I have. Thanks. We will have to be diametrically opposed on this one. The sign doesn't mean anything. Nobody I've met down there has mentioned it to me (to be fair, I haven't met a whole lot of them). I'd be real surprised, though, if the sign means anything to people who scrap through trash to live.
I'd appreciate it if you'd think about something for me: if the sign had an opposing phrase on it, would you not stop by and help? Would 48-52 percent of people with an opposing view to any sign stop by? Does it matter why they need help right now? Do these homeless people deserve what they get if they have an opposing view? It's freezing out there. I'm sorry. I just don't understand what difference the sign might make to anyone who wants to help homeless veterans, or how it might motivate someone who would otherwise not give a crap.
Your either Christian or not, if You would not help those people based on whose name is on the sign then you are definitely not Christian.
When more folks start giving donations to the tent city now (now the story has went nationwide) ask the people who live there what they think about the sign once they know it brought their story nationwide.
The difference is simple. If people do not know about the situation they can't help. You can try and convince yourself the sign did not help but the fact that you and I are discussing the topic and I live on the other side of the country puts that argument to rest.
I (and many others)would have not known about it. And now that I caught wind of it I have spread the word to all the people on my email list. Those people in turn will tell others. Hopefully someone out in your area will come up with an address where donations can be sent.
Or we could all complain about how the sign was a waste of effort. Ever here the story about the flood and the farmer and God sending him help? ;-)