Poverty is never to be an excuse for being dirty, physically and morally.
By Dolly Banzon
It is a welcome relief to learn that the Philippines, at least, is out of the most corrupt country list and Manila as the dirtiest city. Now about being poor. You are right about poverty not being used as an excuse to be dirty - physically and morally. It is strange because I had these thoughts when I was in the Philippines though I have not put them down in writing - yet.
Christmas is a season where I feel that is being exploited by the so-called poor people. It is almost a "business" of making money by the way people come (and even wait for you when you are not home) expecting to be given money for a christmas gift. They give you all the sob story about their lives; but you look at them, they are able-bodied but sloven in appearance (or is this a part of the props?), pasty looking and red-eyed due to alcohol, etc. that I felt most of the time that I was taken in for a ride.
I was uneasy about my feelings because even in the Scripture, God acts justly. His charity required some actions from the receiver. In meditation, I seriously tried to look at the poor from the eyes of God or to understand them by reflecting what the feelings are and actions of a poor person. Somehow, some pictures that I have just do not jibe with some reality I had seen. My parents, too, were poorer than the average poor, but they worked hard, and toiled for the future of their children. Now, you see that being poor seem to be an excuse to be a recipient of charity. It seems like an easier path than working and striving for something.
Even the non-Christians and those who clearly do not believe in God and in Christ come down in troops to "carol" or to beg for Christmas money! Begging has become a business. I do not mind giving to the real handicapped person. Hence, it is really better to give to some recognized and organized charitable and religious foundations like your Metro Infanta and Davao's Maharlika Foundation because you are sure that the money is put into the proper use without condoling laziness on some people who label themselves "poor".
This is one issue that I will be discussing with my spiritual director. I just could not stomach the dependency that the false concept of charity is creating.
Anyway, thanks for the articles. I enjoyed reading them. We are along the same line with our ideas on poverty. Poverty is never to be an excuse for being dirty, physically and morally.