Letter to the Editor: Response to Sandra Weaver

By Jeffrey Herman, San Clemente

Sandra Weaver wrote a heartfelt letter to the San Clemente Times in its Dec. 12 issue regarding the homeless, blaming government and society for their situation.

Let’s look at a couple of facts, which are undeniable:

1. Every person’s present-day condition can almost always be traced back to decisions he or she made earlier in life; neither the government nor society is responsible for the continual bad decisions a person makes.
2. Every person living on the street is someone’s son or daughter, someone’s brother or sister, someone’s father or mother. Where are the relatives of the homeless? Why aren’t they reaching out to their own family member living on the street?

I’m sure if Ms. Weaver discovered she had a homeless relative, she wouldn’t hesitate to assist that family member in some way. (You would, right, Sandra?)

To show the rest of us how sincere Ms. Weaver is, why doesn’t she invite a homeless person into her own home—surely, she has a spare room, or can set aside space in her garage or backyard, and provide nourishment and care to that person.

Doing so would set an example for the rest of us that compassion and responsibility begin with each concerned individual.