When we observe the enormous progress America has made from the beginning of the thirteen colonies to what it is today, we clearly see that society has grown tremendously in its advancements in communication, speed, and travel, etc., but have we unknowingly degenerated in our culture and values? Mark Sundeen says “Begging may be the most shameful act in America.” But why is that so? If we take a look at religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, giving alms to the poor is thought as “… increasing the chances [of being] admitted into paradise or reincarnated in a good body…” (McMahon). Begging in America is looked down at for the reason that over time begging has evolved from a person who has been financially stricken and cannot afford to live, to someone who is looking to earn some extra cash.
Begging in America has evolved into something to be abhorred and looked at with shame in the American culture. Research says that begging “… is associated with phenomena such as homelessness, unemployment, refugees… It is also stigmatized as involving crime … and a source of national shame.” (Arnold). When we see panhandlers on the streets we automatically assume that these men and women are deficient and have nothing better to do than to ask others for money. A majority of America will place people who beg as inferior to humans, as if we lived by an explicitly defined social class system, and not recognize them as an individual ─ America gives them little to no worth in society. Thus, panhandlers are given no rights by the citizenry.
Another major cause for begging having a shameful connotation in America is for the reason that many pretend to be homeless or panhandling when it is obvious that it is not necessary. Matthew J. Reynolds recor...
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... job and would much rather just sit down collecting taxes from everyone passing by.
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McMahon, Mary. What is a Panhandler? 23 November 2013. Web. 9 December 2013.
Associated Press. Atlanta lawmakers approve begging ban. 17 August 2005. Web. 10 December 2013.
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In the article “I Need a Dollar: Should you give to the New York 's Homeless?”, published on Gawker.com on July 28, 2014, Paul Cantor argues the issue of whether or not you should give money to a panhandler. Like Cantor, I have been approached several times by people asking for money. Often times I wondered, "how did you end up in this situation?” More often than not I find myself leaning towards the negative connotation; that it is their fault they’re in these circumstances. However, I generally feel that I can spare a buck or two. Cantor suggests "maybe nine out of every ten panhandlers are lying." Even if every dollar you hand out goes to something it shouldn 't, what is it really hurting? I agree with Cantor. Americans spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars a year on coffee
People tend to believe that homeless individuals will beg for money, only to spend it on drugs. Contrary to this, however, statistics prove otherwise. According to a recent survey across the United States, “94% of panhandlers”, or commonly known as the homeless, use the money that they receive to solely “purchase the food that they need” (Gaille). People who follow the folkway of avoiding eye contact need to understand that their donations are often for beneficial use. They also need to understand that avoiding eye contact is a means of ignorance.
...duction of Crime." Texas Review of Law & Politics 8.1 (2003): 175-87. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 June 2015.
In America, society views the homeless as a crutch on the economy. Upper classes alienate the homeless population in order to excel the economy and lessen the burden on society. People who appear to be homeless are ultimately pushed aside and are treated differently. Often avoided, the general populous turns away from the problem that is effecting major cities throughout America. Ignoring a problem that is persistent, is being ignorant towa...
Winfree, T., & Abadinsky, H. (2nd Ed.). (2003). Understanding Crime: Theory and Practice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth publishers.
Homeless individuals are known for taking hand outs and they prefer to plead for money rather than to go work for it. People assume most of the the money that is given to homeless people they spend it on drugs and alcohol because of the fact that many homeless people have drug and alcohol addictions. It is not uncommon to come across homeless youth and older homeless population that are known to abuse substances like drugs and alcohol. Because of the fact that homeless people have substance abuse problems, they tend face illnesses and infections. Many hard working Americans ask themselves “why don’t homeless people just get jobs?” The assumption is they are just lazy and unmotivated. Homeless people choose to live the life they live. Everyone goes through problems but not all people take the path homeless people do. The problems homeless people face is not an excuse for them to be helped and maintained by other hard working people. Although homelessness might be a choice to some, no one knows the hardships these people have gone through. Some assume these people are just lazy but in reality a lot of these homeless people have jobs of their own, they just can’t afford housing and a decent life. Everyone has their own opinion on homeless people, but that does not change the fact that one should still serve the homeless. Not because homeless people need help but because we are
Muncie, J., and Mclaughin, E. (1996) The Problem of Crime. 2nd ed. London: Sage Publication Ltd.
Pascale begins her article by stating that many U.S. cities are enacting laws which would punish homeless individuals for doing things many ‘ordinary’ people do all the time. For instance, loitering or sleeping in public (320). She states that the California Homeless and Housing Coalition estimates that there are around a million homeless people in California alone. Eight self governed cities in southern California and at least one city in northern California passed anti-sleeping laws, says Pascale (320). Another law in the city of San Francisco states that it is “illegal to linger for more than 60 seconds within 30 feet of an automatic teller in use” (321). The city of San Francisco spent a lot of time and money to arrest 15 people for begging in 1993 and Pascale alleges that there are several other major cities in the U.S. with similar laws (321).
...on I don’t think enough is being done to help the homeless and it’s not all the churches and governments faults. We as their fellow Americans don’t do enough. We think we are superior to them, and act as if they don’t exist, or don’t have feelings. If you have some spare change in your pocket why not just give it to them? If you were in there position I’m sure you would want someone to do it for you! And many of us have clothes in our closet we no longer fit or no longer like, why not drop them off at the Salvation Army? There is someone out there who would be grateful for something clean to wear. Or how about you just give a friendly smile at a homeless person when you walk down the street, that just might brighten up there whole day. It will definitely take a lot of work to end homelessness but the first step is giving them the respect they deserve as citizens.
Morrison, W. (2009) 'What is crime? Contrasting definitions and perspectives', in C. Hale, K. Hayward, A. Wahadin and E. Wincup, (eds), Criminology. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Wilson, James and Herrnstein, Richard. "Crime & Human Nature: The Definitive Study of the Causes of Crime" New York: Free Press, 1998.
I recently heard a story of a pastor who went to the church he was going to preach at. The pastor dressed himself up as a homeless man and sat in front of the church before service. As people began pouring into the church, they did not offer to assist him nor any money for food. He also received dirty looks and evil stares as these “godly individuals” entered the church. Later, the pastor was announced as the homeless man they had seen before. The pastor was still fully dressed in his costume as he walked to the end of the stage; the church family was beyond shocked. Furthermore, this is an example of a particular reason why poverty still exists around us today.
My field trip to the Osgood law soup kitchen was truly an eye opening experience. After this trip, I took time to think about the preconceived notions I had of those who are less fortunate or as they are commonly referred to by most of society, homeless or bums. As probably most people do, when I thought of those who are homeless and or in need of food, the same stereotypical image and associated smell come to mind. The ragged/dirty clothes and bad smell is what I would commonly associate with the word homeless or bum. However, on this field trip, all that I thought I knew about p...
MacDonald, H. (2010, January 4). A crime theory demolished. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870359090504574638024055735590.ht