1 Dollar

During our class discussion the other day the subject of giving a dollar to a homeless person was presented. Would I give a homeless person a dollar if they asked? Up until this point I probably would have just ignored the request and kept on my way, but after hearing some others point of view, I’ll reconsider. I was in the “Not usually, but” group and I think I my beliefs fit in best there. I would not usually give a homeless person a dollar because they might be buying alcohol, not actually be homeless, mug you, have a disease and cough it on you, or just keep asking for more, but it could be the holidays, cold outside, they could be feeding a family, be a war veteran, hungry, just trying to get a bus, or disabled. Besides, it’s just a dollar and you are trying to be a good person. When I look back at that list I notice that there are more “but’s” than “not usually’s”. I understand that some of these homeless people have problems. There are shelters for the homeless and for veterans to go to. And some of them are just faking it, which I never thought possible until Danielle mentioned the story about the homeless woman that drove a Mercedes Benz. I guess people can really make a chunk of change just by standing on the side of a road. But, back to the point, everyone could use a little help now and then. I know if I were in a stitch and needed a dollar to make a call or get a bus, I would hope someone would be kind enough to help me out.