For the last few years, I haven't really been sure how to approach the homeless people who are begging in the streets. There is the mentality that in the U.S., they are always drug abusers. In India, it's always the children begging and there is the belief that they are just being controlled by rich older people who have abducted them. I don't think I have ever spared change for anyone I have encountered in my life - I always get a rush of sadness, but more than anything, it's an embarrassment that I live in a society where there are children or adult starving or freezing on the street next to a parked Mercedes. Despite this sadness, I have learned to not meet the eyes, to ignore as if it's a situation that I am not responsible for or that I should not have to be the one to care about.
Two weeks ago, I met someone who gives change to any person asking on the streets, in the underground, or playing music for the spare change. I don't think I have ever met someone who does that before, and now I feel really embarrassed about how I have approached the situation in my life. I hope to change that. Because even if they are drug abusers, to me they are humans who deserve better. Especially the children - few years ago, my parents and I were in India on this foggy hill in pouring rain, and this little girl - twelvish years old - ran up to us to sell some popcorn. Dad bought it because she had ran in rain for the sole customer in sight. He asked her, "Do you go to school?" Her response: "If I went to school, how would I eat?"
I don't think I will ever forget that, and yet I don't know why I chose to do nothing about it.
Boring unrelated photographs (sorry):
Blurry on purpose. I have a non-blurry boring image as well if you are interested. One of the best bookstores I have ever been to.
Two weeks ago, I met someone who gives change to any person asking on the streets, in the underground, or playing music for the spare change. I don't think I have ever met someone who does that before, and now I feel really embarrassed about how I have approached the situation in my life. I hope to change that. Because even if they are drug abusers, to me they are humans who deserve better. Especially the children - few years ago, my parents and I were in India on this foggy hill in pouring rain, and this little girl - twelvish years old - ran up to us to sell some popcorn. Dad bought it because she had ran in rain for the sole customer in sight. He asked her, "Do you go to school?" Her response: "If I went to school, how would I eat?"
I don't think I will ever forget that, and yet I don't know why I chose to do nothing about it.
Boring unrelated photographs (sorry):
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