Letter: Justice sought for all refugees inside America

Thursday, Nov. 1, 2001 | 8:43 a.m.

What's in a name? Not much if the name is "homeless person."

At the Regional Planning Coalition's homeless task force meeting on Oct. 24, little was accomplished. The report that triggered the meeting wasn't available to the panel before the meeting started. This was the third meeting held to increase outreach, voluntarism or to open the Mash Village tent shelter.

I'm sure you've seen the appeals for donations by Mash Village. Why wasn't the tent shelter opened with these donations? In order to get the attention of the federal government, VA Secretary Anthony Principi and all government entities, the name "homeless person" should be changed to "refugee"! Then there can be a humanitarian campaign nationwide to address homelessness.

Being a veterans advocate, I am mainly concerned with the veteran refugees who served, bled and died for America.

I hope there is no impediment to having a humanitarian mission inside our borders. If there is, Congress can put an amendment onto a corporate welfare bill to remove it.

If the Mash Shelter tent can't be opened, veterans can be given pup tents, sleeping bags and ponchos.

They used them in combat and bivouac while serving America.

Please help get justice for America's refugees.

FRANK PERNA