I’m an old man now my wild days sadly (and at times fortunately) behind me, but let me regale you with the events of winter 1990-1991 in Scotland.
I was a very fit healthy young man. I had my whole life in front of me: dreams and aspirations like others but one thing was different from my peers. I was homeless. I won’t elaborate why this happened: suffice to say that whilst I wasn’t particularly innocent (my stepfather & me hated each other) so here I found myself sleeping rough in one of the coldest winters on record with no home to call my own or bed to jump into. Late at night as I lay down to sleep my mind cast to a warm bed, central heating and a warm meal. I’d dream of the things others took for granted. I longed to have these simple pleasures for myself, but at that time it wasn’t to be.
Instead, here I was at 3am standing outside The video store staring in at the covers of VHS tapes, happy families, Christmas and New Year celebrations. I sat down for a cigarette when I spotted a guy I knew and got chatting. My plan was clear: I’d walk the three miles to his home he’d realise how cold it was and him and his wife would let me sleep on the sofa. A devious one, if I say so myself. But one that failed miserably. He got to his front gate before telling me “there is no room at the inn” I shrugged my shoulders said goodnight and noticed a thermostat on the outside of a garage. I looked in disbelief. I rubbed my eyes, nope, that didn’t work - it read the same minus 20 Celsius.
I turned and walked the three miles “home” or at least back to the area I called “home”. I tried to roll a smoke but my hands were so cold I found it impossible but I buoyed my mood with the idea that I could break into the public toilets and use the hand driers to heat my frozen hands and feet. When I got there miracle of miracles there was hot water too. I derived such happiness from something people take for granted. Simple hot water to wash in.
I spent 18 months (give or take a week or two) sleeping in woods, under bushes, selling my soul for a night in a warm bed. Am I proud of it? No, but it happened. One memory that sticks in my mind is seeing a local joiner every morning. Half the time I’d be trying to mooch a smoke TBH but I also liked his company, and on this particular morning when it was particularly cold he said “I’m always glad to see you lad. I worry about you sleeping out in this.” My response? “I’ll no give them the satisfaction of dying Jim” - 'them' bejng my stepfather and all his military buddies who considered me a “terrorist sympathiser.” Odd though as I’ve never saluted the union flag and we all know that behind the USA, Britain is one of the great terrorists of the world.
I spent 18 months (give or take a week or two) sleeping in woods, under bushes, selling my soul for a night in a warm bed. Am I proud of it? No, but it happened. One memory that sticks in my mind is seeing a local joiner every morning. Half the time I’d be trying to mooch a smoke TBH but I also liked his company, and on this particular morning when it was particularly cold he said “I’m always glad to see you lad. I worry about you sleeping out in this.” My response? “I’ll no give them the satisfaction of dying Jim” - 'them' bejng my stepfather and all his military buddies who considered me a “terrorist sympathiser.” Odd though as I’ve never saluted the union flag and we all know that behind the USA, Britain is one of the great terrorists of the world.
No, I was determined to survive and survive I did thanks mainly I guess to one rather forgetful young man who left his sleeping bag at the bus stop. M being me and in need I figured it would be a shame if it wasn’t put to use. It was warm, it was padded, it had a hood and I do believe it belonged to the British army, Someone later told me they’d seen this young soldier standing waiting for the Edinburgh bus. I believe there’s a training camp or something near there. However, the bag was liberated and mine. Along with my resilience and good luck I managed to survive one of the harshest winters we had known for many a year.
Now you might wonder where this is leading so let me make you wait no longer
I often open X and am confronted with man’s inhumanity to man. I see homeless people being called junkies or alcoholics, scroungers, beggars amongst many other things by people who have never wanted in their lives. Never know what it’s like to have no home. Young girls running away from sexual abuse, young lads, like myself, who would have been dead if we had stuck around. You don’t know the stories of these people. Most don’t care, pull your mobile out and pretend you don’t see them as you talk to yourself for a few mins til they’re out of sight.
The same can be said of refugees, people who have seen and experienced horrific things, people who have escaped Western made war in the Middle East. You don’t know their story, their intentions, you know nothing. Their suffering means nothing to you yet you’ll stand up in public demanding to “send the buggers back” or copying and pasting some nonsense from the KhuKKle brothers Robinson & Farage. The poor, the needy, those seeking refuge are not the enemy of the working class man. We’ve all seen the video “Divide And Rule” Those millionaires and billionaires sitting on piles of cash telling us that it’s other working class people's fault we’re poor while they accumulate yet more money. It’s obscene. Honestly if you buy that BS you may as well give your brain to medical science already.
Whilst I was never a refugee I was seeking refuge. So whilst I can’t relate on every level I can on a few and I’d ask only this - find a little compassion in your heart, a simple gesture can make all the difference to a homeless person's life, to a refugee's life.
An old Native American proverb states: “do not judge a man til you have walked for two moons in his shoes” - wise words. Show a like love and stop with the hate. Is it really too much to ask?
Now you might wonder where this is leading so let me make you wait no longer
I often open X and am confronted with man’s inhumanity to man. I see homeless people being called junkies or alcoholics, scroungers, beggars amongst many other things by people who have never wanted in their lives. Never know what it’s like to have no home. Young girls running away from sexual abuse, young lads, like myself, who would have been dead if we had stuck around. You don’t know the stories of these people. Most don’t care, pull your mobile out and pretend you don’t see them as you talk to yourself for a few mins til they’re out of sight.
The same can be said of refugees, people who have seen and experienced horrific things, people who have escaped Western made war in the Middle East. You don’t know their story, their intentions, you know nothing. Their suffering means nothing to you yet you’ll stand up in public demanding to “send the buggers back” or copying and pasting some nonsense from the KhuKKle brothers Robinson & Farage. The poor, the needy, those seeking refuge are not the enemy of the working class man. We’ve all seen the video “Divide And Rule” Those millionaires and billionaires sitting on piles of cash telling us that it’s other working class people's fault we’re poor while they accumulate yet more money. It’s obscene. Honestly if you buy that BS you may as well give your brain to medical science already.
Whilst I was never a refugee I was seeking refuge. So whilst I can’t relate on every level I can on a few and I’d ask only this - find a little compassion in your heart, a simple gesture can make all the difference to a homeless person's life, to a refugee's life.
An old Native American proverb states: “do not judge a man til you have walked for two moons in his shoes” - wise words. Show a like love and stop with the hate. Is it really too much to ask?
🐼 Gary Robertson is a Glasgow Celtic fan.
Why travel from Calais to Dover . Isn't France a safe country ?
ReplyDeleteRed Ron, under International Law and countless agreements that the UK is a signatory to refugees are entitled to seek asylum anywhere they like. They might have friends or relatives in the UK. They might have better English than French. There are any number of reasons they might choose to travel from Calais to Dover.
DeleteVictims of homelessness aren't responsible for being homeless. Solutions based on world best practice are ignored. Iceland, for example, legislates to provide housing for all and has one of the lowest figures for homelessness in the world. It's a cold country but demonstrates what can be done if the will is there. People are given housing first and then addiction problems are solved if there rather than the other way about. It works, people are more likely to stay clean if they have a roof over their heads and a counsellor assigned to them for support.
ReplyDeleteIn Ireland the problem with housing is the gombeen man, looking to profit from misery. There are 20,000 empty residential properties in Northern Ireland. The government should tax the hell out of owners of long term unoccupied properties and make investment properties not worth the bother. Corporations should be banned from owning residential properties. Landlords should be taxed heavier and the money used to help build more homes. Air B 'n Bs should be banned too. Without regulation there will always be homeless problems even with zero net migration.
Most of us are at risk of homelessness. We're mostly only a few missed paychecks away from it.
Simon - we inhabit a society where some will hate immigrants and to disguise their hatred will place the blame on the immigrants.
DeleteAgreed. It seems that those who are against immigration because of the housing crisis tend to be those who never cared about homelessness before. Mealy mouthed comments that try to disguise bigotry when it is quite apparent what is going on.
DeleteA person genuinely fleeing persecution will always seek asylum in the first safe country arrived in . After a year in France they will have picked up enough of the language that allows them to function . The real reason 50,000 ( annually ) make the hazardous crossing is because France , Belgium etc doesn't want them . No passport #HereForever
ReplyDeleteThere is a right to transit that is an enumerated right recognised by the courts but there isn't any treaty that says you can go any where you like.
ReplyDeleteThe answer is people trafficing. It's not as free of sin as is made out. There are people in bondage slavery in Ireland and Britain today, in agriculture, construction, prositution, drugs trade.
I'm sorry but you're wrong. Refugees are entitled to seek asylum wherever they choose. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states "Everyone is entitled to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution". Providing asylum is a responsibility shared by all countries. There is no rule or principle in international law requiring a person to claim asylum in any particular country.
DeleteNot everyone who applies for asylum will be granted refugee status.
Great piece Gary - I shivered while reading it. That was some temperature drop. TPQ really appreciates you sharing that experience.
ReplyDeleteAsylum seekers are entitled to seek asylum were ever they land. Some one can get on a boat not knowing it's destination and seek asylum when it docks.
ReplyDeleteAsylum seekers have an enumerated right of transport through territories which courts tend to define as hours, days, weeks not months or years.
Because refugee is a clear definition, it's someone under immediate risk of death. Someone living in france for a year is safe. They may apply for asylum in another jurisdiction but not being under imidiate risk of death are unlikely to get status of refugee. It's misleading to say people can seek asylum were they want.
People in unhcr camps who would be recognised as refugees could end up in Ireland never having heard of the existence of the place before, they don't get a menu.
What you do get is highly organised people trafficing and its very foolish to mix up the two
Can you supply evidence for the points you made in this comment please? References but no links if you can.
DeleteMy understanding is that unless someone has started the asylum process in a previous country they are entitled to apply no matter if it isn't the first country in which they land.
People trafficking and asylum isn't black and white. Many asylum seekers have to pay criminal gangs to get from A to B. Often they are trafficked, taken advantage of or abused. Just look at the many people risking their lives in unsafe boats across the Mediterranean.
"It seems that those who are against immigration because of the housing crisis tend to be those who never cared about homelessness before. Mealy mouthed comments that try to disguise bigotry when it is quite apparent what is going on."
ReplyDeleteThere tends to be socio economic reasons for most things. "Its not the consciousness of man that determines his surroundings but his surroundings that determines his consciousness" as mr marx said.
It's possible that someone could fain interest in the homeless to mask bigotry
It's also possible someone could genuinely be puzzled at the priorities the state they pay taxes to are by asking what about the homeless.
It mightend be good Christian but it is real politic
"It's also possible someone could genuinely be puzzled at the priorities the state they pay taxes to are by asking what about the homeless." Possible although traditionally the right have been hostile to people who are homeless. New-found concern is a guise to attack newcomers. Of course socio-economics plays a part but those suffering socio-economically who are on the right tend to punch down rather than up.
DeleteFinland has the best approach to homelessness that I have come across. We would do well to take a leaf out of their book.
ReplyDeleteThe Skin. Agreed. We should learn from the successful countries' approaches and apply whatever works to our own system.
DeleteSimon
ReplyDeleteStates have their own procedures for implementing the Geneva convention but what is being talked about here is the 3rd country principle.
Have to understand the genius of the Geneva convention as a concept. Your life is in immediate risk. You leave country one go to country two you are safe that's it.
People trafficing isn't a side business, it's second to drug dealing in the black market. It's huge and there are white hats making nice coin off it in the regulated economy.
The ussr used to lock people up for being down and out.
A world view appears to have formed that corrolates nice and not nice with left and right.
Left liberals then get upset at a stammer brit labour in government situation
And it happens again and again
Ireland due to circumstances actually has a brilliant intellectual tradition of people chewing on the nature of power. It's sometimes uncomfortable reading but it's better for the constitution than nice and not nice, unfortunately people now days go for the equivalent of Budweiser and its probably just because of good marketing
BAC
ReplyDeleteFirst you said it's a matter the time a person takes to get to a country determines whether they can seek asylum. I asked for evidence and now you say "You leave country one go to country two you are safe that's it." I know that's not true You've no evidence. I knew you were talking through your hat.
States have their own procedures but they follow their obligations under International Law. You can travel through to a third country or a fourth or a fifth. However if you are granted asylum in one country your claim in the next country may be denied.
Your daft comments betray your ignorance. Please stop wasting my time.
You asked for no links i gave you the name of the legal concept
ReplyDeleteYes, there is an enumerated right of transport through states but that's the point one has to be in a state of travel. A person fleeing Lebanon then stopping off in say Canada for a year then deciding to say go to Japan. Japan would note that the person is claiming to be fleeing Lebanon, Japan would note the person was in no risk in the third country Canada and most likely decide against.
This is not to be confused with say a person in a unchr camp who is recognised as a refugee may travel on a blue passport to a country assistanting Lebanon, say Japan or Canada for residency and thereafter travel on a blue passport on the same rules as everyone else
My daft comment is a consequence of starting off on the topic with a similar outlook to yourself and realising it's not as simple as that.
Looking back on the two times I was homeless---once in France and here on the island---I had a great time and I learnt alot about myself and other people....
ReplyDelete