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My problem is that it feels like trying to stop a flood with buckets. You just aren't going to be able to do it.
I've been working in Washington DC for several months now, and the longer I'm there, the harder it is for me to see the homeless people and feel unable to do anything. On my half mile walk, I see at least five people begging for change. When I first got there, I tried to give some each day, but it became difficult as I quickly realized that I would be in poverty if I gave and gave. These people are not defective and they do not deserve to be in the position.
So, my question is what can we do to help this problem?
What can you do?
I'm going to try to give to some charities. Still trying to decide which ones.
We live modestly and place our petitions for sustenance at the foot of the cross.
Excuse me if I don't believe the "cross" is going to solve the poverty issues within my country or any other. Though I suppose if it inspires you or others to actually do something then it is accomplishing something in a round about way.
Yes, she did.
Well, that's a reference to prayer. I cannot fault someone for praying, as long as they are not ONLY praying to help others.
The thing is it will take more than charity to correct the problem as these issues as we know go beyond giving to a poor person.. They are systemic to the society and after the great social programs have been disabled by uhh certain parties which will remain nameless, the only immediate resortt is dependence on charity.
Our scriptures have a very straightforward solution to this problem!:
Not only are we forbidden to beg; we're also forbidden to give to beggars.
I refer such people to shelters and other agencies that can assist them.
Bruce
My problem is that it feels like trying to stop a flood with buckets. You just aren't going to be able to do it.
That's nice until you find yourself before a group of kids who live literally in the sewers. When people are in real need they have to meet their immediate requirements solved: home, food, a shower, somebody whom to speak and, at the same time, we need to work on building a better society.
My problem is that it feels like trying to stop a flood with buckets. You just aren't going to be able to do it.
Are donations to charities that help these people encouraged?
And as to the person who asked why I don't follow Jewish law, did it ever occur to you that the answer might be that I'm not Jewish?
Au contraire! Step #8 works best. Giving to beggars MUST not be cash. Food is good. Charities shoiudl be inspected for how much % of what you gives goes tot hose you need. The charity I helped found in 1985 functioned such that for every 10 cents you give, we'd get $1.00 worth of food to the end user.
I do agree that you can give food instead of money, but Jewish law does say you should try to give something. If all you can give is money, then you do it.
Yeh.. I'm not disagreeing with you.. When I mean "systemic" I'm referring to large scale programs that address peoples' basic needs such as shelters, education, food banks, medical care.
Deeper than that are programs that can get people to work again and give them some self respect... like the old WPA.. Our community still uses the Post Office, Auditorium and Civic building built by the WPA.
What Bruce is talking about is that the Baha'i teachings say that we should have no "professional" beggars.. that everyone should have access to basic needs in society.. so universal education, a profession and medical care are all important but today unfortuantely many do not have medical insurance in the US and many are not eligible for basic shelter or support so we have people who are begging for money or food or whatever it takes..
'By the sacred verse: "Begging is forbidden, and it is also prohibited to dispense alms to a beggar" is meant that mendicancy is forbidden and that giving charity to people who take up begging as their profession is also prohibited. The object is to wipe out mendicancy altogether. However, if a person is disabled, striken by dire poverty or becomes helpless, then it is incumbent upon the rich or the trustees to provide him with a monthly allowance for his subsistence. When the House of Justice comes into being it will set up homes for the incapacitated. Thus no one will be obliged to beg, even as the supplementary part of the blessed verse denotes: "It is enjoined upon everyone to earn his livelihood"; then He says: "As to those who are disabled, it devolveth upon the trustees and the rich to make adequate provision for them." By "trustees" is meant the representatives of the people, that is to say the members of the House of Justice.'
- Abdul-Baha
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