One of the difference between Japan and Britain is the way homeless people are, I think.
In Japan, a lot of people choose to be homeless, either because massive nervous breakdown and cannot cope with ordinary life, or just love to live on the street, but not because finally they couldn't cope. I remember, in the infamous park in Osaka where homeless people gather together and got their tents, some of them had TV, Fridge etc, I don't know how on earth they managed to get electricity. Of course there are some homeless who genuinly got pennyless, and had no choice. A lot of Japanese homelesses are educated, and did not want the help from social services.
On the other hand, I feel the many British homelesses are either drug addict or alcoholic. They beg for money, and use it for more drug or booze. You will see a lot on the street of Brighton.
That's why I don't give my change when they beg. However, I felt guilty the other day.
I was standing in front of Burger King for my partner. There was an old homeless man sitting in front of the shop, and begging for change, saying he is hungry. I ignored him and got in the Burger King, and checked the menue. I came out, he begged again, and I ignored him again.
My partner arrived, so we entered the shop. The man begged again, and I ignored him again, but my partner gave him some change. I said why he gane him change. He said, the man is old, and an old man of his age shouldn't have to beg for food. Then I saw the man was standing behind us, and thanking my partner endlessly. The man was genuinely hungry and desperate for hood. As we found that the man was really going to buy food, my partner gave him another £5 so that the man can buy decent amount,
My partner felt happy for doing good, and I felt very guilty for ignoring the genuine begger for 3times.
There are too many charity organisations in the UK and I am sometimes very skeptic about some of them. I cannot donate all, and I want to be very carefull when I do, to make sure my money won't be wasted.
I realised that I became very mean in the last 8yrs, since I started to live in the UK.
I used to think, if I were on the street and want to get out from there, I would do any jobs to earn. I felt they were just lazy to find decent job. But since this Burger King incident, I am a little bit more soft and charitable. I get free medical service from NHS, so maybe I should be a little bit nicer to those on the street. I don't really know why they end up on the street, and sometimes they just couldn't help it.
More importantly, I feel good when I give them 20p, feel very good with 50p, and feel like a saint when I give them £1.
