1⃣Reflection on Poverty

.In class we were given two pictures, a handicapped man on the street asking people for money, and a lady carrying a baby asking for money. We were asked who we would donate to if we had a dollar. I chose to donate to neither as I was not sure if they truly needed the money or were faking it. Truthfully, I thought the lady needed the money, and that the man was just faking an injury and using other's sympathy to get extra cash, as I have had a personal experience like that. In the end, we were able to know their backgrounds, and I realized that the handicapped man truly needed the money, and that the lady was part of a syndicate, who tricked people into giving her money.

This shows that you should not judge others until you know more about them. Maybe there are people out there who actually need the money, but others who would lie just to get money cause us to distrust these people, thus less people actually help them. However, I find the lady almost pitiful. She has to lie to others just to get money, yet in the end she only receives a small bit of what she has "earned", the rest going to the syndicate. She should try to find a job, and make honest money instead. 

Maybe this is because Singapore is prosperous in our generation, and we do not have experience with poverty, but I think that most people who beg for money have the ability to earn honest money by getting a job. There have been news of some handicapped people who can earn money by relaying on their own abilities.

However, there are still people in Singapore who ask others for money. The shopping center near my house is often frequented by elderly people(some handicapped) selling tissue packets or performing for people. I wished it was because they have financial problems, but I think it is just their job, as they have a license, and they only accept $1 and above. Once, my sister went to donate all her pocket money to a handicapped man. Since she only gets $1 a day, and she had used some of it, she donate $0.70 to the man. Instead of thanking her, he glared at her and demanded her to give more money. If they really needed the money, they would understand that every cent makes a difference. It is good that the government is helping them, but I hope that they appreciate what the government is doing for them.