Some folks I just won't help
As I walked out of the truckstop earlier I noticed a large sign that reads "Begging is illegal. Do not encourage or contribute to this problem" and lists some local ordinance. I thought it was a bit odd at the time but after sitting here in my truck for a little while I understand. I've had several people come knock on my door asking for money. One guy was so stoned that he was barely able to stand or speak and a couple of times almost fell down. Must be a big problem around here for them to post such a sign.
One of them I would have helped out as at least he making an effort to earn some money selling native jewelry. Some of it is quite nice too. Sadly, I am currently very short of funds myself as I was unable to cash my paycheck prior to beginning this run and am not even sure if what little I have will last me until I get back to the yard and to the bank.
I have never minded helping someone out and have done so on numerous occassions. But I'm not going to give money to someone who is obviously just looking for booze or drug money when they're already so stoned they can barely stand. I just don't feel that it's doing them a real service. Maybe I'm wrong on that, but it's the way I feel.
I've always been pretty independent and worked for my living. I have also had to accept help from others a few times when times were tough or I was unable to work due to an injury or illness. But I could never just choose to panhandle instead of working for a living and don't really understand those that do so. I have always been able to find a way to provide for myself even in the toughest of times.
While I am by no means wealthy or even moderately well off, I do have my dignity. That is something that is very important to me. Note I said dignity, not pride, which I see as two totally different things. Yes, I have my pride as well, but a person can have pride and be totally lacking in the dignity which I see as one of the defining charactoristics of a noble person.
The times when I have been forced to accept help from others it may have meant swallowing my pride, but I accepted that help with dignity. I have met some people in my life that were very, very poor but they had a quiet dignity about them that one just had to admire. I always try to remember how it made me feel to need someone else's help when I offer help to someone. I try to do it in such a way that while it may well bruise their pride it in no way appears to be an attempt to strip their dignity from them.
I always try to show other people respect, even the panhandlers I run across in nearly every truckstop in America. But I don't always give them any money. Sometimes I do, sometimes I'll buy them some food if they claim that's what they want the money for and give them food instead of cash. Some express appreciation, some look at me as if I just offered them a rattlesnake to pet because they really want cash for drugs. Sorry, I'm not feeding your self destructive habit.
I believe it's a good and noble thing to help others in real need, and it's something that everyone should do not to make themselves feel good or to be able to say they helped someone but because it's the right thing to do. We should take care of each other in this tough world. But there are limits to honest charity and for me at least that limit is reached when it's obvious the person is simply looking for drug or booze money. I won't help someone destroy themselves.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so.