Are Generalizations About Homeless People Hindering Our Ability to be Virtuous?

Let me paint you a picture that you probably see every day on the streets of Memphis: There is a homeless man wearing big, dirty clothes, his face is unshaven, his hair is long, and he is holding a cardboard sign saying hat he is hungry and homeless. The thing most people think is that the man is an alcoholic or a drug user and any money they give him in his time of need will go immediately into feeding his addiction. Children are taught to avoid homeless people because they may be dangerous. Homeless people with mental illnesses are viewed as lost causes to society because they have nothing to offer and they are merely a nuisance. I have had people stop me from approaching homeless individuals before because of these reasons, and my heart ached for them. Are we not taught to treat others as we want to be treated? Were we not raised to help our fellow man when he has fallen on rough times? These people may have addictions and mental health disorders, yes, but that makes me even more compelled to help them instead of pushing them off to be someone else's problem. 

American society has become so self-centered and busy that we feel like we do not have the time or money to spare in order to assist an individual in need because it would be inconvenient for us. Would you help a child that has just fallen and scratched her leg? You probably would without even thinking about it. So why is it not the case for a man? Because he is an adult who should pull himself up by his bootstraps and stop his alcohol addiction cold turkey and get a job? Because it is that simple, isn't it? No. What kind of prosperous society lets it's homeless wander the streets and starve because the ones who are doing fine are too judgmental to offer a dollar, or a sandwich, or a job? These problems should not exist, but they do. It should be second nature to help our fellow man, but it isn't if we can't relate to him. Instead we judge him and speed off into our own world of comfort. The next time you see a homeless person on the side of the road, picture it as yourself asking for help. Change your perspective. Waiting for someone else to fix the problem will never accomplish anything.