We must open everyone's eyes to homelessness
I don't understand. Has our community really gone so far to avoid looking at hard problems to let a vulnerable man be murdered? On the Fourth of July when most of us were visting parades and eating hot dogs a homeless man was beaten to death. It was in broad daylight. It was in one of the most heavily traveled areas of Boston. But, no one seemed to notice. Did people choose not to notice?
This morning the Boston Globe ran a story about this man, and the last invisible moments of his life. Timothy Finch was 40 years old and a U.S. Army veteran. Mr. Finch was murdered near the corner of Union and North Streets at Faneuil Hall marketplace. The author of the article says a 20 year old man who frequents the area believes most people don't pay attention to homeless people. Why is this the case? What is it we don't want to see? Illness? Fear? Poverty? We all know it exists. We owe it to each other to acknowledge it. Turning a blind eye does absolutely nothing to slve the problems, and in fact can only make it worse.
It occurs to me that over the holiday weekend I saw a good deal of coverage about violent incidents on the local news stations. I didn't hear one word about this killing, though. In a local suburb a young man was shot to death and his killers were sought using helicopters and a full team of law enforcement. Did we see the same response to Mr. Finch's killing?
As I write this I struggle with what I want to say. I'm dumbfounded and sad. I want to write something meaningful - a call to action maybe. I can't find the words, though. All I can think is that I don't understand. I'll end this post with a request to my readers: respond to this with thoughts of your own. Share what you will do to not turn a blind eye.
TIM WAS MY UNCLE
Tim was not homeless. He was on a life journey that he had to complete on his own. He was in his favorite part of the city. He grew up in Boston and loved Fanueil Hall.
Tim was my uncle. He was a father of two children, a brother,cousin, nephew and friend. He faced many challenges in life but was steadily making his journey.
On July 4th, my family joined a host of other families who lost someone to violence. It appears that Tim's death started the parade of deaths that day. All violent and all unneccesary. More troubling
is that there were hundreds of witnesses who could have possibly altered the outcome. Though someone called 911, how long did it take while he lay in cardiac arrest? How much pain does another human
being have to be in before we remember where our moral compass points? Last time I checked, my compass said "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7). I know we all do not
prescribe to the same beliefs, but one thing should be universal- everyine deserves compassion. EVERYONE.
As my family grieves, we do not only grieve for Tim- we grieve for the state of a society where this can happen to anyone. We grieve because he will not be the last. We grieve like the family of the
senior citizen in Connecticut who was the victim of a hit and run. He too lay bleeding and no one comforted him while waiting for 911 to arrive. When will we find an ounce of compassion and a speck of
faith to be the first to respond regardless of the fear of getting involved.
Again, My uncle Tim was not just some homeless man with an insignificant life. He was on a life journey that he had to complete on his own. He was a father of two children, a brother,cousin,
nephew and friend. He faced many challenges in life but was steadily making his journey. He would be proud that he left a mark on your heart and those like you willing to act. Thank you.
A nobody is still somebody.
It pains me to know that this death has gone unnoticed. Homeless people are more than what they just sound like. They are more than just people who do not have homes. Somewhere out there they are someone's parents, siblings, children, or even friends. And somewhere someone cares about them.
Thank you.
Kimberley,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on my post about your uncle. You were far more eloquent than I ever could have hoped to be. I appreciate your willingness to share a little more about what your uncle was like. I think we all need to remember to consider one another and to recognize our common humanity. Maybe that's the starting point for remembering which way our moral compass points when it really counts - as you suggest.
My heart is with you and your family during this terrible time. The small amount I have learned about your uncle has strengthened my resolve to do my part, and I'm sure your inspirational thoughts have left the other readers of this blog with a lot to think about. Thank you again for getting involved in this way and encouraging all of us to get involved with our community.
More on Tim
Kimberley,
I second Liz. I'm really glad you posted about your uncle. It matters a great deal to hear about the details of a person's life, about their family, their perspectives. After reading Liz's post and your comment, I found today's Boston Herald Story on your uncle. For those who haven't read it, It's here.
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