| Re: "No pity for privileged actor and artist," by Tom Bowman, Letters, August 4-10, 2005.
What a nasty letter!
Firstly, I do not know Denise Clarke (except from theatre ads) or her husband, and I have never been to their house. Ms. Clarke, as a performing artist in an experimental theatre, is not likely to have the income of, let's say, Julia Roberts or Oprah; likewise, her husband is not likely to be on par with Picasso or any painters from The Group of Seven. Consequently, as for them being "privileged" or "indulged" – I don't know.
Ms. Clarke and her husband are members of the artist community and as such they have likely a different lifestyle than Mr. Bowman, or the average working stiff like me. That does not make them deserving of the flood that destroyed their house. I imagine they worked on the house with love, had it tastefully furnished and – as artists – filled with art objects and books that were collected over the years and were valuable to them in more ways than just their price. The loss must be terrible.
Secondly, neither Ms. Clarke nor her husband caused the homeless to be so, nor are they responsible for the problem of homelessness in general. Comparing their being "homeless" with those who are often so out of their own doing or choice is totally meaningless and inappropriate. Ms. Clarke and her husband cannot solve homelessness, no matter how many houses they lose or give away; likewise, even if there were no homelessness in the city, they would still be "homeless" now.
I do not envy anybody their houses, cars, other property or lifestyle, and feel the same for the loss of the rich and poor folks alike. This was an "act of God," not a consequence of their own actions. I can only be grateful that this time, my little house escaped the disaster.
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