It’s the original question of human ethics: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Arnold Abbott certainly thinks so. The 90-year-old man was arrested and charged for feeding the homeless in a city park in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., on Sunday.
Abbott and 2 pastors who were also arrested were the first people nabbed under a new city ordinance that “limits where outdoor feeding sites can be located,” according to The Sun Sentinel.
Man’s arrest for feeding the homeless is a Clarkrage
Ft. Lauderdale faces a challenge like a lot of other warm weather places that are basically magnets for the homeless. Many such cities are putting ordinances on the books so they don’t become doubly attractive to the indigent — first with the nice weather and second with people who are willing to feed them.
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There’s also a new rule in Fort Lauderdale that makes it practically impossible to open any homeless shelter. The truth is that many of our homeless have mental issues we should be addressing. When we as a country reformed and emptied the mental hospitals, we didn’t provide ongoing care. We need to fix that.
I believe one of the most important things to do as individuals is to give of ourselves, to be of service to others. There’s a spiritual side to life that involves a commitment to be of service to others.
So to punish people who feed the less fortunate? That’s just Clarkrageous.
Abbott and the 2 pastors face up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The 90-year-old Abbott says he’s preparing to sue the city of Ft. Lauderdale, something he’s done successfully once before during his 20+ years of being a “brother’s keeper” to the homeless.
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