tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597655639592622541.post1072676531896083377..comments2023-10-16T18:10:24.598-07:00Comments on arthur+martha: QUIET PLEASE: homeless protest at Manchester Central Libraryarthur+marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00854602346306054083noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1597655639592622541.post-60277938879127101592015-05-06T08:22:41.290-07:002015-05-06T08:22:41.290-07:00I visited the Central Library yesterday and was ta...I visited the Central Library yesterday and was taken aback by the police presence. When I asked one of the PCs inside the doorway why there were so many police, she told me that the homeless protesters had been blocking the Library entrance earlier on. Whether this was a made-up reason or whether that actually happened, I can't be sure; either one would be believable.<br /><br />Anyway, it got me thinking throughout the rest of the day, which I suppose is one of the aims of their protest. And ultimately, I arrived at the conclusion that I don't really have much sympathy for them.<br /><br />As the 'onlooker' in your article rightly states, it is a complex issue - sure. However, I cannot get past the idea that at least some of those homeless people outside Central Library have, in one way or another, helped to put themselves into the predicament that they are in. I recognise a couple of them as being consistently homeless throughout the past several years within the city centre and Joseph, in your piece, espouses a good example of the kind of ethos which puts me off. If somebody has chosen to not play by the rules of our society, what debt have we to them? Are we supposed to just give them whatever they want with nothing in return?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com