Coins in the fountain: sign of the times.

[DemoTex]

I saw a poignant sight early Sunday morning as we walked the dogs down Main Street in downtown Greenville, SC. There was a homeless man, who I often see and speak with, at the fountain by the Hyatt hotel. It was about 45-degrees, but he had his sleeves rolled up and was using a stick to rake coins to the edge of the fountain where he would plunge his arm in the cold water and come up with a fistful of coins. It didn't surprise me; it just saddened me. Bu$h has squandered hundreds of billions on death and destruction and this man has to fish for a few coins for a cup of hot coffee on a cold Sunday morning.

[tubbacheez]

1. I hope he bought breakfast instead.

Coffee is wonderful. But it doesn't go far in terms of nutrition.


Back when I was destitute, every cent went toward calories first, shelter second, and clothing third.

[DemoTex]

3. Having worked in soup kitchens, I know exactly what you mean.

I was just using "coffee" figuratively. I hope he got enough for a rib-sticking breakfast at Tommy's Country Ham House (in walking distance a few blocks away). I give him a little folding money every few weeks. He is a nice guy. Sometimes I have to get up in the wee hours to walk my sick dog down Main Street. I see this guy and feel like he would help me if there were any trouble. When I am back in G-ville next week I'll find out his name.

[dbt]

4. Good on you!

[tubbacheez]

Sounds like you have about as neighborly of a relationship as one can.

And yeah, I had a hunch that you were using "coffee" symbolically to mean the basics of living, but I had to pipe up anyway.

There are far too many homeless and hungry who don't know how to efficiently use the little money they get.


One hot summer day, I was stopped at a light and was approached by a panhandler. He was completely sunburnt and looked really parched. I gave him $5 and my water bottle, telling him to stay hydrated.

He tried to refuse the water, saying "Oh, I'll just take this $5 and go get a milkshake at McDonalds."

I insisted and told him that thick, concentrated soy-milk-and-corn-syrup shake would do about as much for his thirst as a jumbo serving of fries.

I'm not sure if he believed me.

[nedlogg]

2. Yes it is sad

But the corporate neocon scum that run our country will tell you that America is the land of opportunity and he's homeless by his own choice.

[DemoTex]

6. The presence of a Fundy "university" in Greenville (Bob Jones) ..

.. is not an irony that is lost on me either. The "Christian" BoJos revel in Bu$h's wars against Islam and the poor, but they would have this poor soul's black ass thrown under the Greenville County jail if he ever set foot on their sacred campus to try to score a coin or two from their fountain.

[mcscajun]

5. What's worse is someday someone is going to have him arrested.

There's always some stink somewhere about folks removing coins from fountains.

Sad, but true. Hope your guy fares differently.