LETTER: Their Priorities

To the Editor: Their blanket statement of "even though you can smell the alcohol on their breath" labels every homeless person as a drunk. I refuse to even go into the reference to Thunderbird. They even go so far as to say, "We know they are street smart and we can safely conclude that they have the potential to contribute what they know to our society." As happy as the Fogels' approval must have made the homeless, I have some news: It's their society, too. If the Blonde Ones themselves were suddenly to become homeless, I'd bet that street smarts would avoid them like they avoid the real world. Let's broaden this scenario: When people are left suddenly without jobs, homes or meals, they most likely are in search of a) a job to get money for food and shelter, b) money for food in the meantime, c) shelter in the meantime, or d) a bottle of a certain alcoholic beverage which will remain nameless? First off, before the Fogels pass judgment on those they stereotype, why don't they try getting a job when they have no permanent residence to fill in on the form? Second, if they wouldn't seek out a bottle of a alcoholic beverage, what makes them so positive that anyone else would? Homeless people are people without homes, and that is their only distinction. Third, the statement that "giving handouts allows these people to manipulate our good nature" sickens me, if only for the pretense of any good nature on their part. Asking a simply yes-or-no question of you hardly constitutes manipulation of you. Think of how many rejections they get a day -- they, if anyone, are fully aware of the lack of "good nature" in our society, and on this campus. Finally, they mention that people can't give away all they have, because of their own self-interest. They are absolute right -- in fact, they refuse to give a thing, including any benefit of the doubt. What if that homeless woman uses her change to buy milk for her two children? Sometimes it is worth it just to give, and then to hope. Maybe it's time the Fogels started thinking about other people as people but then, they are too busy sweating over who got the bigger room. I am glad they have their priorities. NICOLE MALOY Wharton '95