‘Peace House Community Journal’ Archives
Life vs. People
PEACE HOUSE COMMUNITY: A PLACE TO BELONG By MARTY MALTBY I recently read “Ghost Rider,” Neil Peart”™s memoir, recounting a 55,000 mile motorcycle trip he took to help him deal with personal tragedy. His 19 year old daughter died in a car accident, and ten months later, his partner of 22 years died of cancer (although Peart claimed the real cause was a broken heart). Lost in grief, he left his house in Quebec and rode to Alaska, then south into Mexico and Belize, before returning home. Early in the book, Peart mentions how the deaths changed his perspective on life. Before that point he led a blessed life, untouched by death or disease, with a job he enjoyed as the drummer of Rush (arguably the most successful Canadian rock band of all time). As you might expect, being in a world famous rock band brought many people into Peart”™s life, who sought to befriend him superficially, in exchange for what his fame and wealth could do for them. His [...]
Peace House Community: A Place to Belong
Pleased to Almost Meet You By MARTI MALTBY I stole the title for this column from Colin Hay, the lead singer from Men Without Hats. His song “Pleased to Almost Meet You”™ is a tongue in cheek commentary on how people these days tend to talk a lot about getting together without ever actually meeting. The song opens with the lines: I'm pleased to almost meet youThe pleasure's almost mineI can see that you're busyPerhaps another timeI'm pleased to almost meet youHere let me get that doorNo need for conversationThey do say less is more Before covid hit, I heard many people talk about being too busy to spend time with friends or family. After covid hit and everyone started interacting through video chats, the discussion focused on how much people missed face to face interaction. Now I”™ve heard debates about whether workers will want to come back to the office or stay at home, whether we will keep connecting with far-flung friends through our phones [...]
It Might Be a Start
PEACE HOUSING COMMUNITY: A PLACE TO BELONG By MARTI MALTBY I recently received a survey regarding racism in the Hennepin County homeless shelter system. The results of the survey will become the basis for a workgroup that will look for ways to eliminate racism from the shelters. Because of my work schedule I can”™t attend the workgroup meetings, so I don”™t know what outcomes to expect. I sincerely wish the workgroup success, because they”™ve undertaken a big project. Their task intersects with systemic dynamics, volunteer training, racism within the homeless community, mental illness, and a host of other issues. Homeless individuals and families face enough challenges already. Experiencing racism in the middle of the system that is supposed to help them almost defies description in how insulting it is. Because I received the results of the survey a week or two later, I have seen the variety of views that the workgroup will have [...]
