegiance, it may very well raise a question within you. What’s the true meaning behind these words, and is our country truly living up to its notion? Well 1st let’s dissect these words and its meaning. The meaning of “With Liberty and Justice simply means with Freedom, and a system of law; while “for all” simply means for every person in the nation, regardless of their differences. Now are we living by this notion? That’s the question. Some may say yes, this country is doing a fine job and we are living up to these words. But others, who we tend overlook or ignore beg to differ. Who are these people who disagree with us living by this? Well we see them everyday in our lives, their always on the side of the roads, or under a bridge or highway begging for money, while wearing rugged torn clothing, and sometimes carry a foul odor that isn’t very pleasant to our noses. This specific group of people I speak of, are consider as being menace to our society; that we call the homeless. The Homeless have always been a group of people in our society that we ignore time and time again. In fact, on July 24th, 2006 Orlando city council officially banned the feeding of homeless groups in Lake Eola Park and other city property downtown. (Orlando Sentinel, 2006). This of course, caused in outrage of boos, applause, and raucous outbursts from the public audience during the four meeting. (Orlando Sentinel, 2006). Did our Homeless class and volunteers get the justice that they deserved ultimately? Unfortunately, our city failed in this aspect. Robin Stuart, commissioner of the homeless shelter Christian service center stated that “the city is taking a step to criminalize good-hearted people, who are trying to help.” (Orlando Sentinel, 2006). Sam Ings a retired police officer, who collaborates with Robert Stuart, also stated that “The Ordinance just shows “That Orlando doesn’t care.” But instead, were putting a band-aid on a critical problem.” (Orlando Sentinel, 2006). It appears that liberty and justice was not served fairly in this particular situation? What happened to freedom to all? It seems that our charitable volunteers and homeless people weren’t getting this respect. And even though the 5-2 vote was final, it still didn’t stop the resilient charitable groups from feeding the homeless. But on Thursday July 27th, 2006, about ten members of Food not Bombs risked violating the ordinance. Instead, of normally giving out food in the parks, they came up with an alternative to feeding the homeless. They choose to feed the homeless on the side streets of the park. They discovered that the rules cap that feedings at 24 people, including servers in the park; although, they weren’t technically feeding in the park it self. Shortly, after passing out food on the side streets, volunteer John Hughes made a statement saying “Wherever they go after we feed them, well, that’s their own business. Groups such as food not Bombs and the American civil liberties union said that the “city has no authority to keep people---homeless or not- from having equal access to the parks. If one person is allowed to sit and eat a sandwich in the park, than everyone can.” (Orlando sentinel, 2006). By choosing to shut out the homeless group in the charitable groups from public feeding in the downtown park areas, has liberty and justice been given? We tend to forget who these homeless people really are, and what influence they once had on our society. When our country’s economy went down and unemployment at a twenty-five year high; it was no surprise that the country’s mortgage lending crisis caused more than seven million home foreclosing, since the economic downturn that started back in 2007. (Opposing Viewpoints, Homelessness). A survey of homeless shelters conducted by national coalition for the homeless and other agencies found that caused more than 79 percent