Comments on: “Don’t say sorry…”

By: kwinie_thedamned

kwinie_thedamned — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:00:05 +0000

i totally agree when you said “making the effort and not just begging for money”…after all if we have to base this story on biblical basis,the scriptue would say:teach a man how to catch a fish and not catch the fish from him…these people can’t depend on others for the rest of their life…i just hope that in time poverty will be minimized/lessened…god still hears our prayers…call on him…and he will be right then and there…

By: Chelcy

Chelcy — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:52:05 +0000

You do have a good point. None of us want to contribute to bad habits or the promotion/continuation of drug use. I don’t think that there is any way for us to really know what this person has gone through or what they are currently going through. We can’t walk in anyones shoes but our own. I’m sure that many of us have been tempted with drugs and might have even tried them, gotten high, done something stupid or even got to the point of addiction and death. I do know that there have been many times where the idea of a drug seems somewhat enticing, especially for the oppressed. It is relief in one form or the other even though it is not a healthy outlet. Each one of us could’ve been stupid and tried using drugs and who knows, maybe even I could be on the streets asking people for money. I don’t think there is any way for us to really imagine where we will be tomorrow, next month or next year. Something could happen to us in such a dramatic way that we succumb to drugs or sex or whatever there is to make us feel any better, and then one day we realize we have a problem.

If there were 10 beggars on a street and only 3 of them were truly poor, would you withhold all of your money or even a dime of it just to be sure you were not giving to someone who did not “need” it. If we do not give to any of them because of that fear, we have failed in helping the 3 people who were truly in need. If the other 7 beggars who are there like wolves in sheep skin, and feel that they need the extra money even if we do not think they do –because hey we all “need” more…

Give the money to each of the 10 beggars. Thats what I hope to do when the situation arrives. People who are on drugs make us more reliable to help them if they are asking for it but that of course comes with guidelines and some rules — like you said we don’t want to help them buy drugs. Those are the real people in need I think — the ones who are almost lost.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:04:32 +0000

Thank you.

After talking to quite some people, I decided to, like you, follow my heart. It never occurred to me that I will help more than I will do harm by giving them a dollar or five. I obviously don’t encourage drug abuse, but I can’t even imagine how difficult it would be to not have a home at the end of the day, and if a little booze helps ease the pain, then so be it. I help out the ones that are obviously asking for “clean help”, and ignore most that seem intoxicated or drugged out. I live in downtown and see a lot of addicts. It really saddens me to see some that are so deeply addicted, and there are not a whole lot that I can do to help.

By: Mutahir

Mutahir — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:51:32 +0000

You are right in what you are saying especially ‘I would want others to respect my dignity and take what I have to offer’ I live in the UK and I am from Pakistan, I have noticed that homeless people found in London are usually drug addicts or they have done something wrong coz of which the State isn’t giving them any benefits. Still there are people who work for homeless and still there are homeless, its really hard for me as well to walk past someone in Pakistan (especially) who is just asking for money to buy his/her food.

I have learned frm experience that these are all organised gangs of beggers, I have now started to encourage people who sell towels, tissues, news papers on traffic lights instead of begging and if someone asks me I just point them towards that person that he/she is selling something why can’t you ?

It just goes on, The only way possible for me to judge is that i look at the appearance and I listen to my heart, sometimes I give and sometimes I know for sure that he/she can do something better.

Good Post and website