I’m sorry in advance if some of my words will sound cynical and cruel. In fact, I want to hear your and other people’s opinion on the things I’m going to share.
Throughout my life, I’ve had a mixed up feelings and attitude to the people who beg in the streets. I am from Kazakhstan, and our streets are filled with all sorts of homeless and begging people. As a child, I was told that I shouldn’t give money to begging gypsies because they’re all mafia and actually make fortunes on that. No offense to anyone but once I actually saw one of these gypsy beggars count the cash she had earned during that day. The pile of cash was massive!
Then I was told not to give money to the beggars who are in wheelchairs in certain places or just look in a certain way because they are part of mafia too. They had been kidnapped by some horrible people and forced to beg in the streets, and at the end the money that you give them goes to those at the top of this terrible well-organised chain.
I still give money to beggars, although not all of them. And at the times I don’t, I feel horrible about myself thinking ‘Who the hell am I to judge who is really a person in need and who is a fraud or a part of mafia?!”, and I walk past those poor people actually forcing myself not to look at them. Because of how ashamed I feel.
But you are so right. Everyone has their own story and the reason why they are where they are.
And you are also right about the desire of being acknowledged. I never thought of it before. Thank you for sharing this! It did in fact touch me (as you may probably see from my enormous comment) ❤️🙏🏼