A NEW SPIRIT

A NEW SPIRIT

We have a new year and tomorrow we'll have a new President. As we move forward in these new days and times of the 21st century, it is important that we move and act in the right spirit. That spirit is the spirit of brotherhood, sisterhood and the common good. Moving forward in a spirit of humanity and not a spirit of hostility.

We can't act justly or wisely by attacking established interest indiscriminately and without careful thought. It's easy to point fingers and lay blame, or launch into rhetorical verse with catchy phrases and cheap attacks. It's easy to condemn wrongdoing and not provide concrete answers or sound ideas for improvements; but that doesn't bring change or confidence of reform.
Reform will come only with careful thinking and planning as to what's in the best interest of the people and what's the most effective way of expressing our desires to the people who have the power to make these changes.

In a self-governed, democratic country there is one interest that benefits everybody and that is the common interest and we will not achieve our goals with incendiary words and bitterness of heart. This will only make it impossible to think clearly, act calmly and move rationally toward that spirit of change.

Those who wish to stand-back, hold out or hold off and not participate in frank discussion in search of common goals can only blame them selves when they find themselves on the outside looking in.We the people must have the conviction and determination to see wrongs made right, the weak made strong, the hungry made whole and humanity sweep across all the nations of the world.

In this spirit we will find new hope, a breath of fresh air, a renewed spirit and the eternal optimism you feel when watching the first rays of a new rising Sun. This should be our spirit in the fight for reform, in the fight for justice and the struggle for equality. The future is not in partisan politics or business as usual, the future is for great ideas, common sense thinking and bold measures for the good of all humanity. The future will be in the hands of the people and guided by the spirit of the people. The future will be driven by the people and pushed by people who are statesmen and not bandits, dictators or demagogues. Statesmen that are not in love with the title of office, but in love with the duty of office and excited about the opportunity to serve the people.

I believe we are witnessing a rebirth of public opinion, a revival of the power of the people and the beginning of a new age in democracy. This new age will be brought on by people of all colors, all religions and all backgrounds working hand in hand together for a better world. With this rebirth we will show our new spirit, we will serve freedom, justice and equality. We will try to bring this world closer to harmony and humanity.

Our march to freedom and equality begins right here, right now and I implore you to join with us, stand shoulder to shoulder with ARISE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. Lift yourself above the maze of positions and politics and in the spirit of true crusaders stand ready to dedicate yourself to the cause of liberating the citizens of your city, your state, your country and the world from the bondage and oppression of special interests, corporate greed and little minds with little vision. Stand with us and join with ARISE in ushering in this new day. Raise your voices for freedom, stand your ground for justice, never back down from moral positions on equality and democracy. Fight for whats right and let our leaders know they are accountable to the people!

Help us keep this country strong; give ARISE your support both physically, financially and spiritually. Come fight for freedom, come help keep our country free. We extend an open invitation to you to join ARISE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WE ARE ON THE MARCH!

Don James
President:
ARISE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Letter to the Editor "Voices of homeless too often unheard"

Voices of homelVoices of homeless too often unheard
I'm surprised by the bias exposed in the story about efforts to curb panhandling in downtown Northampton (The Republican, Oct. 27).
The reporter interviewed only one source against the ordinance, while citing three sources for it. The reporter didn't even speak to members of Poverty Is Not A Crime, a loosely affiliated organization of street people, community organizers, city citizens, local business owners and student activists, supported by the Freedom Center, Arise for Social Justice, and the Northampton chapter of Food Not Bomb, that are allied against the ordinance - despite our sending a press release. We've spoken out at the last three City Council meetings, held a protest that involved 50 people or more right before the last meeting and have handed out information to the public almost daily, motivating many to sign our petition or call their city councilors urging them to vote against the ordinance.
Many of us do social service work, and we know that while there are a few proverbial bad apples, most people on the street are exactly what they say they are: homeless and/or poverty ridden and in need. Statements by Mayor Clare Higgins and other city officials that most or many panhandlers are not needy is specious and insulting. Our work in local social justice organizations proves it's not so.
For the vast majority, it still takes desperation to submit to the humiliation of begging. Despite what Northampton does for the poor, a great many of them are forced into this humiliation, because it's just not enough. There's a huge dearth of low-income housing in this city, the Grove Street shelter only has 16 beds, only four for women, and the winter shelter won't even double this number, while the need is much, much larger - and funding has been cut yet again to the shelters this year. Welfare doesn't cover the cost of living for more than a week out of a month in a place like Northampton, and in this economy, there are very, very few jobs available, especially for unskilled laborers. There are no job-training programs available to low income people here. Food is incredibly expensive for the homeless, as they have no place to store, refrigerate or cook it, forcing them to buy expensive pre-prepared foodsand there are only a few free meals available a week, while the Survival Center is little advertised, far away and out of the way from Main Street. The story also doesn't mention the fact that, despite the rhetoric, this ordinance wouldn't regulate panhandling, it would outlaw it. Just look at the language of the legislation. Can you think of a place where there's foot traffic, where it's possible to panhandle that's 5 feet away from the entrance to any building, 15 feet away from any parking meter, parking pay box, ATM, bank, pay phone, etc., not on a bench, not under any overpass? And the list goes on.
As for "aggressive" panhandling, there are already laws on the books against harassment - there's no need for a class-specific law. And despite the self-conscious addition of charity solicitation to the legislation, make no mistake, it's a class-specific law.
As for fears of violence from panhandlers, most homeless/poor people are much more likely to be victims of violence, while middle/upper class people in Northampton are much more likely to suffer violence at the hands of someone in their own class, especially in a domestic violence context.
CATY SIMON
member
Poverty Is Not A Crime
Arise for Social Justice and the Free
dom
Northampton ess too often unheard