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Street Beggars Around Anderson you may see people on the streets holding signs asking for money. I have only seen men do this. When I discussed what I had seen with some co-workers they seem to think that the person must be an alcoholic, lazy, on drugs or the person must be forced to beg. I wondered about what it took to stand on the street with a sign stating you were hungry or need a job.
There is one man who I passed while I was driving to work and he was still there at lunch time and after work. I have wondered what this man’s story is. If he is an alcoholic would he be able to stand their begging for all those hours, is he on drugs, or is someone forcing him beg. In observing the man just for a minute or so waiting for the light to change. He did seem awfully thin as some alcoholics appear. He also kept his head down low as if he was so ashamed of what he was doing. I wanted to give him money and I didn’t. I thought why don’t you just give him a few dollars, but I just felt so sorry for him that somehow it was embarrass him more if I did.
Then a couple weeks after seeing the man going and coming from work I saw a man on the corner with a sign stating he had a family and needed work. Again, it caused me to think. Could or should I give him a job doing some lawn care? I thought yes, but I would be concerned about letting a stranger know where I lived. I then thought that most people probably feel the way I do and just gave him money. Fifty or so years ago I believe people would have just taken him to their house and gave him some work. With the crime rate these days and the tragic news stories know one would bring him to their home.
Last year I went to Munich and noticed on every block I walked there was an older woman kneeled down, and chanting with her hands held out begging. I asked my son what do think this is about. He stated the funds they receive go to fund a