lochnessjess via flickr/File
It is one of the first things that makes students uncomfortable when moving to Berkeley — the
widespread poverty. Encountering this social welfare problem tends to be strange because for the
majority of students, this level of poverty is only seen on occasion and probably not seen in our
hometowns. Yet this feeling of uneasiness doesn’t last long.
At times, I’m conflicted as to how to respond when someone asks me for money. Should I give
them money? If I decide to, should I pull out my wallet or put change in my pockets ahead of time
for easy access? If I decide not to, how do I say no? In my personal experience, these encounters
are typically guilt-inducing as well, because while I have access to a variety of food options with a
swipe of my Cal 1 Card at Crossroads, people asking for money along Telegraph Avenue and
other Berkeley streets may be hungry or lacking a place to sleep at night. As I became acquainted
with Berkeley, I was informed about details concerning the issue of poverty in this city and came
to realize that it was more complicated than I had made it out to be. In turn, I justified my growing
passiveness toward the homeless until I became comfortable with it.
I figured that there were organizations in Berkeley aiding the cause, providing places where those
in need could receive shelter and food. I convinced myself that other people have made this issue their focus — that I didn’t need to worry myself about it. I even told myself that some of the
homeless chose this life for themselves. I just walk past them quickly and go about my day,
because even if I responded to every request for money when asked, my dollar wouldn’t make a
difference, I told myself.
As the months passed, I simply became comfortable with the fact that homeless people are part of
Berkeley’s community. And, as I became more comfortable with it, I cared less and less.
Recently, I have realized that getting too comfortable is dangerous.
Once we grow comfortable and settle with the state of our community, it will be difficult to
recognize the existing need when we have been living around it for so long.
As a community, we become numb to problems because they have been normalized. This results
in a lack of concern, slowing down advancements toward change. It is difficult to make progress
toward serving and minimizing the homeless community, dealing with the crime rate, addressing
the faults existing in primary and secondary education system in Berkeley or even mentioning the
uncleanliness of city streets when we have grown used to all these issues.
It is my hope that I’m never too comfortable and that I realize that although I don’t necessarily have
to advocate for every cause, there is always something little that I can do. When faced with huge
social issues, Berkeley has been known throughout history to stand up, have a voice and act.
However, it is in how we address the “little” problems that will confirm our strength as a
community for our greater community.
Monica Mikhail contemplates the truth of the matter in her Thursday blog. Contact Monica Mikhail at mmikhail@dailycal.org.
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