[Fwd: Iraq Dispatches: Inside Abu Hanifa mosque during attack

[James E. Henderson]

Jaron Omega wrote:

>On Wed, 1 Dec 2004, John H. Robinson, IV wrote:
>
>  
>
>>I tend to prefer to give my money to an institution with a proven track
>>record of real results and directed effort. Yes, direct money brings
>>temporary comfort, perhaps in the way of food or drink, or even a bus
>>pass for transportation. Is that helpful in the long term? Perhaps the
>>bus pass is, as it allows getting to and fro; perhaps to a job
>>interview. I don't know.
>>    
>>
>
>This seems typical.  Could it be, deep down we don't want to take
>responsibility for our own actions?  Maybe, acknowledging a problem
>isn't exactly the same as observing the problem.  Be wary of the
>person who claims benevolence tossing assistance at you from a
>distance.  As if they aren't man enough to look you in the eye;
>out of sight out of mind, what are his intentions right?
>
>Would it be better, had you taken your contribution and lay it
>in needy hands?  Instead, we prefer to lay our contributions
>in greedy hands, who seems honorable enough to trickle change
>for the cause.
>
>It feels wierd, to take a hundred dollars and just hand it to
>a bum that appears half starved.  Doesn't it?  What, is it more
>the norm to hold our nose and toss a few quarters?  Well, why
>pat a man on the back for giving a hundred dollars to an
>organization?
>
>  
>
On the other hand, I have on three different occasions, at two different 
locations, observed the panhandlers with their cardboard signs walk away 
from their begging location, go around a corner or another short 
distance to get out of sight, enter a limousine and drive off. This took 
place over a period of about eight years here in San Diego.


James