In a 1st world country — Homelessness is a topic easily overlooked. Barbara Lazear Ascher, author of “On Compassion”, was able to focus on the raw and philosophical side of how homelessness teaches compassion. Through the use of imagery, rhetorical questions, and allusion, Ascher successfully details her claim that compassion is taught through example and not a birth given right.
Ascher introduces her claim through the use of a narrative that she witnessed one day in New York’s busy streets. This encounter observed by Ascher was exchanged between a wandering homeless man and a young mother and child. Through the use of vivid imagery, she portrays the somewhat degrading ways society treats people lesser than themselves. The author writes,
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[H]e stops before a blond baby in an Aprica stroller.
The baby’s mother waits for the light to change and her hands close tighter on the stroller’s handle as she sees the man approach… His eyes fix on the baby. The mother removes her purse from her shoulder and rummages through its contents: lipstick, a lace handkerchief, an address book. She finds what she’s looking for and passes a folded dollar over her child’s head. (1,3)
This exchange between these societal polar opposites, strikes a chord in readers heart for the homeless man. He was simply a curious onlooker, gazing towards a reminder of innocence, crudely left behind by a fearful mother. As this young mother “rummages through her purse” readers can imagine the woman frantically overturning her bag in effort to get away from this stranger quickly as possible. Readers can assume this upper class mother whose child is in an “Aprica stroller” did not give a dollar to this homeless man compassionately, but instead due to
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fear. Considering the narrative prior was open for the reader’s interpretation, Ascher then gives a personal anecdote to explain her perspective. She explains an observation twice seen at a coffee shop: the owner gave a homeless man coffee and pastry. Ascher uses a series of rhetorical questions when she asks, “I have wondered, what compels this woman to feed this man? Pity? Care? Compassion? Or does she simply want to rid her shop of his troublesome presence?” (9). This swift use of rhetorical questions evokes more thought from readers as to what motivated the owner to help this man. This new evidence provides the readers with a sharp contrast to the young woman who was compassionate out of fear, and allows them to see different perspectives. From the author’s perspective, she can assume this woman acted out of kindness with no exterior motives: not to rid her shop of this man, not to feel better about herself, but just to help another human being. Continuing to support her claim that compassion is a trait learned and not something people are born with, she uses an allusion in her explication.
In her conclusion paragraph she alludes to the Ancient Greeks, “For the Ancient Greeks, drama taught and reinforced compassion within a society. The object of Greek tragedy was to inspire empathy in the audience... Could it be that the homeless, like those ancients, are reminding us of our common humanity?” (14) Ascher appeals to logic by emphasizing this similarity between Ancient Greek Theatre and the modern world crisis of homelessness. Barbara Lazear Ascher provokes her readers into making this connection. Homeless people of the nation our the new teachers of compassion. The world can no longer count on being taught empathy and compassion through the acts of plays; people worldwide must rely on real life examples of homelessness and tragedy to teach them how to be
compassionate. Overall, Ascher is successful in achieving her purpose. She clearly illustrates that compassion is a trait learned through observation, rather than a trait you are born with. In some cases, compassion many not always come from all the right places and have ulterior motives. Through the use of imagery, rhetorical questions, and allusions she captivates her audience with the use of both pathos and logos. These two appeals to emotion effectively pull the audience into her reading, and successfully helps the author detail why compassion must be taught through actions.
Eighner's autobiographical essay not only shows the degradation homeless people indure, but his personal snobbery of those around him
Today's world is filled with both great tragedy and abundant joy. In a densely populated metropolis like New York City, on a quick walk down a street you encounter homeless people walking among the most prosperous. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten the prosperous person will trudge straight past the one in need without a second thought. A serious problem arises when this happens continually. The problem worsens when you enter a different neighborhood and the well-to-do are far from sight. Many neighborhoods are inhabited only by the most hopeless of poverty - ridden people while others downtown or across the park do not care, or are glad to be separated from them. Such is the problem in New York City today and in Mott Haven in Jonathan Kozol's Amazing Grace. I have lived in New York City all my life and I had no idea that these problems were going on so close to home. If I live about three miles away from Mott Haven and I am not aware of the situation there, then who is?
Ascher commences with a descriptive narrative of an encounter where she witnesses how a mother reacts to a homeless man when he starts shuffling towards her and her baby at a bus stop. She then includes a second descriptive narrative right after about a bakery owner giving a homeless man some coffee and
Mark Peterson’s 1994 photograph, Image of Homelessness, compares the everyday life of the working class to the forgotten life of the lowest class in society. In the image, the viewer can see a troubled homeless man wrapped in a cocoon of standard manipulated 12in by 12in cardboard boxes and yarn. The yarn is what is keeping the man and box tied to the red bench. This bench has chipped paint and is right in front of a black fence. Underneath the bench is dirt and debris from the dead fall leaves. The center focal point is the homeless man on the bench. He is the focal point because he is the greatest outsider known to man. Behind this man is vibrant life. There is pulsating people crossing the clean street, signs of life from all the advertising on store windows, families walking and blurred cars filled with
Statistically, over 670,000 Americans are homeless with a growing number. 48 million people go to bed hungry every night. Although we do provide shelters and opportunities in America, millions of people are homeless worldwide. Even on a more minor level there are still hundreds homeless within hometowns. Everyday we encounter the homeless whether by seeing them holding their personal signs at stoplights, confronts with beggars, or viewing them from afar under bridges. In her essay titled “On Compassion”, writer Barbara Ascher uses rhetorical techniques detailing some of her personal homeless experiences within the city life, Asher does effectively use logos, pathos,
...stic things in order to live a better, more sound, and overall healthier life. Juxtaposition makes the audience want to follow through with the purpose. Exemplification causes the audience to realize the extent of their materialistic nature. A definition of the average homeless person’s terms allows him to build his ethos and consequently allow the audience to believe and follow his purpose. A majority of people are a part of the middle class, and this majority tends to judge the poor for their lifestyle whether it be through Dumpster diving or begging on the streets. However, as proven by the essay, these people have no right to do so because the poor do, in reality, have a greater sense of self than these middle-class people, similar to the rich. The middle-class citizens must no longer act the victim; instead, they should be working on becoming more sentimental.
When people think about homeless individuals, they think of people begging on the street, but not of the thousands of children located in public schools. When reading the “Invisible Child” in The New York Times, Andrea Elliott publicizes that not all homeless people are necessarily begging for money out on the street, but some are living without other people realizing their misfortune. Understanding that not all homeless people are begging for money relates to “The Narrative of Imagination” written by Martha Nussbaum which shows presenting people’s stories allows individuals to understand and empathize with other’s perspectives, resulting in people becoming more open- minded. She believes that empathy develops from sharing stores and people
...on the homeless community. I previously held preconceived notions that the homeless consisted of people who were either unable to connect and form relationships with others or didn’t desire to do so. Yet, I observed most everyone greeting one another and reminiscing with those who have been absent from the community for a while, as well as, expressing concern for those missing. I recognized that the homeless may live in a non-traditional way, but they have established their own communities and are successful in forming and maintaining cohesive relationships.
Poverty and homelessness are often, intertwined with the idea of gross mentality. illness and innate evil. In urban areas all across the United States, just like that of Seattle. in Sherman Alexie’s New Yorker piece, What You Pawn I Will Redeem, the downtrodden. are stereotyped as vicious addicts who would rob a child of its last penny if it meant a bottle of whiskey.
Camouflaged within the restless streets in New York, a homeless man stood, staring at those who passed by. His eyes were beating and weary, irises staring out in the distance. The man’s appearance was repulsing to many. After forty minutes, thousands passed the man, but not a single glance was given in his direction. To the onlookers, the homeless man had no name or value, undeserving of their attention.
.... The homeless community is a growing problem that only worsens with time. If we don’t make an effort now, to help the most vulnerable among us, then we are only contributing to this problem. With our unsure economy, nothing is guaranteed, so just be considerate for others who are in an inferior situation, because who knows when you might need a hand.
In the early hours of the morning on Thursday, January 3, 2013, James G. Fulmer was found frozen to death on the steps of a Nashville Church. James Fulmer was 50 years old, homeless, and physically handicapped (wsmv.com). His tragic story is just one of almost 1,000 homeless men and women will suffer death caused by hypothermia each year. (nationalhomeless.org). Every night in the United States, over 600,000 people encounter homelessness. Their stories are diverse and their paths to homelessness, varied. Many have found themselves on the streets due to domestic violence, job loss and mental illness (npr.org). Some were teachers, accountants, musicians, painters, and even doctors. So many of the homeless population once lead normal lives. Yet, there is a social stigma that views the homeless as lazy, unwilling to work, uneducated and even untrustworthy. In a Capitalist society that places the highest value on image and the almighty dollar, there seems to be little desire to interact with these “outcasts”.
“Homeless is more than being without a home. It is tied into education needs, food, security; health issues both mental and physical, employment issues, etc. Don’t forget the whole picture.” (“Boxed In” 2005 pg. 108)
It is not uncommon for the privileged people in contemporary society to feel disgusted at the sight of the dirty, starving, homeless people on the streets. Such people receive awful treatment from the other people in society. In the story, Guin states that “one of them may come and kick the child to make it stand up” (3). Is this the way the less privileged people should be treated? Although Guin uses a utopian society, she manages to bring out the picture of the injustices committed in society.
Homelessness is increasing more every year. In fact, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, over 640,000 people experience homelessness every night. (Hunger and Homelessness in North America) By definition, the homeless are groups of people that do not have a home. They can be people who are mentally ill, unemployed, veterans, or even children born into unfortunate families. Since they have nowhere to go, the homeless usually live inside abandoned buildings, in the streets, or in makeshift homes, such as a cardboard box or homemade tent. Although some work to find a decent home, many still suffer from depression or are psychically disabled and cannot work. (Overview of Homelessness in America) These people do not choose to be homeless, instead they become homeless due to a series of unfortunate events; namely losing their source of income or becoming homeless by birth. One instance of this occurred in the life of Hazel Washington. Hazel was fleeing an abusive relationship when she moved in with her relative and his girlfriend, but she was not told about their impending eviction. Because of this, her roommates took everything she owned an...