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Melvin's blog
Nshima & Curry
Melvin's Blog
Nshima & Curry
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| Cartoon by Dr. Sudeep Ross |
FEEDING THE HOMELESS MORE OFTEN
The International Tamil Language Foundation, along with the
Tamil Sangams of North America and Midwest Tamil Sangam,
recently celebrated Pongal by feeding about 30 homeless
people in Chicago. Though the media barely covered it, the
event was rather significant, especially to all those
homeless people.
Homeless man: "This is great! So much good food to eat.
Thank God for all these Indians."
Homeless woman: "Ha ha. Aren't you the same guy who was
cursing immigrants last week for taking all our jobs?"
Homeless man: "Yes, but that was before I discovered Pongal.
I love Pongal! What does it mean again?"
Such excitement isn't surprising when you consider that
homeless people in America are usually fed only twice a
year -- on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The annual food drives begin as early as October. "Feed the
homeless" signs go up everywhere. Grocery stores put
cardboard boxes near checkout lanes, dreaming that customers
will donate some of the food they just bought.
Some folks search their pantries frantically, hoping to do
their part to fight hunger. "We need to feed the homeless,"
they say, picturing themselves as disciples of Mother
Teresa. "Where's that can of onion soup we bought by
accident?"
Others are caught by surprise. "Feed the homeless again?"
they ask. "Didn't we just feed them last year?"
Despite such apathy, enough food is collected to give the
homeless a sumptuous meal on Thanksgiving Day -- and another
on Christmas, a mere four weeks later. It's a blessing that
the two feedings are so close together, but it's also a
curse, for the homeless have to survive the next 11 months
without food.
Fortunately, many have trained themselves to do this, thanks
to yoga and meditation. They sit on the streets in deep
concentration, eyes closed, repeating the same words over
and over, words such as "Hey Mister, can you spare some
change?"
By focusing on change, they keep their minds off food. Some
are so focused that offering them food makes them furious.
"I don't need food," they scream. "I need change. Change is
good for me. That's what Oprah says!"
But only those with many years of homeless experience can
survive 11 months without food. Novices find themselves
dreaming about food constantly. They create signs that say
"I'm hungry," "Will work for food," and "How many days
till
Thanksgiving?"
Life would be easier for them if Thankgiving were in June.
But that's where various ethnic and religious groups can
help. Indians themselves can have a huge impact by feeding
the homeless on such occasions as Pongal, Diwali, Holi,
Republic Day, Independence Day, and Amitabh Bachchan's
birthday.
African-Americans can distribute food on Kwanza, Martin
Luther King Day and perhaps the entire month of February
(Black History Month).
Jews can do the feeding on Hanukah and Rosh Hashanah,
perhaps even Yom Kippur. So what if they're supposed to be
fasting -- why must the homeless fast, too?
I'm excited just thinking about all the possibilities. If we
plan this wisely, perhaps we can find a way to feed the
homeless every single month! Now wouldn't that be great?
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