Job in need: Civil Servant in Washington D.C.

November 26th, 2006 at 09:09pm rochelle 35

This morning I attended mass at St. Matthews Cathedral in D.C. (www.stmatthewscathedral.org/phototour.html) The church was built in the 1800's and seats the Archbishop of Washington. Mass was celebrated there by the late Pope John Paul II-however the church is famously known for the fact that President John F. Kennedy funeral was held there on Nov. 25, 1963. 43 years later and almost to the day I am attending mass. While I am blown away by the beauty of the church the main thing I notice while at mass is the amount of homeless people who are attending church. Some with suitcases in hand, some with grocery sacks others with children. After mass there are homeless people outside with cups in hand asking for money-it reminds me of Las Vegas where homeless people hang outside the casinos asking for money. Later this afternoon while driving in D.C. every park I see is full of homeless people, sleeping on benches and the grass-in my mind I flashback for a moment to an image from the Gulf.The White House is 5 blocks away from where I am and a few blocks in another direction is the U.S. Capitol along with the Senate Buildings and the Supreme Court. Our government is within walking distance and for me it doesn't take a natural disaster to realize there is a homeless problem in our nation's capital. St. Matthew is the patron saint of civil servants. I truly understand why President John F. Kennedy funeral was held there. 43 years later and our nation capital is still in need of a civil servant.

Seen in Georgetown today on a t-shirt "Stop bitching and start a revolution".

Entry Filed under: Politics, Travel

3 Comments Add your own

1. alpha6 | November 27th, 2006 at 11:07 am

Right now, the economy in this country is such that anyone willing to work can find a job. I would bet that a majority (though not all) of the homeless people you saw are there out of choice. The fact that you stated it was in the afternoon that these people were sleeping in parks is indicative of just what is really going on. Washington DC has numerous shelters, missions and other resources available, why aren't these people taking advantage of them?

Since when is it the federal governments job to bail out someone who doesn't want to work? Washington DC has its own government, which should be addressing these local problems. However, it has an extensive history of corruption and incompetence, I mean these are the people who voted that crack addict Marion Berry back into office.

We don't need a revolution, we need to get people to stop whining, take some responsibility and get a job!
2. rochelle | November 27th, 2006 at 8:13 pm

Alpha 6 thanks for your comments. I wish it was easy as applying for a job. I personally think the homeless problem is deeper than what I've seen on the surface. To me it seems that a high percentage of the homeless I have encountered are in need of mental health services.

As for your inquiry on shelters...most shelters are only opened at night-so that is why one see's a mass amount of homeless during the day, and why many take refuge in churches.

I understand your frustration on the burden of the economy and your note of the history of politics in D.C.

During the recent general election a 35 year old was elected Mayor and the capital is hoping for sweeping changes.

For me it just is always shocking and frustrating to see government so close and yet so far away. I guess I just take President Lincoln statement to heart; "We hold the power, and bare the responsibility"

Anyway-again thanks for your comments.
3. alpha6 | November 28th, 2006 at 7:35 pm

You know, you may be right about the mental heath problems....must be something in the water....and looking at our representatives in the nations capital, it's not just the homeless who are suffering from it. : )