Seriously ...

In more serious news, the Washington Post reports that crimes against the homeless are on the rise. "Nationwide, violence against the homeless is soaring, and overwhelmingly the attackers are teenagers and young adults."

The Post points out that America's intolerance to homelessness is growing, signified by laws against loitering, "sleeping in parks, and begging."

Yes, everyone has been annoyed by a persistant begger at one point. But at least in my own case - and, I dare to assume, in most cases - that annoyance is paired with pity and guilt. I wonder if this intolerance isn't rooted in a societal guilt that homelessness is out there at all - that families, children, elders are left to survive as best they can. Passing laws that ban homeless individuals from sleeping, begging, resting in one spot for too long - these laws don't deal with the problems, they hide them.

Slowly governments on all levels are awaking to the fact this doesn't work. Cities are making plans to end homelessness but these plans take time. And the plans will never succeed if we can't teach communities to show tolerance and not hate for those individuals and families experiencing homelessness.