Our View: A donation stirs a controversial pot as readers sound
off on whether the donation of a TV set to the homeless shelter is
a misguided effort or a compassionate gesture
There’s been quite a dust-up since some kind-hearted people who regularly gather at the Alter Ego Cafe for breakfast revealed they donated a TV set to the homeless shelter. Some readers found this to be incredibly ironic: TV instead of food and clothing … only in America. And the Alter Ego folks took the criticism hard: No good deed goes unpunished. Though the criticism is understandable, it’s not warranted.
There is more to managing a homeless shelter than food, warm blankets and a cot to sleep in. If a TV helps to gather people and maintain order, it’s an asset that the shelter is fortunate to have. Only in America? Probably. This is a land of great abundance and generosity.
Is the idea of people getting together to give a TV set to the homeless shelter so repugnant, so fundamentally wrong, that people who donated it should be shamed?
Of course not. But it is certainly understandable that some people hold that view. Homeless people need so many more fundamental things. Some of those basics – like transitional housing – substance abuse programs and mental health counseling aren’t available in abundance. And, of course, many would reject those offers even if the programs were available.
Thus, homelessness is a vexing problem. Even in a generous and compassionate community like Gilroy, progress is slow. But at least we are trying. Donating a TV to the homeless shelter fits into the category of positive effort.
A TV provides a focal point for a gathering place and serves as a sort of “crowd control” device. Having the folks come in and read “War and Peace” together is not an option. In a sense, the TV creates a sense of community and a place that is more like “home.” We’d rather see more coming to the shelter and less spending the night in a park, under a bridge or in the thick reeds of Uvas Creek.
We’d also like to leave a word to our readers. This page belongs, in large measure, to you. The Opinion page serves as a place where all kinds of community debates are aired. That’s a good thing.
At its best, the debates are civil and on point – not focused, for example, on whether this or that person is someone who would be a good marriage partner for another. At worst, the discourse retreats into personal attacks.
Expressing varying opinions is healthy. Be vociferous and bold, certainly. Tame opinions are milk toast for the mind. But be respectful – whether or not you believe a TV is an appropriate donation to the homeless shelter.
