Not all peasants are beggars, but some certainly are. My neighborhood, in particular, seems to be overrun with panhandlers. I live less than a mile from where I work (it saves on gas). Well, yesterday as I was driving home (yes, even peasants can have cars), I stopped at a red light. It was a hot day and my windows were down. The next thing I knew, I heard a woman’s voice from my left saying, “Excuse me Ma’am.”
I looked over and saw a woman walking along the sidewalk, hair undone, t-shirt with a big stain down the middle.
“Yes Ma’am?” I replied.
“Can you help me? I’m trying to get something to eat,” she said.
I told her that I did not have any food with me. She came closer to my car until she was right next to me. While she glanced back and forth through the front and back windows of the car she replied, “That’s okay, just give me a few dollars and I’ll go to Coney’s.”
My car is a bit old and beat up, but I of course am wearing my office clothes and my purse is on the seat right next to me with the top open. Great. The light has been green for a few seconds now. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any cash on me,” I said as I pulled away.
As a rule, I do not give money to strangers. I am afraid that if I do it once, they will wait for me everyday at the stop light. Panhandlers who are displaying a talent, such as jugglers or street musicians, are different. I feel that I can give them something with a clear conscience, as I feel a certain reciprocity in a situation like that.
And of course if I have food, I have no problem giving some to someone who asks. I guess I will pick up some snacks to carry in my car for the next time.
Ciao.
Good post.