Discussion

Do you give money to beggars? Explain why, or why not, to a partner.

Reading
Read through the comments below on an internet discussion site and decide which opinion is closest
to your own.

What's your opinion of beggars?

We invited people from around the world to let their voices be heard
on the subject:

Edilson Gomes Teixeira, Brazil

In my city, Sao Paulo, we have lots of children who ask for money on the
streets. Of course, I feel terrible for them, but I think that giving them money
does them no good. Usually they are really begging for an adult - even their
mother or father - just so that they can buy drugs or something like that.
I don't know ... it's complicated.
Ana Martin Fong Schmidt, USA
I come from San Francisco, Califohia, where you can't walk two blocks any
more without running into a homeless person asking you for money. They're
filthy people who sleep and urinate in my doorway. I used to give money, but
not any more. I suppose I've become sort of numb to it all. I mean, what is my
50 cents going to do to help someone? It's the Government's problem, not
mine.
Atsuko Fujimori, Japan
We have a place in my city, Tokyo, called "Shinjuko Station." I think this place
is an embarrassment to Japanese society. There are hundreds of homeless
people living in cardboard boxes. The Government doesn't care about them
and neither do many people in Japan. But I do. I take them food and clothes
and sometimes give money. Many of my friends think I am crazy. I think I'm
normal and they are crazy. I cannot sleep well at night if I know there is
someone else who has no place to sleep.
James Foster, UK
I'm fed up with beggars and fed up with do-gooders who want to help them.
1 don't give money and nobody should. It only encourages them to beg even
more. And these people all seem to have dogs and smoke. Why should I give
my hard-earned cash to feed their pets and smoking habit? People living on the
streets are there because they want to be!

Discussion
Read through the comments again and answer these questions:
1. Who says that living on the streets and begging is basically a choice?
2. Who blames begging on drugs?
3. Who says that the problem is one that cannot be solved by individuals?
4. Who feels ashamed of the problem?

33 Begging Taboos and Issues

I
Poem Language
Read this poem about being homeless, then Write in a -less word from the poem with the
discuss the questions below: definitions below:
1. No money = ............
2. Ignorant = . . . . . . . . . . . .
Homeless, but not speechless 3. Many = . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Unable to protectldefend yourself = . . . . . . . . .
I a m homeless 5. No care or feeling for others = . . . . . . . . . . . .
Penniless 6. Anonymous, unknown = . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. Without purpose = . . . . . . . . . . . .
So I ask for your pennies 8. Without value = . . . . . . . . . . . .
Countless 9. It won't hurt = . . . . . . . . . . . .
Are the times w h e n I feel
Pointless Discussion
Useless Would you give money or help in these situations?

Powerless 1.A woman knocks at your door collecting

money for homeless people. She has an official
t o d o anything ID badge. How much would you give her?
to/for/about/with 2. A little boy offers to clean your shoes in the
these heartless street for 20 pence.
3. A woman holding a baby asks you for money
see-me-nots on the street. She is crying.
w h o are clueless 4. A rather dirty-looking person asks to 'borrow'
t o my 50 pence for the bus.
5. You meet someone on holiday in a Third
faceless existence
World country and after chatting, you realise
One penny that with just a couple of your traveller's
Your charity cheques, you could pay for their child to go to
university and have the chance of a completely
is shameless different life.
M y life ... 6. You're in a restaurant and a woman comes in
worthless with flowers and asks if you want to buy one
for your boyfriend 1 girlfriend.
M y journey ... 7. You're at some traffic lights and someone
reckless washes your windscreen, then asks for some
money.
Don't worry:
8. You receive a pack of Christmas cards through
M y passing will be the post from a charity for the blind. There is
painless. no obligation to pay for the cards - you can
keep them for free - but you are invited to
send a donation.
Discussion
1.What does the title mean? Discussion
2. What does the writer mean by Your charity is Write your own view on beggars in the same style
shameless? as the internet comments you read earlier. Pass
3. Explain the last line: My passing will be your comment to another classmate. Then:
bainless. 1.Read and see if you agree or disagree with the
4. What is done in your country to help homeless comment that has been passed to you.
2. Discuss it with another classmate (not the
people?
writer of the comment).
5. Why are so many people homeless? 3. Discuss the comments as a class.

Taboos and Issues Begging 33

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