Today I gave to a beggar
Today I gave money to a beggar. I rarely give to beggars yet I never walk past one without some stinging guilt at the sight of an outstretched arm and pleading voice.
I'm well off and they are not. Yet I opt to hide behind the work ethic - the belief that they could be doing something useful - anything - to help themselves. Why not sweep the streets?
If I give them money, I reason, they'll only go and spend it on drink. At Waterloo station today a beggar came on the train and told people he needed £4.60 that would buy him enough shelter for the rest of the week. I didn't believe him but I gave him all I had all the same, which wasn't quite enough if he was telling the truth.
Instead of feeling good about it I felt guilty again, partly for breaking ranks with fellow passengers, partly because I'm sure there are others who deserve it more, and partly because it wasn't enough; it never is.
Most of all though, it's the feeling that giving to beggars is not going to end poverty. Creating a society where family values still matter, where a social safety net is an entitlement, not a gesture of charity. That's the solution.
High sounding words but not much use to the train beggar. The station authorities say it's wrong to encourage begging. They have a point but what I do with my own money is my business and today I gave some to a beggar. What he does with it now is his business.
I'm well off and they are not. Yet I opt to hide behind the work ethic - the belief that they could be doing something useful - anything - to help themselves. Why not sweep the streets?
If I give them money, I reason, they'll only go and spend it on drink. At Waterloo station today a beggar came on the train and told people he needed £4.60 that would buy him enough shelter for the rest of the week. I didn't believe him but I gave him all I had all the same, which wasn't quite enough if he was telling the truth.
Instead of feeling good about it I felt guilty again, partly for breaking ranks with fellow passengers, partly because I'm sure there are others who deserve it more, and partly because it wasn't enough; it never is.
Most of all though, it's the feeling that giving to beggars is not going to end poverty. Creating a society where family values still matter, where a social safety net is an entitlement, not a gesture of charity. That's the solution.
High sounding words but not much use to the train beggar. The station authorities say it's wrong to encourage begging. They have a point but what I do with my own money is my business and today I gave some to a beggar. What he does with it now is his business.
Labels: beggars, passengers, train, Waterloo Station, work ethic
posted by Richard Donkin at
4:24 PM
1 Comments:
I once gave a few pounds to a beggar who used to regularly sing and play the guitar tunelessly in a local high street with a sign saying 'deaf and dumb'.
3 months later I saw him holding a phone conversation in a public phone box! Clearly he wasn't deaf and he certainly wasn't dumb as his guitar case was always stuffed full of pound coin and £5 notes.
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