When I was in India in 1985 and 1986 over half of the people there never went to even 1st grade. So, people would often gather around us and stare at us who were uneducated the way they might gather around a Holy man or woman. So, you might see 100 to 1000 people standing in a circle staring at our family. it was hard to get used to this especially for our children at the time. However, it in some ways it illustrated to me "Lifeboat ethics" or how uneducated people naturally seek out more educated people to help save their lives in various ways.
One of the most useful concepts my then 14 year old step son came up with which was "Wow! These people think we are gold plated ET's" which also was an apt statement. Then I often met people whose education had been paid for by a westerner from Europe or America or Canada or Australia or New Zealand. They would be doing things like selling tickets for buses as the bus rode along and either be a bus driver or ticket seller and they would tell us how they had no hope and then a western person had paid for their education and saved them from a life of begging. Because without some education or help likely you won't have a place to live except on the streets and you would need about 1 scoop of rice to stay alive one more day by begging for food or money.
So, I saw this "Lifeboat ethics" up close and personal while in India in 1985 and 1986 and it changed completely the way I saw the whole world because what was happening in India then resembled the whole world in general better than the Disneyland we live in here in the U.S.
The main change in my personal life from all this is that if someone is begging (anywhere) if I have money to give them and I feel they are safe enough (non-violent and sane enough) to give this to them I do.
Because when you give even a coin or a dollar to someone who is begging it might give them enough hope to stay alive and eat one more day. So, when you give someone a coin or a dollar you might be literally saving their lives around the world (if you sense it is safe enough for you to do this).
By God's Grace
Money to a person begging has much different values around the world. It's better not to give too high a denomination to a particular begging person in any given culture because you could endanger yourselves or your family if you do that. So, be very aware of what the normal amount of money that people give to beggars and to be fully aware of this. Giving and helping is great but if you don't take care of yourselves and your families first what's the point? If you or your family are harmed because you did the wrong thing that's not good!
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