Sunday, August 19, 2007
Give $2, make a difference
Upon seeing a blind busker on a street performing, the thought of helping strikes you. You dig into your pocket and grasp a handful of coins and a couple of two dollar notes. Ask yourself this question. Will you drop the coins in or one of the notes?
Dropping either one or both show you do have got sympathy to help those in need.
But if you choose to drop in the coins, what is the main reason for doing so? If it is because you want the blind busker to know that you are paying him then you are defeating the purpose of helping. What does a moment of compassion cost you? Just $2.
In the recent national day speech, PM Lee had blabber about the increased difference in income between the poor and the rich and how one could help. Surely this discussions are important and necessary but I cant save the world by giving my own money. Suppose one million people make a start and give $2 a month, it would make $2M a month -$24M a year. A tidy sum of money which is more than enough to help those living on public assistance.
True, if we willy-nilly gave out money, some of it might accidentally go to secret millionaires who ply the streets looking for tin cans. A chance that Im willing to take. Just $2 less for me in exchange, a hot meal for an old man who hasn't eaten for two days and an hour less scavenging in the heat for an 80 year old woman, looking for old cardboard boxes.
So pack your wallet with $2 notes and give out one a day. Amazingly you will feel happier.
Cheese :)
5:49 pm .
