I cannot say that I am a careless or egoistic person. I am always ready to give a piece of advice, to share things, to come to the rescue or just to support a person. Although, frankly speaking, I think about homeless and poor people very rear. But recently one accident has happened that completely changed my views on the life and attitude towards such people.
Nearly a week ago I was returning home from the supermarket and was walking along the street. Then I saw a man – he was a beggar. The man was dirty with uncombed hear and long tangled beard in a torn dirty clothes without shoes, but with a vile smell. He was sitting on the bench in the park, and I suppose he was going to have his meal. He opened his pocket and got out a piece of food. Suddenly, a dog appeared out of nowhere. The dog was with a collar, but dirty and very scrawny. It started begging a beggar for food. And the man without any hesitation gave the dog everything he had and patted it on the head.
Nothing special, you may say, but it turned my world upside down. Why does it happen that a homeless man is able to give away his last food? And we, people, who live in enormous houses, comfortable flats with refrigerators full of products, people, who everyday fall asleep in warm, cozy beds cannot donate at least $10 to people in need. Why things like that happen in the world? Is it really impossible to help all those homeless people and animals, to give them shelter, to share some clothes or food with them? No matter how they landed on the street, the fact remains that. People become homeless mainly due to the lack of moral as well as cash support in a critical moment. According to the statistics of the State of Homelessness in America, on January 2013, 610,042 people were experiencing homelessness. (“The State of Homelessness in America 2014”)
There exist a lot of stereotypes and prejudices about homeless. The biggest stereotype is that they still earn money while sitting on the subway. Some people believe that beggars can earn millions and to buy an apartment or something else. I think it is even ridiculous to discuss. The second stereotype is that all homeless are alcoholics or drug addicts. In order to fight against these stereotypes, we should spread the true information about them.
We live and somehow, whether we like it or not, interact in society with others. It is hard for me to understand people, who stick to the point – I live separately, and I do not bother. It is a test of our humanity – the ability to help even strangers.
As Mother Teresa once said: “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked, and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.” So in conclusion I want to say that we have to take care about and help all the people, who need our help and support, because all good deeds will absolutely return with greater goodness.
Works cited
“The State of Homelessness in America 2014”. National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2014. Web. 26 Oct. 2014. http://b.3cdn.net/naeh/d1b106237807ab260f_qam6ydz02.pdf
