Gosh it must be loads of fun to kill poor, old folks in wheelchairs.

[Philosoraptor]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070408/ap_on_re_us/preying_on_the_homeless;_ylt=Ao8386h_a_R6lTGnjSK2gIHMWM0F

A 2006 report by the National Coalition for the Homeless found 142 attacks last year against homeless people, 20 of which resulted in death — a 65 percent increase from 2005, when 86 were violently assaulted, including 13 homicides.
--------

An overwhelming majority of the attackers — 88 percent — were 25 or younger; 95 percent were male. No less than 68 percent of those accused and convicted in attacks were between the ages of 13 and 19.
------

In Butte, Mont., a 53-year-old homeless man was killed at a Greyhound bus depot because he refused to give another man a cigarette, according to court records. The victim's skull was fractured. The 22-year-old assailant received a 50-year prison sentence.

_In Spokane, Wash., a one-legged, 50-year-old homeless man was set on fire in his wheelchair on a downtown street; he died of his burns. Police charged a 22-year-old man with first-degree murder.

-----------------

What fucking country am I in again?.....oh yeah, America.

[crikkett]

1. Jesus Christ what is happening to our young people?

You know what will happen? Our vets are going to come home, a certain percentage will find themselves on the streets, and pound the everloving * out of someone who tries this on them.

And then it will be the vet's fault.

I'm so sorry this is happening.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Make that brain-damaged, PTSD vets.

Yippee.

[Monkeyman]

4. The Number of Homeless Vets is 250,000

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. hey, unless you've tried it, don't knock it. sheesh.

the way america and american society treats the elderly is hideous. IN our race to maintain yute (BOTOX, plastic surgery, drugs and more) we have made eternal youth the emblem of success.

Bullshit. Aging, growing, getting old are all natural processes. Trying to avoid death is as stupid as voting republican.

Would I want to return to the age of 25, having avoided all the good, bad, horrible, learning, trying, and crazy times inbetween? No way. Would I want to live forever? not the way our world is going.

Most cultures, including my spousette's, adore and cherish elder folks. They offer wisdom, insight, experience, and comfort. Technology may eclipse them, but it always has. That makes their experience that much more important. Hell, they had to deal with the development of the phone, the plane, the computer, the a-bomb, and more. THAT is what we can learn from them. especially with new technologies biting us in our collective ass.

[lizerdbits]

5. This is just incomprehensible to me

The Bumfights DVD sellers say they are trying to "call attention to poverty and violence"? Please.

[crikkett]

6. I forgot about the bumfights dvds! That should be a hate crime.

[krispos42]

7. Yet when they fight back they are villianized on this site

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x128303

[progdonkey]

9. that's very misleading...

Your comment implies that it's the majority opinion, but looking at that thread, it's clear that there were only a few people who were actually saying that lady was wrong to fight back (especially one particular poster), while the overwhelming majority of other posters all sided with the woman.

To take that and conclude that homeless people (which the lady wasn't, incidentally--she was just handicapped) are "villainized" on DU is like saying that Howard Dean is "villainized" because a few posters here and there have only bad things to say about him.

[krispos42]

11. I said nothing about majority opinion

The handicapped lady in the wheelchair's actions, and the concept of violent self-defense was, however, continually and stridently criticized by people that did not back down from their position despite being in the minority.

Perhaps "villainized" was too strong of a word. "Strongly criticized" might have been a better description.

Regardless, it only takes a few. Holy Joe LIEberman is only one person, yes his constant vocalizations against the Democratic party are disproportionally effective and publicized.

And while it is true she was not homeless, she was particularly helpless and being preyed upon by cowardly scum looking for an easy target, just like homeless people sleeping in a park or alley may be surprised and beaten by such low-lifes. In the story, one of the victims was both homeless AND in a wheelchair! :grr:

This kind of criminal is looking for easy marks. Elderly, handicapped, malnurished, mentally and/or physically ill, delusional... all are targets for this kind of scum.

[Erika]

8. Republicanism at work

Mock the weak, the poor, the homeless.

[progdonkey]

10. and take what you want, preferably by violence...

Homeless guy won't give you a cigarette? Beat him over the head and take it! That's the Republican way.

[Swamp Rat]

12. .

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[BayCityProgressive]

13. I wish these people were all taken into the streets

and shot. Sorry, I usedto be against the death penalty and would probably still vote to end it if I had the option..but I am so sick of this shit and my blood just boils when I hear about it now. This country is seriously fucking sick. We are in decline and we deserve to be.

[Swamp Rat]

14. It should certainly be considered a hate crime.

From the article you posted in GD:

"Twenty-six members of Congress have asked the Government Accountability Office to determine whether attacks on the homeless should be classified as hate crimes under federal law.

In the meantime, homeless hate-crime bills are moving through the legislatures of six states: Maryland, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Texas and Florida."

I hope they hurry up with this legislation!

[BayCityProgressive]

15. you know what would be even better

if they housed them!

[Swamp Rat]

16. What do you mean?

What is "housed them?" :shrug:

[BayCityProgressive]

17. sorry

rather than making hate crimes for homeless people..just end homelessness.

[Swamp Rat]

18. Oh, you were referring to the homeless.

I absolutely agree!

[AgadorSparticus]

19. I didn't see your post. I just posted this myself. I am so disgusted.

:scared::scared::scared::scared::scared: