Increase in the Poor?
Posted: July 20th, 2009 | Author: faddy | Filed under: General | 13 Comments »
Image Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixx0ne/1037963176/
Whilst having dinner with mum a few minutes ago, she shared that for the past few days, she has been asked to ‘donate’ multiple times while she was manning her shop, more than she has ever been asked before. The stark difference between what she had just went through the past week and her past experiences, is that the people asking for donations comprised more of ‘normal’ people like you and I, instead of kids wielding tin cans.
Just this afternoon, she was stopped in her tracks by a middle-aged lady carrying a baby in her arms, who asked her for $2 so she could buy something for her kid to eat. Later on whilst she was sitting around, a man came up to her, started to say some prayers ‘for her’, shoved some prayer materials to her face and ‘forced’ her to pay $2 for his ’services’.
Last week, my brother was approached by a teenager who asked for $2 so he could go home. I myself have encountered people of many different ages asking for donations so that they could ‘go home’, ‘eat’, ‘feed their kids’ or things to that effect.
Image Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/minebilder/318943587/
My question is… Are these people really poor? Are times that tough for them that they cannot even get proper jobs to pay for their basic necessities and have to resort to begging? Are they part of a sindicate? Or are they just being choosy about the jobs they apply for, and thus would like the ‘easy’ way out?
After all, I still remember the newspaper article I read a few years back which showed a middle-aged wheelchair bound lady who not only resorted to begging, but managed to have a better than average income of more than SGD $3,000 a month. Her well decorated flat had a flat screen TV and even a helper, things which even MY family cannot afford up till today.
Another question that has also been plaguing me is how does one differentiate the ‘real poor’ and the ‘fake poor’ that has risen in numbers in this time and age? Are we helping any of them by giving in to their $2 requests?
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It is a test from Allah without you realizing it.
Its just $2 right? If you could feed a child wouldn’t you give? We encounter this many times in our lives and I myself at times get very angry at time with them.
“Tulah dah tua menyusahkan orang bila muda-muda dulu tak nak berdikari betul betul”..
Yes those kinds of words and thoughts does come into mind right? However as we all know we are being tested by Allah all the time. We have to be patient and if possible give without asking why.
Also you never know when it is your turn to be in that position. You never know that perhaps when you are overseas oneday, your bag got stolen and you dont have your passport nor money. You have to ask for help right.
What if ever single person shuns you away. How would you feel then?
Hello Fadzuli.. perhaps i didn’t make it clear enough, but i was actually venting about able-bodied locals who beg for a living, not the aged.
full grown men and women who, physically, look like they can get a job if they tried, but resort to begging because it is the easiest job around.
When we give them $2, and when the next person comes along gives them $2, they can easily collect so much in one day! Aren’t we hurting them more by giving in and not forcing them to stand on their own two feet? Afterall, there’s a saying that if we give a man a fish, he will only feed for a day right?
I understand your point about it being a test from Allah, and I agree with it. Rezeki is Allah’s, and we should spread it around, but I can’t help but think that my $2 will be better off in the hands of people who really need it, or mosque funds etc, where I know for sure they will be put to proper use hmmm…
Perhaps one day I will be able to be patient and give without asking why, InsyaAllah.
That’s a good question. I believe in donating money to the poor through organizations that will make sure the money goes to the right place. Meanwhile, you can’t ignore the person who begged you for $2.00 either so for them, I would provide food e.g. buy for them a loaf of bread.
wanted to say the same thing too. Instead of handing them $2 (what can you buy with $2 anyway? You can’t even buy milk powder for a baby) treat them to a meal or something. If they are genuinely hungry, they would accept the offer.
betul betul betul! Will do this when the next $2 beggar comes along :)
Hi Hillary, thanks for popping by! Yes I agree with you, I prefer to donate through organizations… and about giving the $2 beggar food instead.. sounds more rational. Thanks for the idea!
Well… if i gave money to every homeless i saw while I was in San Fransisco.. I would also need to ask for money =p
I would agree with Hillary, donate to organisations that focus on helping such people.
Are there really THAT many homeless in the USA? 0.0
I only give when I have some cash TO SPARE. I’m aware that I’m still this selfish lil person but hey, at least I’m sincere when I give. You can’t force these things.
Don’t know about those able-bodied folks, but I know some of the blind people playing harmonicas in Singapore actually live in big houses. Hmmm.
Let’s pick up the harmonica and jam on the streets! kekeke…
If someone asked you for $2 and tells you that he will gives you back $3 in future, will you still give him the $2?
PS . Erm can i use some of your picture(Food , Places there is in a post “What makes me proud to be a Singaporean?”? Because i am doing a social study project on that and i will credit you for there.And i really love the picture you have taken.
This is a great (and entertaining) metaphor for customer interactions–especially since bars, like websites, depend on ‘regulars’ and visitors who stick around for a little
while. I think the key (especially with multimedia content) is to make it available in multiple formats, so that a potential customer can find what they need in whichever form
fits their day.