Posts: 1107
From: Rochester Hills, MI USA
Registered: May 2004

posted August 16, 2004 02:26 PM         

---

There is a one legged man that stands by the road near my office at lunchtime. I have told my husb that one day I want to give him money. I sense that he is not using it for drugs or alcohol. Well today when i returned from lunch i gave him 10.00. he didn't say anything. I told him i was not supposed to encourage him to stand there but have a nice day anyway. I doubt if he even heard what I said. I remember reading some where that homeless people are no different than people on a spiritual quest..we,they are all trying to become one with the universe. This really changed the way i see street people now. And one time I remember my sister said.."well anyone can be down on their luck" shes a pisces soul, very caring and understanding.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1239
From: USA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted August 16, 2004 03:56 PM         

---

Thirteen, I've done this(givin money) and even tho, people tell you not to, that it will just encourage more begging...listen to your heart! like you did today.

------------------
May the angel of your higher s-elf, guide you always.

IP: Logged

Posts: 355
From: Colorful Colorado
Registered: Aug 2003

posted August 16, 2004 06:58 PM         

---

Yea... I love to give to the homeles people n Denver... have to feel that there is something in them though, like good or potential, just soemthing. Some times you run into people and you just know that they would use it to do bad and you know. I don't really care if they use it on drugs though, it's there own choice.

RIII

IP: Logged

Posts: 6034
From: Vancouver USA
Registered: May 2004

posted August 16, 2004 09:16 PM         

---

This reminds me of this guy I saw a week or so ago. You know the guys, standing on the side of the road with a sign.

What was different about this guy was:

He was standing on the side of the road near the freeway entrance holding a sign that read (to the best of my recolection) "Family starving. Please help." That in and of itself is no big deal, right? Well... this jerk had his two young sons standing on the street with im. 12 and 14 at most.

My heart went out to those two young men whose humiliation must have seen no end on that day.

I was tempted to stop and bawl him out for doing this to his kids... but I didn't think I would be able to do it in a way that would have been appropriate in front of his children, so I just drove on.

I was mixed with empathy for those kids and anger at their father.

I haven't seen them back there since. Hopefully someone talked some sense into that (for lack of a better word) dad.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1577
From: MAINE! :)
Registered: Aug 2003

posted August 16, 2004 09:31 PM         

---

I know the kind of thing you saw, LS. When I used to live in Pasadena, there were loads that used to come onto our outdoor seating area at the restaurant, trying to get money from our customers. One guy had the same story every night. He walked up and said he just got out of prison and needed to get clothes and food for his son. Different kid everyday, all dressed in nicer clothes than I'VE ever owned, and obviously NOT his son. There were also lots of kids, well, young people who were too lazy to work while going to school, (again, dressed to the nines and fresh from a shower)and would sit on the sidewalks of the downtown shopping district asking for money from anyone walking by, smoking cigarettes and cursing when people didn't give them a few bob. It pi$$ed me right off because I was working 60+ hours a week to support myself, and they were going to school on dad's buck and calling me a b***h for not giving them MY money. Had they been legitimate, and down on their luck, then I wouldn't have been bothered to toss them a bit. But there were jobs EVERYWHERE, so it's not like they couldn't have been waiting tables somewhere, or working in a shop.... It bugged me that they were using this tactic, and taking money from the real down on their luck folks, scrimping to have a meal. THOSE people, I gave money to when I had it.

Ghani

IP: Logged

Posts: 3291
From: nevada
Registered: Jun 2005

posted August 16, 2004 10:12 PM         

---

right on!!

IP: Logged

Posts: 3800
From: California
Registered: Oct 2001

posted August 16, 2004 10:41 PM         

---

IP: Logged

Posts: 1239
From: USA
Registered: Apr 2004

posted August 17, 2004 01:56 AM         

---

That is what I meant by go with your heart. I think that most people can tell when it is someome in real need. I can't abide the others. Life is hard enough for the true down and out'rs.

IP: Logged

Posts: 1033
From: on the trail of the Old Ones
Registered: Aug 2003

posted August 17, 2004 02:21 AM         

---

I give money to people all the time and have for years. If they look like they will benefit more from food, I'll go to the nearest store, fill up a bag that even a homeless person could use wihthout a kitchen or power, and give that to them. I don't understand this thing about not giving. Why wouldn't you help someone who is clearly in distress? I totally understand not contributing to an obvious con game, but if someone is really hungry, they can count on me for a meal.

IP: Logged

Posts: 6034
From: Vancouver USA
Registered: May 2004

posted August 17, 2004 10:57 AM         

---

I like to give them food too.

I used to be a Barista downtown at this little trendy caffe, near the railroad tracks. I would collect the "day old" goods into a bag and pass them out to the "tramps" after my shift.

IP: Logged