THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS
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Am I the only one that wonders about the homeless/panhandlers you see on street corners and a lot of times roaming around in parking lots of malls and grocery stores these days? Or if you're at a pro sports stadium/field there seems to be an influx of beggars wanting your money!
Most (like 99%) have tattered and worn clothes and are quite hygenically unkempt. By this I mean, they haven't cleaned their body for days perhaps weeks!! There are open doors at the YMCA's, some gas stations, homeless shelters, etc. to clean up.
Now some may question my motives here...but I'm not out for any kind of revenge, just thinking 'aloud' more or less as I type my Thursday's thought.
In the King James' version of the bible, Jesus is quoted: "Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven." Luke 6.20. Personally, I'm having thoughts that this was/is NOT panhandlers we most commonly see today on street corners (again, today, probably 95% are not the innocent poor)...in ancient times there were 'innocent' poor--ones who were treated unjustly and lost properties, families; innocent of structural oppressions---maybe even in biblical proportions such as with whole communities taken away.
He also tells us in the book of Matthew that we should "Give to everyone who begs from you...."
But, have you ever given to a man who is holding up a cardboard sign that states on it something to the effect "Homeless - Hungry - Please Give"?!! He's wearing torn clothes, hair is matted and dirty, one may have worn gloves and a stocking cap. Sometimes a dog by his side on a leash, and perhaps a thermos or a brown paper bag beside the dog? Have you ever witnessed these people in a large city? I have. Many-a-times. At intersections, they could be found under an overpass? Stopping traffic, begging?
I think it was in Washington D.C. once where hubby and I were walking around the sights of historical interest, and about a block away from the capitol building was a panhandler. He would look you in the eye, and if you continued walking past him, vulgarities would spew forth from his mouth. That was one time I was glad we didn't share our own hard earned money. Someone like that, who was begging, and didn't receive as he thought he should, he'd slander innocent passers-by!
Then one time at a tourist attraction in a much smaller city, there was a beggar...same scenario with mismatched clothes, dog and you name it. Hubby acutally gave the man a five dollar bill. And of course, hubby was 'blessed' by the man! Then, by middle afternoon, we were in a bar getting a cold beer to quench our thirst, and the same man was in there drinking and drunk!!!
Also, I've always wondered with a few, maybe 45-50% of the street panhandlers --where do they get the money to always have a pack of cigarettes? Smoking away as they beg for money!!! And/or - what is actually in that paper bag by your dog?
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Now, these days, as economy seems to fail even the biggest of corporations, it's difficult to just walk past some of the poor without doling out some of your own cash. Yet...
more and more, large cities are passing ordinances which some are banning panhandlers. Arresting them. Locking them up. Feeding them with the taxpayers' money and providing housing in county/city/state jailhouses. For both sides, it's a win win situation. Or is it lose lose? Depends on how you look at things in life.
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I, for one, have come to the conclusion that it's better to give to REPUTABLE, charitable organizations(but then another thought is the FEMA and Red Cross organizations during and after the devastating hurricane Katrina---a lot of reported wrong doings within the inner core of the supposedly charities??!!?). Giving monetary donations to a homeless organization or my 'tossed aside' clothes to Goodwill or Salvation Army(one organization I tend to give willingly is the Ronald McDonald Houses ---they perhaps aren't for the 'poor' per se, but they DO help for families in need of a place to sleep and eat -closeness to children's hospitals when the need arises without having to worry about having money on hand to get a room a great distance away from their loved dying children in a hospital). And, donating money to groups that provide food for the poor. I won't give to street-corner panhandlers any more after the drunken beggar we witnessed. That one instance is keeping me from trusting any of them! Even tho pity and sadness prevails for me to see something like this most times, it's just doesn't feel right for me to give to the poor on the street any more.
It's sad to have these thoughts and feelings of distrust, but with all the fine organizations out there willing to help the poor, it just makes me feel more comfortable to give to a more visual means of seeing someone fed and clothed without spending the charitable money given to them for whiskey and smokes!! My trust for these people went out the window one day and I don't think they'll regain that trust from me again.
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10 Comments:
Thanks for stopping by yesterday for mix WW pictures. They are adorable and exhausting! I go to work to rest up. Seriously. Come and visit again!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this subject. I definitely agree with you...much too often, the homeless will use the money they get for booze instead of food or shelter. I suspect that most (but not all) homeless people like that lifestyle and really don't want to improve their circumstances.
You have chosen a wonderful charity to donate to & I was happy to read that you help the families of ill children. *s*
My thoughts are posted now....have a great day!
Most of the panhandlers you see are alcoholics, drug addicts, or people with "mild" mental illness. We used to keep them in institutions, but during the Reagan years they were turned out into society, except they can't really function in society. I'm not sure that the answer is to lock them back up -- I don't have "the" answer.
I once saw a man with a sign that said "Why lie? I just want a beer." If there hadn't been six lanes of traffic between us, I would have given him money. He was honest, and he made me laugh. Otherwise, I don't give to panhandlers because I've seen too many scams. But I do give as much as I can in money and unneeded possessions to several different charities.
DC's "homeless" are notorious for appearing in the morning and evening as people are leaving for work. They probably make more in a year than I do. I once had a guy ask me for money in Georgetown, and he had an ipod earbud in his ear, with the ipod "hidden" in his coat.
i'll offer to buy some of them food, but they don't want that. they want the money.
It's frustrating, because you want to help people that really need it, but it's hard to tell that these days.
Wys... my family and I debate this situation allllll the time -- but especially at this time of year. A few years ago I made a decision that I would NOT give money to them - for the same reason as you - for them to drink or smoke away. What I have started doing when I see them, is I'll stop at the next fast food place, buy them a meal and deliver it back to them. I've never been spit on yet! They're always grateful (thus far) ... and I feel like I haven't wasted my money.
Dennis and no longer give "financially" to any MAJOR organization -- for the same reason -- all kinds of controversy over where exactly the money goes. I can no longer give blood either -- but the kids do, and we do donate used clothes and household items. I always donate to a couple of different "Angel Tree" events IN MY COUNTY. I always give to Toys For Tots -- I buy the toys -- and we always contribute to our local Fire and Police departments. These are the areas that we feel SAFE in donating, and are happy in the knowledge that we are helping out in our own area.
Great topic!
Thanks for visiting my WW.
Your thoughts on homelessness are interesting. In the UK we have an organisation that gives the homeless magazines to sell and if they sell enough then they get a bed for the night.
I like to look at the footwear of the ones on street corners. Often they have new looking shoes or brand trainers (Sneakers)
I agree with you too. I had a similar experience--a man started yelling at me to give him my spare change. I looked down and despite his unkempt clothes and shabby appearance, he had brand-new designer sneakers on. I said that it wasn't my fault he'd spent all his money on shoes and moved on.
There was a genuinely homeless man near where I used to work, and I'd bring him food whenever I could. I do what I can now but sometimes it is really hard to know whether you're making any difference at all. I think it's human nature, though, that we have to try. Thank you for helping Ronald McDonald House. They do good work.
I remember a friend in Texas would make sandwiches to hand out to the panhandlers. I see so many everywhere in NYC I've wondered about these lost souls. They even have panhandlers that ride the subway and get in your face. It is one thing to drive by them at intersections and quite another when they get in your face.
I'm here from Carmen's House Party.
I agree with you about the panhandlers. I want to be a good example to DD and show her that I do care...but I would rather give them food or McDonalds coupons... I've never done either though.
Once we were coming home from eating out and had left-overs with us...but the pan-handler never made it to my car before the light changed.
We donate lots of food to our food bank though. My former Pastor said that the food bank requested Peanut Butter and crackers so the homeless could carry it with them.
I feel the exact same way you do about these homeless people...the ones we have here all seem to be drunk most of the time and they get very abusive. My heart goes out to them, regardless, but I hate to give them even a dime because I know exactly what it will be spent on as soon as they have enough! One time I had just walked out of the mall and this homeless man approached me asking if I had a couple of dollars for him...I offered him a food product I had purchased and he said no, I want money! I think that was the day I decided I would never give to them again. Like you, I much prefer to give donations to reputable charities!! Great post! xox
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