The advice of almost every charity is never to give to beggars; in the words of the Big Issue’s founder, John Bird, “It locks the beggar in a downward spiral of abject dependency and victimhood, where all self-respect, honesty and hope are lost.”
Most beggars – as many as 80% – are doing so to fund a drug habit. Better instead to give money to charities, say the charities, so that they can fund drop-in centres and other projects that have a chance of changing the beggar’s life.
There’s something unreal about this position, however: when you have so much more than the person asking for it, refusing money can be hard.
No, actually. It isn't. Thousands of us have to do it every day, when we are accosted by obviously-addicted beggars.
What I notice is that the beggar and the begged-from are far less separate than before. Often, a young woman will kneel down to talk to a ragged man or walk out of her way to fetch him a coffee. Friendships of a kind have been formed. Perhaps a feeling is dawning: we’re in the same boat.
No, we aren't. And thankfully, we never will be.
6 comments:
Younger Sister normally does not give to beggars whereas I do on principle. Recently however she visited a cathedral somewhere and there in the entrance arch/ gateway sat a one armed man with a cardboard sign begging.
The sign read (if I recall aright) : "Alms-less"
She rewarded him for his sense of humour and English language knowledge (she read Eng.Lit at Uni).
"When student Mary Fisher bought rough sleeper Bill McKay a coffee and sat down to talk to him about his life, he knew the conversation would shortly become a status update earning Fisher hundreds of ‘Likes’."
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/homeless-man-knows-chat-with-student-will-be-on-facebook-within-the-hour-20171001136646
@staybryte
You do know that The Daily Mash is a satirical spoof news site?
Stonyground
Hi Stonyground. Yes, of course. The subject matter of Julia's post made me think of this particular Mash piece which I'd seen before, made me laugh anyway.
I don't know about 80% of beggars funding drug habits. Last time I was back home it looked like 80% of beggars were funding Eastern European criminal gangs.
"She rewarded him for his sense of humour and English language knowledge..."
I think even I might!
""When student Mary Fisher bought rough sleeper Bill McKay a coffee and sat down to talk to him about his life, he knew the conversation would shortly become a status update earning Fisher hundreds of ‘Likes’.""
LOL!!
"Last time I was back home it looked like 80% of beggars were funding Eastern European criminal gangs."
Especially the 'Big Issue' sellers...
Post a Comment