The event that transpired this last week in Colorado is a real tragedy. The suspected gunman in the Colorado shooting that killed 12 people, is from an upper middle class community of picturesque hacienda style homes surrounded by hills and canyons in San Diego, California.

It was very interesting to me to recently read some postings on Palo Alto online.  Here are some of the quotes:

“ I sure don’t want any homeless people in my neighborhood” “ I don’t want them around or near my children” “I would not feel comfortable with car dwellers parked anywhere near my residence”

This type of stereotyping of people based upon mere economic factors plays upon ignorance and bigotry. These comments are not based upon any factual evidence but simple “ fear mongering”.

The Colorado gunman would probably be perfectly acceptable in many Palo Alto neighborhoods, yet a homeless person who is not mentally disturbed, using illegal drugs, or exhibiting any violent behavior, would not be accepted simply because of his/her economic condition.

I do not recall in recent history reading any news article about some homeless person committing a violent act to compare with that of the Colorado gunman.

Then why do some Palo Alto property owners fear some homeless fellow that only lost his job due to economic circumstances, outsourcing of labor to China or housing foreclosures. I hope that this event will make us think about our own assumptions toward others who have a difficult road to travel through this life here upon Earth.