Ok, I had to make a note here.
This story broke in Savannah a few days ago and I couldn't let it go.
I guess I am just one of those people who believe that there is still good in all mankind; after reading this story, I began to challenge my way of thinking. If you check out the link. You will get the true origin of my rage for my city, my hometown, the place I call my sanctuary.
Here was my response to the story........
OMG!!!!
I had to read this article about 10 times. Word for word, line by line. I was taken by the stories that were so eloquently presented by the SMN journalist Lesley Conn. Excellently done. Then I had to get to the meat of the story. I guess you have to have the lemons to have lemonade. There was so much talk about the numbers, the numbers, the numbers. Whatever happened to "reach one, teach one"?
Last night, I sat through a presidential debate that made me absolutely ill. So much talk about numbers. Numbers which in turn becomes dollars. Are we all becoming nothing but numbers to these people. Lets not let this become the case in Savannah. I could care less if the success rate is 10%, at least someone is being helped.
People are people Savannah. The programs that are on probation help many in this city. The mere thought of them becoming extinct is absurd. Correct me, ANYONE if I'm wrong; but isn't the whole purpose of these programs is to get people off the streets? Get people off of the welfare system? Lower Savannahs unemployment rate? I do believe if you train someone, no matter what their background is, they will prosper at some point. Surely the City of Savannah leaders do not expect the Union Mission to turn out doctors, lawyers, and mayors. Lets be realistic. These programs are helping people get a hand up, not a hand out.
Bottom line? You want to make Savannah something to be proud of? Listen to the visitors. You see, your visitors can tell the difference in Savannah. They see that there are fewer people on the strolls of River Street pan-handling. They see a difference in the streets. Isn't that what its all about? Making this wonderful city a showcase to bring more tourist and money into Savannah? I thought so! Wake up fellow citizens!!!! If these programs start falling by the wayside, where are these people going to go? Let alone whats going to happen to the people who are working within the program? The office managers, instructors, counselors, medical workers; I mean the list goes on and on. Eliminating these programs won't just hurt the ones being helped, its going to hurt the ones helping.
Wake up Savannah!!!! Lets let our City "Leaders" know that this can't happen. Given the time limit placed on the directors of the sited programs, my prayers are truly with those that are currently being served. I have always lived by the mantra of "reach one, teach one". Hopefully this can bleed over to others of our community. I can only conclude by saying, stand up and be counted. Let your voice be heard. They can never take that away from you.
