Fourth in a series
Re “Meet a Beggar with a Growing Family”
As I was saying the other day, I noticed a difference between the beggars on my recent visit to Armenia and in Europe and those in Los Angeles.
Here a lot of young and old men write on their boards that they are war veterans. They ask for help. If they are saying the truth, shame on us. We can cut down one portion of our food and donate it to them every day. Shame, too, on our government that helps so many new and old immigrants, refugees and political asylum seekers. Yet we leave our veterans who have lost their jobs, their body parts and their time in order to protect our country.
We help the people who have done nothing for this country and even may be once they have shouted in their streets on different occasions: “Death to America.” Or they have burned our flag.
Why not help our own citizens first! Aren’t we reminded in each airplane flight that in the case of an emergency we must put on the oxygen mask first and then put them on our children?
Don’t think that I am cruel and heartless. Don’t think I cannot feel the pain of a hungry child. I have gone through all phases of life. I have experienced almost everything.
My grandmother and my mother were the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, A homeless, hungry widow and her devastated child.
Before the Last Resort
But they had their pride. Even in such a desperate situation, when they could taste little reason for living, they struggled worked hard. That is why I know that a real poor person has pride, and a huge spirit. Before begging, they try to find a way to work through their problems. Many times people who endure difficulties are not able to confess to their parents or friends that they are going through hard times. Like the Armenian woman, why not sell flowers in the street? It does not demand huge capital before starting.
When I reached a dead end to my questions, I found the easy way of solving the problem by asking my rabbi:
“If I see a beggar who looks healthy and well, but begs, what is my responsibility? Do I have to give a donation?”
The rabbi answered:
“If someone is bringing himself/herself so low and asks for donations, you do not ask questions, help”.
I did not argue with him. He is right in a way. But has he experienced all that I have? I think if I give money to a person who does not really need it, I have less to give to a truly needy person.
I believe that there are ants that work hard all the time. And there are bloodsuckers that find someone and stick with all their means.
How to distinguish them? That is the real question.
Maybe it is better to give our donations to the official organizations who take care of these problems.
I believe that every time we give money to a beggar we encourage him/her to come back to the same location the next day and continue their work. Maybe by doing so we encourage them to even establish a family franchised business.
We have to help those who know how to take care of the problem, collect these people from the streets, study their situation and help them to find their pride and creativity and work.
As the Chinese say:
Instead of giving me a fish, teach me how to fish. Then I will not be hungry anymore.
Dr. Rosemary Hartounian Cohen, who lives in the Fairfax District, received her Ph.D in sociology from the Sorbonne in Paris. She lived in two other countries before moving, with her husband and four children, to Los Angeles in 1984. She has published four books in America. Since 1985, she has operated Atelier de Paris, an international art business, on Robertson Boulevard. Her email address is Rosemary@atelierdeparis.com.