Trey Smith
What would you do if you came across someone on the street who had not had anything to eat for several days? Would you give that person some food? Well, the next time you get that impulse you might want to check if it is still legal to feed the homeless where you live.Over the past decade or so, many communities have acted like homelessness itself is a crime by regularly rounding up the homeless to cart them off to jail. Now, as this article points out, those do-gooders who try to help them may now find themselves sharing the same cell!
Sadly, feeding the homeless has been banned in major cities all over America. Other cities that have not banned it outright have put so many requirements on those who want to feed the homeless (acquiring expensive permits, taking food preparation courses, etc.) that feeding the homeless has become "out of reach" for most average people. Some cities are doing these things because they are concerned about the "health risks" of the food being distributed by ordinary "do-gooders." Other cities are passing these laws because they do not want homeless people congregating in city centers where they know that they will be fed. But at a time when poverty and government dependence are soaring to unprecedented levels, is it really a good idea to ban people from helping those who are hurting?
~ from Feeding The Homeless BANNED In Major Cities All Over America from OpEd News ~
Can you believe this? It's absolutely crazy. Why on earth would we criminalize being a good Samaritan?
Sadly, it's because most of our leaders don't want to be reminded of the fact that the policies they support often LEAD TO homelessness. If people feed large groups, then the homeless are there for all to see. That goes against mainstream sensibilities. We want the homeless out of sight and out of mind!
Being a "Good Samaritan" is sometimes unhelpful - especially if one has the attitude of "throw money (food) at the problem & it will go away".
ReplyDeleteI would rather - if I had the sense of security ask the homeless person to clear the leaves or snow or wash the car & include a plate of food for lunch & PAY THEM for their contribution - rather than a handout.
One contributes much more by acknowledging said contribution - it makes a difference to self esteem. If however both giver & receiver have attitudes of I only want what I want & don't think you know better/tell me what to do" then there will be no solution.
We have "street children" in most towns here. Usually they ask for pittance relatively speaking "to buy a loaf of bread" but give them a sandwich & I have witnessed them toss it in the bin. What the request is intended for is glue/meths for sniffing (& these days spray cans get sprayed into plastic bags & inhaled - evidently there is some chemical propellant that alters 'brain').
Sadly unless giver & receiver achieve attitude 'transformation' humans will not resolve anything.
Personally, I have no issues at all with giving someone food or water and not asking or expecting anything in return.
DeleteMe neither.
DeleteThough depending on attitude, one has the chance to give to the "whole" person by making an opportunity for a contribution "in return". As with the biblical reference "give a man a fish & you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish & you feed him forever" (assuming humans don't wipe out all the fishes first!)
Xtra thought:
Delete"Good Samaritan Good deeds" is a very Christian thing to do, as such the focus is on the action not necessarily the attitude. This connects to the concept of "good works" as adding to the giver's tally & thus the giver's salvation, based on the Christian concept of we are all born bad.
As baroness mentioned Taoism views us as being born empty (True Nature) & so "salvation" is not a concern. The Taoist concerns are Cultivation of Mind & Body so as to rise above "aquired nature" & in doing so re-connect with True Nature. Cultivation of Mind & Body is primarily through Compassion (leading to courage), Moderation (that creates means for generousity) & Humility (that facilitates wisdom).