UPDATE for Those Who Donated to the Homeless

[Crabcake Johnny]

When I used to transport prisoners we always had some homeless committing crimes in the winter so they could go to jail - and they knew exactly what kinds of offenses had short maximum penalties.

 

[jody108]

That is certainly your choice, I hope you enjoy life to the fullest.

I spent all of my twenties doing volunteer work ... but my focus was not feeding bellies .... my focus was feeding hearts ....

 

[VaDwayne]

I spent all of my twenties doing volunteer work ... but my focus was not feeding bellies .... my focus was feeding hearts ....

My philosophy is that it's easier to fed hearts when bellies are full. It's very difficult to tell tell a man Christ loves him when he's starving to death.

I know this. If I am sitting in my very nice home, I have 2 nice car's, a membership at the country club, a great job, and a little cash in the bank, and I walk past a man who is hungry, if I end up in Hell, I deserve to be there.

What is a dollar, will it make that much of a difference in my life, but it could make a huge impact on somebody who doesn't have one. This is exactly why Jesus warned us about how difficult it is for a rich man to enter into heaven.

 

[jody108]

That is nice VaDwayne!!!!

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I also like this method of charity - supplies, not money. I would buy lunch for someone who's hungry than hand them $10.

Lets also remember to give a bit of help to those who are working hard. Personally, I'm a big fan of over-tipping when I'm at a restaurant.

 

[Guest]

I know this. If I am sitting in my very nice home, I have 2 nice car's, a membership at the country club, a great job, and a little cash in the bank, and I walk past a man who is hungry, if I end up in Hell, I deserve to be there.

You're a member of the Keswick Club or Farmington?

Wow.

In Virginia "neo-conservative" society, you HAVE arrived!!

I'd would not want to be a member of either (yeah, like either would have me!) but I did play golf once or twice at one of them (forget which) as a guest of one of my professors when I was at U.Va in the 60s.

If you can "sell" the members of these clubs... you are going to do very well for yourself in the years to come. One note... you "sell" in the bar or restaurant or at the pool... NOT on the golf course. Don't make that mistake of talking biz on the course. Even if they mention "What is LTC all about?" say "Good question... with a long answer. Let's discuss it over drinks. Whoever loses this hole buys the first round."

I can't tell you how many sales I've blown because I thought "big deals" went "down" on the putting green (or the locker room... women don't believe this, but naked men don't discuss business with each other... except maybe in the mafia!) Never, ever sell on the course or in the cart. Trust me on this. I learned the hard way when I was younger... and a lot stupider than I am today (if any of you can believe that... which none of you will !! )



Al

 

[Guest]

The only problem with giving money and /or food is that it keeps them poor and reliant upon others. We should figure out a way to teach them to get up and become self sufficient, which they could. Do whatever it takes. (Pursuit of Happyness anyone?) Many settle for and/or accept there circumstance as a permanent condition, which is sad, a broken human spirit is truly tragic.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I don't know how many this applies to as a percentage but we also have to realize that some people simply don't care - I know a few. Nothing matters to them and they have no drive.

I'm deeply sympathetic to people who strive to achieve but "life" happens and puts them in a bad situation.

There are others who need educational or vocational training so they have the skills necessary to succeed.

Then there are people who have no excuse; came from a caring family, good education but are flat out lazy. The issue with this group is the more you give the more you become an enabler.

 

[jody108]

I'm with John and Rob ... homeless people are mostly a fraud ... they could do something for work .... i've seen retarded people bagging groceries.

It's good when it's women with children, regardless why ... and crazy people ... other than that, do something ... if not, starve ... that will motivate them.

 

[Guest]

I'm with John and Rob ... homeless people are mostly a fraud ... they could do something for work .... i've seen retarded people bagging groceries.

It's good when it's women with children, regardless why ... and crazy people ... other than that, do something ... if not, starve ... that will motivate them.

There you go! That's the arch-conservative ethos I've been waiting to hear.

But there is something I don't understand?

You mean you don't think most of the women with children are faking it as well? You don't think they are slackers and pikers who could get a job but simply don't want to and basically don't care if their kids go hungry?

And why would you want to feed the kids? Won't they just grow up and breed more homeless kids of their own?

So I guess you were not one of those who contributed a buck or two to Dwayne's request? That's OK. Seeing as only $350 was contributed and that I contributed almost one third of that, very few agreed with me that this was a good cause and that most agreed with you that it would be money wasted.

I'm willing to bet that if the NRA asked you to donate to a fund to buy guns for the homeless so they could hunt their own food that you'd be right there with checkbook in hand.

Or maybe if Rush Limbaugh asked for donations to buy every homeless person a copy of Sarah Palin's new book? I'm sure you would give to that.

What if Glen Beck sought donations to build a huge camp for the homeless and transportation (in boxcars) to send them there? I'll bet that sounds like something you'd give to.

No one says you HAVE to donate to Dwayne's fund to help the homeless in his area. But to castigate those of us who did (or do) is exactly why I'm so proud that I'm nothing like the man you are and why a man like you would never want to be a friend or colleague to a man like me.

I know you. I've known men like you all my life. You look at kind souls like Dwayne as stupid fools trying to improve upon the human condition. Your bible says that the poor will always be with us... and you see that as a rationalization to turn a blind eye to any and all human suffering anywhere around you. Yes, you have a hundred and one ways to rationalize your hard-hearted, zero-sum life.

That said, I know a lot of conservative men and women who hate the government and who see everything in terms of survival of the fittest and that poverty is God's will... but still they write a check to the Salvation Army or to someone like Dwayne because... well because... in my opinion... in their heart of hearts, down deep, they really don't believe all the arch-con crap they are told is gospel.

When you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner this week and you say "... in Jesus name we pray..." perhaps you will give a quick thought to how proud of you he must be and the exemplary life you are leading.

And come Christmas, be sure emphasize to your children the following passage form Dickens:

'At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge,' said the gentleman, taking up a pen, 'it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.'

'Are there no prisons?"

'Plenty of prisons,' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

'And the Union workhouses.' demanded Scrooge. 'Are they still in operation?'

'Both very busy, sir.'

'Oh. I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,' said Scrooge. 'I'm very glad to hear it.'

'Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,' returned the gentleman, 'a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?'

'Nothing!' Scrooge replied.

'You wish to be anonymous?'

'I wish to be left alone,' said Scrooge. 'Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned-they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.'

'Many can't go there; and many would rather die.'

'If they would rather die,' said Scrooge, 'they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

Al3