Bum Rushing: A Fad??
I came across this news article, 'Bum Rushing' a National Trend. Here's an excerpt:
"Across the country, groups of teens are going out and beating homeless people -- fatally in many cases. At least 100 homeless people in this country have been attacked and 17 have died so far this year..."
The article reports the death of a homeless man as "the victim of a national fad called 'bum rushing'." Hula hoops and Rubik's Cubes were fads, okay? Murder is not a fucking fad.
It appears to have started when BumFights.com (Link no longer available) started making videos and selling them online. They became so popular that kids started going out and making their own videos and posting them on the internet. It's obvious the videos are for entertainment purposes. Yet, Bumfights.com puts this bullshit disclaimer on their website:
The purpose of these videos, through satire and sensationalism, is to call attention to the global epidemics of poverty, violence, addiction, and lack of education. Fighting and violence of any form is ignorant and pathetic. Although the images we capture are often shocking, we do not believe these aspects of society should be kept hidden or ignored. You’ll see grown men trade blows on the streets, chick fights, stunts, sick pranks, crime caught on tape, crackheads, supermodels, and the most hardcore ruckus ever filmed. But please do not miss the point of these videos! Educate yourself. Help those who are less fortunate. Spread love not hate.
Is this a sick joke? Because I can think of better ways to call attention to "global epidemics of poverty" and to "help those who are less fortunate." Here's an example of the "satire and sensationalism," BumFights is referring to in this video clip. (Link no longer available, but you can find lots of other examples on YouTube). In the video they "spread love not hate" when the camera man laughs hysterically while his friend sets a homeless man's hat on fire. Later, one kid pisses in a beer and gives it to a homeless man to drink. It's like a new form of Jackass, but instead of torturing themselves, they pick the most defenseless and vulnerable people in our society and do it to them.
Here's someone else's homemade bum fight video. The camera man pays two people to start a fight with an elderly man. At the end, the camera man offers $20 to the "first person who gets a knockout." A group of people stand around and watch, while the camera man laughs.
From The National Coalition for the Homeless.
- March 6, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts: Scott Capella, 30, woke to two men calling him a “homeless bum.” He ignored them and drifted back to sleep, but the men returned. This time, Capella was awakened by a kick in the back. Capella stated, “I tried to sit up and I was grabbed by one and pushed to the ground… that’s when the other one threw gasoline on me.” Capella suffered second-degree burns on his left leg below the knee and may need skin grafts.
- April 12, 2006 in Deland, Florida: John Smith said that he was attacked by a group of ten teens in early April. His tent was doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. His friend suffered a broken nose. The ten teens attacked John Smith with metal pipes in the woods behind a Winn Dixie store.
- June 23, 2006 in Spokane, Washington: According to police, a wheelchair-bound homeless man was killed as a result of extensive burns he suffered after being set afire in downtown Spokane. Douglas R. Dawson, 50, was flown to the city’s trauma and burn center in critical condition. He later passed away.
Here's my theory on the American caste system. As long as you have a job, make money, and buy shit, you're a first-class citizen. If you have a really good job and make billions you're fucking royalty. But, people with nothing are so valueless, that they aren't even people anymore. Now, they're objects of amusement for teens who are either really bored or just sick, sadistic assholes.
Michael Stoops of the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, said, "The real solution to ending violence against homeless people by teenagers (is more shelters)... If they (the homeless) were not outside, there would be a lot less violence or no violence against homeless people."
I don't disagree with this, but I don't see any rush to build more shelters either. Until then, I think another solution would be to hand out free mace and taser guns to homeless people so they can at least protect themselves.
The New Homeless
There are already countless numbers of homeless Vietnam veterans on the streets, but now there's a new group of homeless people and the number is quickly rising: Domestic Disputes Leave Iraq War Veterans Homeless.
"Veterans of the Iraq war are becoming homeless more quickly than veterans from Vietnam, largely due to domestic conflicts and custody disputes that happen upon their return."
Remember, SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! But, only when we need them to kill people. They're useless burdens to us once they come home.
