abaya

Since when does "compassion" involve giving spare change to random people on the street? What I was saying was that I felt compelled to give money to people with lost limbs and therefore totally and clearly disabled in 3rd world countries. I did not say that I don't believe in HELPING people in general, in the US.

Before I moved to podunk middle-class college town for grad school (almost no homeless people at all, and where I gave money to the Red Cross and other charities instead), I held volunteer positions where I helped teach GED lessons for homeless teenagers, as well as tutored English lessons in low-income housing for Somali refugees who were on and off the streets. If I saw either the teens or refugees on the street, no, I would not give them money. But yes, I would give them several hours from my week to try and give them skills that would get them out of their situation. To me, that's more "compassionate" than flipping a quarter to some dude every day, but each to his own.

If I have the chance to live in or near a big city again, I would actively look for a similar kind of volunteer situation, and still refuse to give people money on the street. Reykjavík is a big city, but it doesn't count because the social services are so strong here that there are virtually NO homeless people, period. Yes, poverty exists here, but they are not out on the street thanks to 40% income taxes, which I gladly pay. If taxes increased to 40% in the US in order to help less-fortunate people, I would gladly pay that as well. But I am just not going to hand out money to random people who "appear" to be in need, with 4 working limbs to help get them to a place where they can get food or learn skills, when I have no idea what their situation really is.

__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
--Khalil Gibran