So Homeless people sleeping on the street bother tourists! Well just too damn bad. We mustn't soil our reputation by letting visitors know that in the capital of Canada people have to sleep on the street because they can't afford a safe decent home. But where are they to sleep? Shelters are dirty and noisy and dangerous. The street may be noisy ( and how!) and grungy, but it's safer than a shelter.
I spent a night on the street with some protesters, and you know what, I never felt in the slightest danger - no fights, no aggression - just people trying to get some sort of rest while lying on concrete under bright lights, with the unceasing noise of heavy machinery; I never knew Ottawa had so much. What I wonder is how they'll manage when it's cold.
I heard a cop tell some homeless people that they weren't staging a protest ( they had a permit for one) because they weren't shouting and chanting and singing, and carrying placards. They were just lying down at night trying to get some sleep. Well blow me away boy; guess you don't know about "variety", and change of pace, and the fact that even protesters need to rest sometimes. Those folks were protesting all right, and if the bully boys want a song here's one:
 OH
PLEASE GO AWAY BULLY BOY BULLY BOY
PLEASE STOP YOUR HARASSING US, BULLY. WHY NOT COME AND SPEND A NIGHT SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT - THOUGH WE DOUBT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IT FULLY. Or how about
a very simple chant:
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Why can't we choose to build housing rather destroy ? Yeah I know. Gotta exterminate those terrorists over there; never mind that we're letting a lot of anger and frustration build-up right here in the True North Cold and ----- "Free"?????? Well, it's cold all right, and the only thing that's "free" - you've guessed it- is the street - or jail if the authorities decide you're too offensive for tourists to see!
But don't mind me. I'm just a RAGING old woman who'd like to see a little justice for a change.
