Sunday, January 02, 2011

I'm feeling lucky



With all the complaining about the cold, when I came across this homeless person, I stopped to think how lucky I, and many of us, really are. I know it's not the kind of photo that postcards are made of, but it's a fact that there are still many unfortunate people in the city of Paris. I do hope that someone took him or her in for a hot meal and some dry, warm clothes and that 2011 turns out better for them.

18 comments:

  1. Always a horrible thing to see. I wonder how this person ended up homeless.

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  2. Oh dear - too awful and in this dreadfully cold weather. I hope some kind person takes pity on him and he gets a meal and a bed. Probably wishful thinking... We too have homeless people in Menton but at least it's not so cold down here.

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  3. I think I meant "sobering", but feeling "somber". :-|

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  4. I wish I could give him some warm clothes or a blanket. Since I'm not there...I'd probably just do the same for someone who needs it here.

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  5. I don't know about the rest of the viewers, but I see a story when I look at your photos, Eric. This one is truly sad. I do hope that this person finds 2011 a better year. Merci for the reminder to look out for others.

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  6. we have to remember that some of the homeless want it that way, believe it or not. I have a brother who is homeless and I begged him twice to come live with me, but he refused and went back to the highways and the missions of the Pacific Northwest. I don't know if he's dead or alive. This is life with all its sadness.

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  7. I see more and more homeless people every year on my annual spring visits to Paris. I've asked a number of French people about this, and all say that there is no reason for anyone to be homeless in France (unlike the U.S. where there is not always help available). I would like to know more as I've never been sure I've been getting the real story. Your photo is indeed a terrible reminder...and the cold must be unbearable.
    -- Elizabeth

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  8. IF, you had time to stop and take a photo, why did you not have time to give the person a few euros to get a not meal or some help

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  9. This illstrates all too well that when one is whining about how bad things may seem, if you look you can find someone with much better comprehension of BaD.

    Great photo doc. :) peace to you.

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  10. This is a really terrible picture, but as you said, it is also one face of Paris and should not be forgotten. I visited Paris for the first time in December and was kind of shocked how many poor people one can see on the streets. It's really, really sad.

    Thanks for sharing!

    I wish you and all a happy new year.

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  11. Je suis parisienne et je suis d'accord avec vous tous pour dire que c'est effroyable, inhumain,surtout dans la Ville des Lumières, mais sachez que la Mairie de Paris propose en hiver des Maisons avec des dortoirs, du café, un repas, des douches,mais que ces personnes que vous voyez sur cette photo REFUSENT, parce que, entre elles, la nuit, on peut leur voler le peu qu'ils possèdent, parce que les odeurs y sont nauséabondes, parce que leurs amis les chiens ne sont pas admis parce qu'il peut y avoir de la violence etc...et...quelles aiment encore mieux le froid, leur SOLITUDE. C'est affreux.

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  12. Merci Anonymous pour cet éclairage fort intéressant. Il y a des animaux solitaires par nature et d'autres qui préfèrent le groupe. Je crois qu'il y a un peu de ça aussi dans l'espèce humaine. Quel choix ferions-nous nous-mêmes si des circonstances terribles nous plaçaient en situation de survie? Honnêtement, à la lumière de ce que vous décrivez, la question se pose alors même que cette photo est terriblement choquante. Merci pour cette invitation à la réflexion. Le film "Into the wild" s'en approche, à mon avis de manière vibrante et ... pertubante. Bien sûr, il y en a d'autres mais celui-ci me vient à l'esprit.

    Flore

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  13. yes, i think the same way. i don't complain anymore of cold weather, i know people having a harder time than us here in paris. One more thing, you mention " I do hope that someone took him or her in for a hot meal and some dry, warm clothes and that 2011 turns out better for them" Instead of waiting for someone else to do it, why we don't step up and do it.

    good night ;)

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  14. I can tell you why you see so many homeless now. It is a combination of the crisis and Sarko politics who has cut social programs to the bone. I'm sorry for the guy whose brother chose to be homeless, but then again, we only have half the story. Several years ago, I was working on a project and offered the work to some homeless in exchange for shelter, food and a small compensation. It saved me a ton of money and they all got the work done on time. I got to know their stories and none of them wanted to be there. Each one had a unique story that got them to this point. The truth is that when most of them needed the help, the help wasn't there. There is a saying, "when you smile, the world smiles with you; when you cry, you cry alone." Many of these homeless do have dogs, because it's the only real friend they have left in this world. And these shelters that are supposed to help, force them to choose between a bed and their best friend. Could you sleep in a warm bed and leave your dog to die in the streets? I know I couldn't. I don't have a right to vote in France, but I hope each and everyone of you remember that "someone" is you when you go to vote.

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