Yesterday I saw an article on Chinasmack which discussed a man who was pretending to be physically disabled on the streets of Beijing in order to attract money.

I have been criticized by people in the past for giving money to the street beggars at times and told that I am being tricked and deceived. However I don't think people truly understand the problem with this type of attitude.

First off, about the article in question. This man is a liar, we'd all agree about that. If I saw him get up and walk off I'd be angry, but not because he is getting money, only because his lie makes people not trust truely disabled people. But what I am more angry about, is the complete lack of respect people have for the poor, for people who beg for money.

Now I've heard all the stories about beggars who own cars and nice houses and have beautiful clothes they wear normally and I've got to say, they are absolute lies. I know the newspapers and other sources of information talk about them but it's a lie being told so you don't have to feel bad about those who have less than you. How do I know? Because if begging was that lucrative, there would be a LOT more of them.

No one wants to debase themselves and make themselves look like they can't walk to live their life. People like to be respected, it's a basic part of human psychology that we like people to think we are good. Can you honestly say you would take this man's place and crawl along the ground begging people to help you? So why does he do it? I don't know, I don't know his life. Maybe he has mental issues that aren't being fixed, maybe he has had a very unfortunate life which has led to this situation, or maybe he has people he needs to take care of and has no other options. I think a lot of us who have jobs and live a good life tend to look down on others who haven't been so lucky but too many don't realize just how much luck has played in our own lives. Everyone wants to pretend we have come to where we are because we are so hard working and great, but sometimes hard work, intelligence or good looks aren't enough, sometimes luck is needed and sometimes it's not found.

In English we have an idiom that says "There but for the grace of god go I", it means I am only not that person because of the great luck (Or God's help if you are religious) I have had in my life. When I see a homeless person my thought is "If one day I'm unlucky, I might end up there." because any one of us might. In history, there have been great Kings and Emperors who have been reduced to begging because of problems in their life, if it can happen to a King, it seems a bit arrogant to claim it couldn't happen to any one of us.

Yes, some of those on the street are lying to you. Yes sometimes they use your money to buy alcohol. But China has a very weak welfare system and those who are truly needy often have no where else to turn. I would sooner give 2 rmb to someone who doesn't need it than ignore those who do truly need it.

Once I saw a man begging on the street pretending he had no arm, later I saw him drinking beer with his arm miraculously renewed. For many, this sort of thing means they should stop helping those who beg, and my immediate reaciton was "To hell with that! No more money for the poor". But after consideration, I think this should be seen instead as a call to strengthen the social welfare so people no longer need to debase themselves in life. Yes there will always be those who beg for selfish reasons but, if the world stopped ignoring the poor and mentally ill, the only ones left on the streets would be the liars and they could be happily ignored.

If you give money to a homeless person there is a chance they are lying and they are not really injured, but there is also a chance they truly need that money and that's a chance I'm willing to take. Even if only half those I give money to are actually needy, I'll happilly lose 2 RMB if it means I buy one needy person a 1 RMB supper that night.

Now I don't give money to everyone, if they play music or do something to entertain, I give money as I think it's good to encourage outdoor entertainment. Beggars who just sit though depend entirely on them, if they seem injured, very old or having serious problems, yes I will usually. Yes, I'm sure sometimes it's not real, but sometimes, it is real. If it was your grandma who couldn't afford surgery and was dying, would you want everyone to ignore her and just walk around her body?