Violent attacks plague the homeless

The spider web of white scars covering Lenny King's back speaks these days to the dangers faced by the homeless.

[No Surprise]

I was homeless in Akron. It sucked. It sucks that the only place you can really go is the Haven of Rest, and the whole time I was there I was constantly berated about my religious beliefs.

That being said, while it is good, and should be natural to give alms to the homeless, not all of them are "poor innocent people". Most of them deserve it. I certainly did. If they won't accept help that is offered to them (it's damn hard to do, yes) and won't follow through in the prosecutorial process, than forget them.

You CANNOT help those who don't want to be helped.

[Old Man Grump]

The Iraq War has created a whole new generation of potential homeless people just like the Viet Nam War did in it's time. War srews up soldiers' minds when they return home, and their mental illnesses cause them to be homeless. One estimate says 300,000 returning soldiers have mental health issues from Iraq. We can all thank Bush_A$$ & Cheney_DICK for that.

Thank GOD we have the Haven of Rest in Akron to help the homeless. They attempt to put the homeless on the right direction to salvation. What a great Christian organization they are.

[randy]

What do you expect when society treats them like criminals, kids see that and they think it's alright to beat them.

[a voice]

He's poor and the abusers are poorer!!!

[Former Akronite]

It goes on all over the states. I think we need to march on Washington and make them "STOP" sending our hard earned tax dollars to other countries, before we take care of our own people. It makes no difference what problem there is, be it homeless, elderly, abused spouses and abused children. We need to take care of our own "FIRST". Wake up...one of your sons or daughters might be a retuning soldier living under a bridge next.Parents need to teach their children the value of another life. This country is being destroyed from with-in by people who no longer care for their neighbors. That is not what this country was founded on.

[Boston Hts Girl]

SOG wrote:

<quoted text>
The newest bridge dweller.........
Old Man Grump_A $$
Old Man Grump_DICK
What in the world is a Bus-A $$

It's his way of blaming The President.
I guess he wanted us to wait for the smoking gun in Iraq.
However, Its been my experience that if you wait for the smoking gun...You'ver waited too long.

[concerned citizen]

Boston Hts Girl wrote:

<quoted text>
It's his way of blaming The President.
I guess he wanted us to wait for the smoking gun in Iraq.
However, Its been my experience that if you wait for the smoking gun...You'ver waited too long.

so by smoking gun you mean what? the WMD the troops found? oops they didnt find any, that's right

[CRaCkron Prisoner]

Ahhh.... stupid people beating on poor people.... Crackron, what a great place to live

[Boston Hts Girl]

Former Akronite wrote:

It goes on all over the states. I think we need to march on Washington and make them "STOP" sending our hard earned tax dollars to other countries, before we take care of our own people. It makes no difference what problem there is, be it homeless, elderly, abused spouses and abused children. We need to take care of our own "FIRST". Wake up...one of your sons or daughters might be a retuning soldier living under a bridge next.Parents need to teach their children the value of another life. This country is being destroyed from with-in by people who no longer care for their neighbors. That is not what this country was founded on.

A good portion of the homeless are so because they choose to be...Sad,but true....what good is marching on Washington?? We have a welfare system already in place,its not the best,but it IS the best in the world.
People dont come to our country anymore because its "The land of the free"...They come because its "The Land of the biggest handouts".

That being said,You are right about people no longer caring for each other...Its a crying shame that anyone would mistreat another human being, especially when they are down.I used to take my kids downtown each year in the fall when they were growing up ,and give out blankets and jackets to homeless people on the streets.I wanted them to know compassion for strangers who are in need.

[SmartGuy]

The people attacking the homeless are sick, but lets not balme the govt for people being homeless, what is the govt to do? Just hand them a home and a job, i don't think so, obviously this guy in the article has been offered help (by a police officer a govt employee) and he has not taken the hand offered to him, some men you just can't reach. Just like the first post, maybe this guy made his own bed now he has to lie in it and he seems to "want" to be where he is at, maybe he can't handle the responsibility of having a job or a home. I have enough of my own problems to worry about this guy being homeless and not wnating help. but he does not deserve to be attacked, lousy kids thinking its funny to attack a homeless man, at some as young as 10?!!!?? Akron will continue to go down the drain if the children are our future.

[Boston Hts Girl]

concerned citizen wrote:

<quoted text>
so by smoking gun you mean what? the WMD the troops found? oops they didnt find any, that's right

I luv you indignant Liberals....We didnt just go into Iraq for WMD's, Saddam was in violation of resolution 1441....the "food for oil" program was being abused.and saddam was a tyrant who had to be removed....ya know what? never mind..If I have to explain it, You'd never understand.

P.S practice saying "President McCain"...grin.

[Voice of Reason]

This is sad.

These victims are down and out in life, and to pick on them like this -- to target them -- is just shameful.

Where are these kids' parents? And more importantly, where are their morals?

Their punishment shouldn't be community service -- it should be years in an 8-by-12 prison cell with their parents locked up with them the entire time!

[SmartGuy]

I hope a democrat wins this election, then we can see gas at $2.00 a gallon, bread will cost a nickle again, cable TV will be free, it will be sunny and 70 degrees everyday and the war in Iraq will end the very next day. Man I can't wait to live in that liberal fantasy world that you guys live in.

Its an article about a homeless man who has been attacked for no reason other than he is homeless. Can you stop blaming the president for everything whenever you feel the need to voice your opinion?

[newfalls]

these young hoodlums better straighten out! with this economy -itmight be their parents LIVING UNDER THE BRIDGE! when spanking became a no no &parents became FRIENDS with their kids -this is the result -teachers not allowed to disipline in class ! wow!!!! we have a new generation of thugs!!!---we are losing an entire generation to undisiplined children &youths -------our country is in for TROUBLES!!!!!!!!!!

[scott]

Boston Hts Girl wrote:

<quoted text>
It's his way of blaming The President.
I guess he wanted us to wait for the smoking gun in Iraq.
However, Its been my experience that if you wait for the smoking gun...You'ver waited too long.

no instead we used a smoking gun to kill thousands of innocent iraqi men women and children.

[SDespot]

Boston Hts Girl wrote:

<quoted text>

P.S practice saying "President McCain"...grin.

Well, I may not be a "liberal" by what most people term a liberal. In fact, I ride the fence on my political views. There are things that the Repubs do that I'm not a fan of and so do the Dems. But I don't think that McCain is the answer. Too much negativity on Bush's presidency to continue down the same path another 4 years.

[seymorre butts]

Who cares ? Really ? Most homeless people are capable of working but they choose not too, they are a nusiance and complicate thngs for everyone by begging for money. Ever try to do downtown Cleveland ? Your harrassed non stop by these bastards. I can care less if young punks are setting them on fire.

[Erik]

Perhaps people wouldn't attack the homeless if their mothers,grandmothers, and sisters weren't harrassed and bullied by them for money ? Heck you see it everyday in the downtown area, bums trying to bully money from people who appear to be weak. Boohoo

[Cloverine Fleetwood]

seymorre butts wrote:

Who cares ? Really ? Most homeless people are capable of working but they choose not too, they are a nusiance and complicate thngs for everyone by begging for money. Ever try to do downtown Cleveland ? Your harrassed non stop by these bastards. I can care less if young punks are setting them on fire.

Based on what you wrote, you have a lot in common with Richard Cooey.

[What]

seymorre butts wrote:

Who cares ? Really ? Most homeless people are capable of working but they choose not too, they are a nusiance and complicate thngs for everyone by begging for money. Ever try to do downtown Cleveland ? Your harrassed non stop by these bastards. I can care less if young punks are setting them on fire.

Some homeless do work. Believe or not they choose to live on the streets. No clue as to why but they do.