Therefore, begs the question, do you,if being an arbiter, would
rather err on the side of generosity, that you don't leave a family
hungry and feeling alone and helpless, or, do choose on the side of
error, so as not to be cheated! Yes! we do have a duty to ensure
there is no abuse, to make sure those truly deserving of help!
Also,one is not always rich, neither is one always stays poor, not
everybody is out to cheat you. Also, there are threshold of pride
and dignity some have to cross to ask, to beg! The quiet ones are
the ones who suffers in silence. There are no solutions to be
offered by me, only questions, and the constant refrain; be
mindful, be compassionate, do not let "I" cloud our judgement!
i have helped out in social works before and i know i have to do
a secret survey when i send food rations to any poor home.
Meaning i will mark what is in the house of the poor, what the
person is wearing down on a survey to feedback to the organisation
whether is this person really poor as he/she claims.
i have met a so called poor malay woman wearing all her gold
earrings, gold necklace and gold ring in full to receive our food
rations and we had to note that down. I have visited homes with a
tank full of the most expensive rowana fishes in the sitting
room.
I have even being whispered to by the so called poor home’s
neighbour that the maid would come out of the house to sweep the
floor daily.
It is much easier for me to stop thinking and just stuff a few
dollars in the palm of that man at my door.
It is easy to tell the man Not to use the name of the Buddha to
beg. Easy to tell the man where he can get free vegetarian meals.
Easy to pass him the number to call for help.
BUT …...........it is difficult for any
poor to get the social help without having to go through an
interview, a referree (by hospital) , fill in forms to justify why
he needs social welfare.
judging from the responses to my post, i really doubt someone
knows how difficult for a poor in Singapore to get help fast.