Homeless Week

Two major figures from the We’re Here Flash Forum are spending a week out on the streets of Seattle. Derrick Clark (derrickito) and Scotty Weeks (StinkFist) have decided to forgo lodging, food, all the basic necessities we take for granted.

You can follow their progress at http://www.homelessweek.com/.

I’ve been kicking around their idea for some time now. Their ultimate goal is to help out the Boomtown Cafe. Their hearts are in the right place, and it is, indeed, an admirable goal they have set for themselves. While I’m not convinced yet that "Homeless Week" is a good idea, at least Derrick and Scotty are taking active steps to confront the issue. Whether or not I agree with their approach is one thing, but at least they have an approach. Who am I to criticize? If I disagree with what they’re doing, what efforts am *I* making?

On my way home tonight, I pulled my car over on North Avenue as one, then two, three, four police cars zoomed by. To my left, in a parking lot, was a group of 9 or so people, huddled around a car. The back windows looked busted out, one guy was holding his right arm by the wrist – almost everyone had their heads bowed. I couldn’t tell if someone had shot into the car, but that was my guess. Past the huddled group, I could see another police car speed down the alley. Three other police cars were coming towards me.

At times like this, my cynicism of the rest of the world gets the better of me.

Scotty and Derrick. Be safe. See you in a week.