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INTERNATIONAL STORY whether capitalism is better than socialism. That would give the impression that I have the answer, when, in actual fact, it isn’t really possible to find one definite answer. All we have is the answering process. Recognizing this is very unsatisfactory, but incredibly important. How can we undergo this process as a whole society? We ought to ask who it is that ultimately shapes society. Who has the means to speak? Who is allowed to have discussions? If we keep boiling the same kind of stew, we will always be left with the same results. We need a notion of public life that is not just based on the perspective of the privileged. Ideally, at some point, there will be no need for me to have to say this anymore, either – because my arguments, just like my class, are already well-represented. It is just the fact that I can see through their seeming contradictions that surprises many people. Are you also looking to discuss this issue with other super-rich people? Yes, and they very often react positively. I should not make myself an exception here, as, for a long time, I went about my life wearing the blinkers of privilege. And also, I could have the strongest sense of justice in the world, but it would be no use if I just kept it to myself. Super-rich people have reading groups on Karl Marx, and they know his writings very well. But what exactly does this bring about? I cannot claim to have understood the political fabric of society if I am not prepared to deduce from it a consistent course of action. Only a few super-rich people are as open about their privilege as you are. Why is that? Many of the super-rich people I know fear that going public means giving up all of their privacy. But they underestimate just how visible their privilege is even before they do go public. People will know that I am rich even if I don’t say so myself. The moment I fear being reduced to one of the super-rich, I begin to define myself by my wealth. I have seen super-rich people burst into tears when they thought deeply about the question: “Who really am I without my money?” Let’s suppose that wealth is fairly taxed in the future, and you lose your money. What kind of work could you see yourself doing in ten years’ time? I grew up with a lot of class privilege and I will have it for the rest of my life. But I do not consider myself above work – on the contrary: I think it would be both important and nice for us to eventually develop a notion of work as a means of participating in a society that does not promote power imbalances or systemize exploitation. No wealth could replace that. ■ Translated from German via Translators without Borders Courtesy of 20er / International Network of Street Papers BACK ON THE STREETS BY BRIAN AUGUSTINE Recently, the rent for Denver VOICE Vendor Brian Augustine went up significantly. No longer able to afford it, Augustine has returned to living on the streets. We asked Augustine to write about his experience and share the experiences of others in similar situations. This is the second in a new column he is writing for the VOICE called “Back on the Streets.” GOD CALLS I’m not crazy or a religious nut. I’ve seen so many different reactions when I’ve told people that God was having me go homeless, or that He did this because He needed me to do something for Him. God doesn’t talk to me. Life would be so much easier if He did. But He does push me with situations. I’ve learned to go with Him. Just keep the faith. I’m not crazy. I know if God started telling me to kill someone, that it wouldn’t be God talking. God doesn’t ask us to break his commandments. But, He will ask us to go into situations that we are not comfortable doing. Homelessness is not a choice we would make as a child. MEETING ANGEL The first night I was homeless and back on the streets ended up with me in the hospital visit. (I will write about this later.) I was nervous. I’m sleeping out in the open with drug addicts, alcoholics, and mentally unstable people. A lot of those folks can be a combination of these at the same time. I’m now in a wheelchair, which is hard to keep pushing with my arms. (I now have different ideas of handicapaccessible. Even a one-fourth inch lip on a sidewalk can stop you like you’ve run into a wall.) Anyway, I was sleeping in a doorway, when a schizophrenic woman came up. She asked if she could sit next to me. I had seen her around, and I knew the she needed any sleep she could get. I said yes, even though it could cost me my life if she had an episode. She said her name was Angel. I’m pretty sure that it is. She laid out her blankets. As she covered up. I said, “You can sleep. I’ll guard our things.” I don’t sleep,” she sold me. “I’ll keep watch.” Then, she began arguing with what I gathered were voices inside her head. I listened for a minute before inserting my own voice into the conversation. I explained that I was safe and trustworthy, and that l would respect our friendship. Twenty minutes later, she was snoring heavily. I kept watch all night, and in the morning I repeated her name until she woke up. I told her I was heading out. As I pulled away in my wheelchair, I’m sure I heard her whisper, “Thank you.” Angel found me for four nights in a row after that. Each night, I listened to her argue with herself, as I tried to piece together some of her story. I figured the more I understood about her, the better I would be able to empathize with her. What I learned about her life was heartbreaking. FIRE ON THE 16TH STREET MALL On the fifth night with Angel, we were sleeping under an awning because it was raining. Suddenly, someone broke into one of the kiosks on the 16th Street Mall. The burglar started a fire. Some homeless folks went to see what they could get, while others just ran. Angel made sure I was awake before running away herself. I haven’t seen her since, but I’m sure I will at some point. I called the police. The woman who broke in was arrested. The reason that all of the homeless people in the vicinity ran away is because they knew if they had stayed, they would have been treated badly the officers. And some probably had misdemeanor warrants. ESCAPING THE PAIN: There are three schizophrenic woman I’ve gotten to know. All of them were sexually abused to the point of breaking them. Those voices they hear are their protection against more abuse by a society that doesn’t take the time or the effort to build trust with them. The ones that do drugs do them to escape their pain; not to dull it. That pain is so sharp that just to think about their experiences, makes their wounds open up. Only time and trust can help them back. ■ REMAYR & SCHERIAU: GELD MARLENE ENGELHORN, KREMAYR & SCHERIAU 2022 BRIAN AUGUSTINE. CREDIT: ELISABETH MONAGHAN November 2022 DENVER VOICE 11

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