I was queuing up at the traffic light on my way to work and saw a lanky man approaching the cars ahead, standing beside the driver's window and holding up a piece of small sign. Pah, another bummer too lazy to get a proper job, I sniffed in disdain. All the drivers ahead ignored him as he got closer and closer to my car. How did they dismiss him - Wave a hand while mouthing "no"? Stare straight ahead and ignore the man? How should I dismiss him? Smile apologetically while shaking my head? Will this hurt his feelings less?
As he got closer, I saw that he walked with a slight limp. He looked harmless. Should I roll down my window to give him some cash? The sun is so hot and he's alone and... Then he stood right outside my window. I saw some Arabic writing on his piece of paper. I don't know if it's reflex or media's education, because I suddenly busied myself with my cellphone and waved him off impatiently.
I watched him through my rearview mirror. Still limping, still smiling, approaching car after car behind mine. I felt like shit. I didn't feel any satisfaction by doing my part in not encouraging the begging phenomena in the country. My afterthought brought in another possibility: The man could be dangerous and armed beneath his robes, and if I rolled down the window, he would take out a knife and stab me and take the car. But we're at a traffic light. Unmoving. With cars in front and behind.
Sigh. Am I being too sentimental? Do other people even think twice and feel bad for ignoring beggars on the street? I always get this pang of guilt whenever I ignore the forlorn woman holding a child and the dirty man sitting in the middle of a pasar malam, but I feel angry when I see tourists dropping coins and bills into their cups.
What's the right thing to do?
As he got closer, I saw that he walked with a slight limp. He looked harmless. Should I roll down my window to give him some cash? The sun is so hot and he's alone and... Then he stood right outside my window. I saw some Arabic writing on his piece of paper. I don't know if it's reflex or media's education, because I suddenly busied myself with my cellphone and waved him off impatiently.
I watched him through my rearview mirror. Still limping, still smiling, approaching car after car behind mine. I felt like shit. I didn't feel any satisfaction by doing my part in not encouraging the begging phenomena in the country. My afterthought brought in another possibility: The man could be dangerous and armed beneath his robes, and if I rolled down the window, he would take out a knife and stab me and take the car. But we're at a traffic light. Unmoving. With cars in front and behind.
Sigh. Am I being too sentimental? Do other people even think twice and feel bad for ignoring beggars on the street? I always get this pang of guilt whenever I ignore the forlorn woman holding a child and the dirty man sitting in the middle of a pasar malam, but I feel angry when I see tourists dropping coins and bills into their cups.
What's the right thing to do?
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