voicesforinclusion.org

It breaks the spirit to see the homeless out on the streets. What is really heartbreaking is knowing that there has been a rise in homelessness in the past couple of years. Even though unemployment has fallen, we are still seeing an increase in people living on the streets. How can we consider the United States to be the richest nation despite homelessness being a big problem? What we really should be ashamed of as a nation is how the homeless are treated. It’s one thing to kick a poor person when they’re down, which may eventually lead to homelessness. But when we then take away whatever safety nets they can rely on to stay alive, we as a nation have done something despicable.

When you’re homeless, who do you voice your complaints to? Who do you call? Who do you write to? How do you amass a protest? When you’re living at home, even paycheck to paycheck, you can afford to make some calls, send letters and e-mails, and get in touch with those who share your frustration and protest about whatever problem you have. But when you’re homeless, those ideas are on the backburner. Your attention is on your next meal. The place where you’re going to sleep.

It’s because of the above reasons that the homeless have to rely on those with homes, those with the time and commitment to provide a podium for the concerns of those without a permanent place to stay. Considering that the homeless speak for little for themselves as they are always on the go and generally keep to themselves, they have become easy targets by Congress. Congressmen looking to slash budgets have looked to programs that support them because they’re not seeing any money coming from them in return. Is this how we are supposed to view people? As components of a transaction? Never mind that these Congressmen cannot look at the long-term potential: by getting people off the street and giving them a new leg to stand on, you will have added to the labor force, which provides the labor and the money to keep the economy running.

This refusal to target benefits to the poor and destitute is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. Of course with the aim being so far away, politicians don’t see exactly what’s going on. They only deal with the here and now, and fail to be concerned with the future at stake.

The United States has a problems that it needs to overcome. One of the problems is the problem of ageism. When we think of ageism, we typically think of discrimination against senior citizens. However, there is another problem of ageism that gets overlooked, and that is one where children, those under 18, are unfairly discriminated against. Of course, children are not facing the same kind of ageism as their senior counterparts, though there are some shared similarities with the type of discrimination both groups face.

One of the problem areas that society needs to address regarding our children is the issue of bullying. Bullying continues to get widespread attention because of teen suicides. But what is being done? If you ask the children, they will respond that very little is done to curtail the bullies’ behavior. It’s not just preventive measures that we need to focus on. We also need to tackle the problem of the lax punishment. If you look at the harassment, the threat of physical violence, intimidation, and the actual assault done by the bullies, you have to wonder why they get off so easy. Why is it that the schools do not administer tougher sanctions against the delinquents?

If you consider what the bullies are guilty of and compare that to the punishment that awaits an adult who does that same thing to another adult, you have to wonder why the school administration does not take bulling just as serious. For adults, there would probably be at least a protective order requiring the guilty person to be “x” amount of feet away from the victim. There could also be some jail time, and perhaps imprisonment. Although imprisonment for young kids won’t be look at favorable, why aren’t we sending more of the bullies to detention centers to finish the rest of their education? Most of the bullies get off with a few days of suspension.

This takes us to the next point, and that is the under estimation of a child’s mind. While the brain has not yet fully developed, and it doesn’t stop until a person reaches their 20s, a child is more than aware of what they’re doing, particularly those who are in the average age range of bullies. A 13-year old boy or girl knows what they’re doing when punching or kicking another child.

 This is a form of ageism, as it discriminates against young people, claiming that they’re simply being immature. It is no different than the behavior patterns exhibited by some adults. We need communities to take an active role in holding kids, especially teens, accountable, least we want to lose out on the innocent ones who take their own life as a means of escape.

Unfortunately the United States does not have a reputation for respecting the elderly population. When you think about countries in Asia, what often comes to mind is reverence for the elders. But with the United States, senior citizens are often mocked and marginalized. But with the baby boomer population entering their golden years, we are realizing that we have a major problem in regards to how we treat seniors. More than ever, we need to direct our attention our neglect of the aging population. We need to change course in how we treat the elderly.

As we grow older, there is so much more at stake. First of all, our health is not what it used to be. The aging process takes it toll on the human body. Organs do not have the same vitality they once had when they were younger. As a result, seniors experience a lot more health complications than the younger populations. These health issues cost a lot of money to either resolve or keep under control. Extensive care is needed to treat elderly patients. Nursing homes that provide round the clock care for those who cannot help themselves can be extremely expensive. For those who are living on a budget, the prospects of living day to day is burdensome. However, programs that are aimed to help seniors find themselves facing cutbacks when politicians are trying to limit government spending.

Another problem that needs to be addressed is ageism. As mentioned above, the cost of living is increasing and seniors are at risk of having health issues. To deal with these problems, an elderly person will need financial resources. But many are having a hard time getting their hands on their money, especially if they are forced to retire from their place of employment. Additionally, if the senior is retired and is compelled to re-enter the workforce, it is very difficult for them to find a job. Employers have been known to reluctantly hire elderly persons. Seniors have to deal with preconceived notions about their capabilities. Employers may have the belief that an elderly person may not work for the company long enough, though the same could be said of young adults who are also known for their high turnaround. Another reason why some companies are not looking forward to hire seniors is because of health concerns. They believe the elderly employees would take a lot of sick days off.

It’s apparent though that these preconceived notions about our nation’s seniors will have to change or put aside. There are going to be a lot of older persons looking for employment in the coming years who will need as much financial help as they can possibly get.

Pets have always been great companions to mankind. By treating them right they will remain loyal. Some pet owners have such a great relationship with their pets that they treat them as if they were their own kids. It should not be a surprise how this kind of bond forms. With this capacity for mutual admiration, it is sickening to learn of the abusive practices some pet owners engage in. It’s a cold hard fact that some people should not be pet owners. Just as there are people who are incompetent parents and abusive their children, it is clear that not everyone is meant to be the owner of a pet.

Unfortunately for the pet, the chance for escape is minimal. A dog may be kept locked in its cage. Or even if the pet is free to roam the house or even the backyard, there is little opportunity to break free. But more heartbreaking is that the spirits of these animals may be so broken that escape is hopeless, and they remain, suffering in silence. This is the fate that many abused animals have to endure. It is time that the public takes a more vested interest in these animals who are unable to speak out against the abuse they endure.

One of the primary steps is public awareness. Not just about pet abuse, but also about the responsibility of taking care of a pet. Some people treat their pets like accessories, or simple possessions, when they are of course much more than that. They are living beings. Beings who can be happy or sad. Beings who experience pain, hunger, excitement, and love. It is downright criminal to be neglectful of your duties as a pet owner, because you have taken on a responsibility. If the public can become much more aware of all that entails to be a pet owner, perhaps it can weed out those who are unfit.

Another initiative is for people to become much more attentive about the pets in your neighborhood. Granted, it may be hard to find abused pets as they tend to be locked up in the owner’s residence. However, if by chance you were to come across an animal that has been abused, or is suspected of being abused, be sure to report your suspicious to the local authorities. Though you should exercise caution because the abused pets that wind up in animal shelters are sometimes taken in by new owners. And you don’t want to accuse the new owner as the one who abused the pet.

Listening to the news has been very difficult. Whether you’re watching a news program, listening to talk radio, reading it in a newspaper, magazine, or online, there has been a very disturbing trend in Congress. It’s really not just in Congress, but in state congresses across the country.

I’m talking about the War on Women.

At VoicesforInclusion, we never thought that there would need to be an article devoted to the plight of women’s rights. Women make up half of the population, or perhaps a little more than half. Women have made great progress over the past couple of decades. We have been very comfortable, to say the least, with the way things have been going. Even though there is still much to do. Women are a lot better off now than they were in the 60s and 70s.

Well who knew that some men, and unfortunately some women, were just seething to women back to the past. What adds insult to injury is the language used in some of these bills. These people really take women to be fools. If you read the bills, you could see what little respect they have for women. Plain and simple, the bills passed by GOP representatives do not see women as equals, and this is terrifying.

It is hard to fathom that there are politicians willing to take the country back to decades past. We understand about politicians fighting about issues of the day. But I think for most women, we thought the battle regarding contraceptions and the like have been over. Yet the issue is apparently still a major one for some conservatives.

Those who are paying attention to how women voted have noticed a dramatic shift. Since this War on Women began, women have thrown more of their support behind President Obama’s reelection efforts. In fact, Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney actually have more women than Obama supporting him, but this War has shifted the opinion of many women, and President Obama is overwhelmingly favored by more women than Romney. If this trend continues, there could be another tide shift in state and local politics if this keeps up. Whether or not representatives will read the writing on the wall is up to them. But they would be a fool to dismiss it.

Can anyone feel the momentum for GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender) rights? I can. And I gotta tell you–oh, what a feeling!!!

As far back as I personally can remember, the momentum was pretty strong in the 1990s, though definitely not as strong as it is today. With a lot of focus on HIV/AIDs, which hit the gay community pretty hard, GLBT civil rights seemed to go hand-in-hand. Though with the 2000 elections and the battles fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, the media’s attention shyed away from what was still bubbling beneath the surface, and that was the determination for equality. State by state we were winning battles. And each successful battle was preparing us for the war on equality.

This time around, the momentum is getting stronger and louder. The best part of it is how many young people are now involved with this movement. Before, it was mostly adults. But now the young people are also making their voices heard. I think the reason for this is that coming out is now more commonplace, and people are coming out at younger ages. The more people come out, the easier it will be for others to do the same. That’s what appears to be happening, and I’m glad to witness this moment.

We have already put an end to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT), and now we have our sights set on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which I believe can be reversed with the results of the upcoming elections. Of course the bigger question is whether we are going to see same-sex marriages legal in all 50 states anytime soon. Depending on who’s sitting on the Supreme Court of the United States, I think that will be a possibility.