Homeless in Santa Monica
The other day I went to Blockbuster Video to rent The Matrix movie for you guys. Sitting cross-legged next to the entrance was a homeless man. He had a full grey beared, looked old and tired, and he wore a ragged blue parka jacket. I ignored him on the way in, but when I left, he asked for money as most homeless people do. I didn't.
I hate it when that happens because I don't know what to do. My rational, or thinking, side tells me that giving him money would be a waste. I don't know what he's going to use it for: maybe he'll buy booze or drugs with it. Besides, giving him money might make him lazy because he doesn't have to work for it. And, being a teacher, I am helping society by preventing people from becoming homeless.
However, everytime a homeless person asks me for change, I want to doing something for them. To us, 50 cents doesn't mean much. But to them, 50 cents probably means a warm night with a cup of coffee. Helping people is a good thing, isn't it? That's my emotional side speaking.
Well, a few days later, I went back to return the video. It was raining, and he was sitting in the same exact spot. He didn't ask for money this time, but I gave him the 50-cents change in my pocket anyway. He actually offered to give me some Aunt Jemima toys that he had found.
So, let's say you make a decent living, like I do. Would you give money to the homeless person on the street, if they ask for it? Why or why not? Why do you think homeless people become homeless? What do you know about that? Educate me.
I hate it when that happens because I don't know what to do. My rational, or thinking, side tells me that giving him money would be a waste. I don't know what he's going to use it for: maybe he'll buy booze or drugs with it. Besides, giving him money might make him lazy because he doesn't have to work for it. And, being a teacher, I am helping society by preventing people from becoming homeless.
However, everytime a homeless person asks me for change, I want to doing something for them. To us, 50 cents doesn't mean much. But to them, 50 cents probably means a warm night with a cup of coffee. Helping people is a good thing, isn't it? That's my emotional side speaking.
Well, a few days later, I went back to return the video. It was raining, and he was sitting in the same exact spot. He didn't ask for money this time, but I gave him the 50-cents change in my pocket anyway. He actually offered to give me some Aunt Jemima toys that he had found.
So, let's say you make a decent living, like I do. Would you give money to the homeless person on the street, if they ask for it? Why or why not? Why do you think homeless people become homeless? What do you know about that? Educate me.
posted by P. Hsu at 9:08 AM
7 Comments:
I would give him te money because it is the right thing to do. Not all homeless people buy drugs whith the money that you might give them. It might be a warm cofe for them or just enough money for a motel.
well, i dont look like a nece person, and sometimes i am not, but when a homless person askes for money, i at least give them something. it doesnt seem like much to us(like you said), and that is why i think we should give them alittle. i am so nice like that because when i was little, my family was evicted from our home. well werent sitting on the cement askig for money, but we had to go from motel to motel until we got help. so i normally dont give them more than $2, but i stll ive them something.
I probably wouldn’t. There was a time I gave a bum a five dollar bill, he smiled in front of me and as soon as I started to walk he started yelling, “hope you won’t get poor you son of a !!@#$%”, I got really pissed of and since then I just cuss out the bums that ask me for money. Yeah I don’t give bums money.
I always try to give money to the deralicts on the street. its just something in my heart and soul that if i dont say yes i fell bad like i did something wrong. I think they become homeless because they tryed to do something and they didnt succeed. They could have waisted all there money on a dream or could have got mixed in with drugs. Thats why i dont do drugs. I want to be something.
No, I would not give money. If I give them moeny, I agree what mr. hsu said, You don't know what they would use it on. I don't really know why or how they became homless. There are many different ways. They could have been lazy in school and in life and don't feel like working. Another way is they could have been sucessful in life and they had made bad disions and that is how they got where they were. But that is what I think. I don't find going around asking homeless people how they becomae homeless one of my highlights of my day. Later.
Interesting dilemna. It would be worth your time to check out the blog, "And Thirty-four cent" at: arthurlifeintheshadows.blogspot.com. It's a related story.
In answer to the question: I tend to give what I can, and hope it helps in whatever way necessary. We cannot control the actions of others. It usually tends to make me feel good to give what I can, regardless of what it will be used for. Tough one though.
No, as a matter of policy I don't give money to homeless people begging on the streets. I think it's great to volunteer in a shelter or soup kitchen or to do something else to combat homelessness. But you're giving money to a particular homeless person does nothing about the greater problem. What that interaction boils down to is you're giving money to someone because they're asking for it. And I don't think that 'because someone asks you to' is a very good reason to do anything. If you think it is, will you wash my car please?
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