Why have we forsaken Peter?

I moved to Woodbrook in 1984 – about six months later an old man appeared on the streets – destitute (we called the homeless that back then before “vagrant” became the new buzz word), obviously brain-addled and haunted. I used to give him food and chat with him – his name was Peter and though he may have been a bit pixilated, he sure had enough sense to come to the kitchen window and shout out “aye” whenever he was on my street, knowing I would give him a plate of food – that was 27 years ago. Peter is still on the streets of Woodbrook, worse off than before, barefooted, his testicles swollen to burst with a hernia, its pitiful to see him trying to urinate. Where are social services or his fellow man?

I tried but I could not do it alone. He lurches among the traffic of Wrightson Road everyday yet no one gives a second glance – they laugh because he fights imaginary people, throwing punches at them in the empty air.

Do you think this guy cares about a heaven or a hell after the life he has seen this past quarter century? Even death has deserted him. About seven months ago, an old lady “moved into” the bus stand outside Credit Chex on Wrightson Road, in full view of traffic day and night. She spreads cardboard on the pavement underneath it and sleeps there, changes her clothes there, brings bags of garbage there everyday and sorts through them in full view of the motoring public – despite daily traffic gridlock. Who slows down to even notice?

There are homeless in St James who have been there since my father opened his clothing store on the Western Main Road in 1974. I still see them when I drive through that area – who cares about them?

We have reached the lowest depths that we can ever sink to – we care more for our pets than we do about our fellow human beings. This isn’t mankind anymore – maybe we should give the earth to the animals, they deserve it more. One can only hope that we do better the next time around ... something I seriously doubt ...

H Thomas Amin

Woodbrook