Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
I sometimes wonder whether the Savior's remark that, "...the poor shall be with ye always," was actually made at a truck stop. As a Christian, I celebrate this season when the Word became flesh and also observe that, judging from the above quote, in addition to being the Prince of Peace, Christ is also the undisputed King of Understatement.
Pandhandlers are an almost daily fact of life for an over the road trucker. I don't know if they think we are loaded with cash, or if maybe it's the "captive audience" nature of truck stops (we can only park and rest in certain places). But after maneuvering The Beast backwards into a parking spot, I'll often look up and see them approaching, eyes darting about, maybe with a sachel of "gold" chains they're ready to sell, or a forlorn look that cues the violins for the sob story I'm about to hear. I like to think I've achieved a certain level of discernment and can distinguish the truly needy from the thoroughly seedy, but I'm not always sure.
Over at the Washington Post today, Petula Dvořák discusses the phenomenon in the DC area, and her article got me to thinking. Is there some "one size fits all" response to panhandlers here that doesn't entail extreme indifference or gullibility? Some people offer to buy a meal for a person who claims to be hungry. I like that approach, but with the schedules I run, I often times don't have time to eat lunch myself, let alone watch someone else eat. I find that I will sometimes hand over a few bucks out of simple expediency rather than debate with the panhandler, and later with my own conscience. At other times, I've become annoyed (especially with the jewelry salesmen), even to the point of offering once to introduce the merchandise to the digestive processes of a particularly tenacious antagonist.
The words, "I was hungry and ye fed me, I was naked and ye clothed me," come back to my mind. Especially at this time of year, as the cold sets in. I have noticed a fortunate trend where the truck stop panhandlers have migrated south, so that their ranks swell in Florida but dwindle in Michigan, where I am today.
But the images remain. The mass of blankets on the concrete in Alabama, where a young man slept a couple of weeks ago. The veteran in Denver sleeping outside the truck stop, back in 2006, who lost his ka-bar and wanted a few bucks for another to defend himself from hoodlums. The lady with mascara running down her face, who had tried to surprise her husband at a truck stop only to find him in the sleeper with another woman and now just wanted enough money to put some gas in her car and go home. The young troop who had lost his bank card and needed gas to get his young family to his next duty station. All of these people I helped, but there are many that I didn't. It's not always an easy call, and it's often made more difficult by my own limitations of time, judgement, and resources. Tis the season, right?
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May '10
Re: Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
Both recognize the right of property, but the Randian notion of self-interest includes contempt for others, especially for the weak and helpless.
Re: Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
Katievs, that is an interesting take. I'd love to explore it more, but I'm off to Grand Rapids and points still further north. Brrrrrr
May '10
Re: Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
When I was younger, I felt that giving food was a good alternative to handing out money to panhandlers. Then, a friend of mine pointed out that this only encouraged the behavior. Money or food by panhandling provides an incentive not to seek the things one needs in life through other ways, such as work. Leading a Christian life provides an opportunity to provide both grace and justice, and the choice should be made based on what is best for the individual in question. I would say panhandlers typically are better served by justice. There are places they can have their needs met other than big rig parking lots and street corners. Obviously, the young lady in tears after finding her husband cheating is a exception and likely benefited greatly through your grace, Dave. However, I think you can be compassionate, Christian, and still refuse money and food to the overwhelming majority of those who ask in these circumstances.
I think it is all the more important, then, for the Church to work to help the poor and the weak, even those who panhandle. Guiding these to better places to meet these needs is the duty of the Church.
May '10
Re: Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
I always give a few dollars. While I'm sure many of the people who have asked were buying beer or whatnot, I genuinely believe it's helped many times too. My mother always gives a $20 when it's freezing cold, and we are not a rich family, in fact she grew up poor without much to eat.
Nov '10
Re: Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
Jimmy Carter: I must be in the minority Here. I never give to vagrants and I never feel guilty for not doing so. I pay taxes and give to select organizations.
There are so many government programs and so many charities Here in America that to be "homeless" and/or hungry is a choice. · Nov 30 at 9:41am
As a former longtime resident of NYC, truly the motherland of all panhandlers, I couldn't agree more.
Sep '10
Re: Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
Elizabeth Dunn
Jimmy Carter: I must be in the minority Here. I never give to vagrants and I never feel guilty for not doing so. I pay taxes and give to select organizations.
There are so many government programs and so many charities Here in America that to be "homeless" and/or hungry is a choice. · Nov 30 at 9:41am
As a former longtime resident of NYC, truly the motherland of all panhandlers, I couldn't agree more. · Nov 30 at 2:58pm
Offer to give them a lift to Salvation Army or another downtown homeless shelter, where they can get long-term real help, and you'll always be turned down. Ask them to somehow verify their story of hard luck, if it is verifiable, and they go away fast.
I'd say at least 95 out of 100 are lying scam artists. As to the other five percent? See above.
Edited on December 1, 2010 at 1:44amRe: Tis the Season, For Panhandling?
A friend of mine was approached years ago by a D.C. panhandler who said, “Excuse me, sir, could you please see your way clear to giving me a quarter towards the purchase of a home in Potomac?”
He gave him a buck.