Yesterday, as I walked into Blockbuster I looked at the homeless guy sitting outside and debated whether to give the guy some change. Some people have very strong opinions on why or why not giving money to such individuals is the way to go. Society, mainly media, always encourages us to reach into our pockets and help out “those in need.” It’s programmed in our mind that it’s the right thing to do. Some people, however, are not programmed the same way.
I googled this topic a few minutes ago and learned that many individuals refuse to donate money to the homeless because it is our governments responsibility to care for the welfare of all individuals. Other countries do it, why can’t ours? On the flip side we have people who find the government immensely incompetent of providing such support and take it upon themselves to help out however they can. With the growing national debt and staggering economy, I don’t know if I would even like the government to take a stab at this problem, at least at this point in time. Others simply feel that they should not help people who are not willing to help themselves. A big part of me agrees with this idea.
As I browsed the hundreds of movie titles, numerous questions poured into my head: Should I give this man some money? If yes, how much? What will he do with? Should I just get him a food item instead? If he has money will he learn how to properly allocate it so he doesn’t blow it all on one item? I’ve heard many homeless people will just spend it on alcohol, what kind of 40 might he buy? Would it be weird if I had a sip?
I believe in karma. My mom tells me to donate often, because good things come to those who give. She also tells me of the ‘give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime’ philosophy. I stood there confused. Should I watch Semi-pro, a likely c-level Will Ferrell comedy or The Usual Suspects, a renowned academy award winner. What mood was I in? I could put the onus on the government for caring for this homeless man sitting outside; but would it actually get noticed? In general, I’m a very decisive guy who knows what he should do. But I stood there, deciding between two frivolous pastimes and two moral choices.
I didn’t want to choose between either. Last night I rented two movies. And since I didn’t give the man any money on the way in…
3 Comments
July 15, 2008 at 9:43 pm
i like this layout a lot better
July 18, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I feel you… I think as students it is difficult. I think when you begin to make a decent salary then that 50 cents will go a longer way for someone. In the end, I remember the benefits of not finishing your food in Berkeley is that someone else will… so there are other ways to give.
The responsibility of the government is help these people and help stimulate a jobs for individuals of all incomes.
Keep up the blog, people will read.
July 24, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Giving to the less fortunate is a personal choice people make in an unequal world. In this, they are guided by their upbringing, values, religion, family. Why judge someone else who’s values are different?
I grew up in India at a time when the country/culture was constantly denigrated for its beggars and poverty. Many years later, a sympathetic analysis in an American magazine helped me see it in an entirely different way: beggars exist in India because the vast majority of Indians (rich or poor) give readily to those less fortunate. This generosity of spirit is something to celebrate.