You wouldn't know it with the proliferation of police procedurals on television, but we tend to be a law-abiding bunch in America. It's that sort of thing that makes you proud to be an American, right? That we don't have rioting in the streets ... much? Here's what makes me prouder. Three people from a group called Food Not Bombs were arrested in Orlando last week for feeding the homeless.
Sounds ridiculous, right? Arrested for doing something out of the goodness of one's heart to help their fellow man? Apparently the city has an ordinance that strictly forbids "group feedings" in its public parks. Sounds like a city trying to get rid of its homeless problem by starving them out to me. So how did the Food Not Bombs people respond to the threat of jail?
More of them showed up with food and submitted to being arrested, natch! These are people we're talking about -- hungry people. And a law that didn't sit well with the core beliefs of the group's membership. So they practiced civil disobedience.
As a law-abiding citizen, I can admit they got what was coming to them when they were arrested. They were well aware of the law when they violated it. Breaking the law is breaking the law, period. Right? Ah, if only it were that simple. I'd go back to waving my flag, and eating my apple pie, and singing my anthem, and be a happy American.
Of course it's not that black and white! Remember laws are made by man; they aren't infallible. And to be an American is to make hard choices.
I can see they were fighting a shoddy law, and they felt this was their only way (they'd already gone through a federal court, which gave the city means to restrict Food Not Bombs to two feedings a year for the parks within a two-block radius of City Hall -- TWO, as if homeless people only get hungry twice a year??). I give them credit. I don't know if I would have the chutzpah to stand out there and wait for the police to swoop in; unjust law or not.
That's the rub. Who am I to sit on my high horse and say I can't take the cuffs when someone else is suffering the consequences of the unjust law? What kind of American am I? In this case, of course, the good citizens of Orlando are sitting pretty while the homeless are starving. They're already being punished.
That's what makes it hard to always be a "good" American and abide the law, when I see it hurts someone else. It's easy to know I should follow the speed limit, not kill someone, not break into my neighbor's house, pick up litter. It's hard to fathom how it would be wrong to feed the homeless in this America.
Do you think civil disobedience has its place? What about in this instance? Should these people really be arrested for feeding the homeless?
Image via Beverly & Pack/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Kanye West is Gay?! 
Comments 22
I think this is the strangest and a truly heartbreaking law ... I don't understand it, and I hope I would've had the balls to sit out there with them and feed these people and wait to be arrested. I would be happy to have that arrest on my record. You do not judge why people are where they are- you help. Compassion, not judgment. More people should live that way.
i honestly can't believe the police didn't just look the other way, it's not a truely offensive action they are taking. i have known a woman and a man that the police looked the other way on dui charges as long as someone picked them up. i know it's not the same police dept but this wasn't something that needed to be reprimanded.
I'd understand if people weren't allowed to feed oh, stray animals in the park, especially wild animals like raccoons. But these are humans!
Also, calling it 'public feedings' is a bit disgraceful, no? It makes it sound like this civil group is pouring cat/dog food in bowls and going, 'Here Hobo! Who's a good smelly bum? You are!' and patting them on the head.
So, can you be arrested for having a family reunion picnic at a park there? This is a stupid law. period. What about anyone eating their lunch in a diner? That is "public" and "feeding".. or a mother giving a child a bottle or *gasp* breastfeeding their baby?
I say God bless those brave people. I can only hope that I would have had the fortitude to stay & get arrested right along side of them. Honestly, it would be an honor to get arrested with such selfless people.
I have mixed feelings. I think that Civil Disobedience has it's place, I suppose. So they got arrested for feeding homeless people I doubt that's going to look all that bad on a resume. But- with regards to the law I think there is a point. They are probably trying to keep their streets clean. There are homeless shelters in most areas they should be allowed to eat there. The law probably should be more specific prohibiting loitering or peddling instead of public feedings which sounds horrible.
reserve the park to have a big neighbor hood picnic, is that prohibited? Or check to see if there is a proper place to have these lunchens acording to the city. There is away around it if you just try, you don't have to go straight against the law just find a way around it.
This is just sad. I am guessing because Orlando is a tourist town they don't want to have bums loitering in their parks. I could understand a law that didn't permit pan handling, but these poor people were just hungry. I don't understand how you can't have public feeding in a park, it seems like a fine line unless they don't allow picnicking in the park.
Why are we called "America: Land of the free"?
Yes, civil disobedience has it's place. How else would displeasure with what the government isdoing get noticed? You really think they listen to petitions and "sternly written letters"? Hahahaha. It's takes an eye opening act...in your face..sort of act to get attention and things changed in this world today.