The article published on March 18 concerning new design possibilities for Whitman Park invites us to see individuals who currently use the park belonging to a different class of persons. In the article, these individuals are referred to as “transients,” they are contrasted with the “general public” and they are said to have “over run” the park. It is almost as if some foreign group of individuals or non-persons has taken over what rightly belongs to the community.

On what basis are these individuals seen as not belonging to the “general public”? If they were children or college students would we say they were “using the park regularly” or that they had “over run” it? Why does this park need to be ‘reclaimed’ when it is being used by members of the community? Aren’t these people, like all people, our neighbors? And isn’t that the simple truth of the Good Samaritan parable?

Perhaps the underlying issue here is fear of those individuals who use park. If that is the case, why do we fear them? In my limited experience, I have found that the time my family spends with individuals in our community who lack housing nearly always invites a spirit of peace and joy. Is there empirical evidence that the individuals currently using the park present a real threat? Is the problem the folks in the park or the attitude we have towards them?

As part of a full-scale effort to “re-claim” the park, I’d suggest first that folks pack up a brown bag, head to the park and see what all the fuss is about. Second, I’d suggest we all take a good look at our own hearts and minds to ensure we are reacting kindly and sensibly rather than out of prejudice. Maybe what we need is not an additional $33,000 in study but a simple increase in compassion and understanding.

JOHN MOK-LAMME
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 at 1:36 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.