November 10, 2001
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Contrastes dans la ville .
Hier après - midi je suis allé me promener dans le centre - ville d ' Amiens , ce qui est peu fréquent . La rue principale était baignée de soleil . Les magasins étaient magnifiques . Beaucoup de gens bien habillés s' y promenaient . Mais je vis quelques mendiants , hommes et femmes . L ' un d ' eux , assez jeune , se tenait à genoux dans une attitude de supplication et tenait un écriteau disant : " j ' ai faim " . Cela me heurta . Personne ne lui donnait . Que devais - je faire ? Je continuais mon chemin . C ' était maintenant un vieux mendiant puis une vieille mendiante recroquevillée dans un coin . Que devais - je faire ? Enfin je rencontrais une mendiante avec un panneau disant qu ' elle était une réfugiée bosniaque . Je lui donnais une pièce . En souriant elle me remercia dans une langue inconnue . Je compris tout juste " Allah " . Je n ' étais pas satisfait du tout de moi ni dans ce cas ni dans les autres . Certes il y a des mendiants professionnels , mais quelquefois cela peut être des gens réellemnt en détresse . Peut - être aurais - je dû acheter un sandwich à l ' affamé à genoux ? " J ' avais faim et vous m ' avez donné à manger " .
Bref , j ' étais plutôt morose quand j ' atteignis le parking souterrain . J ' appelais l ' ascenseur . La porte s ' ouvrit . Une jeune dame était là . Je m ' effaçais pour la laisser sortir . Elle passa devant moi en me disant aimablement " Pardon , Monsieur " . Cette exquise politesse m ' apparut comme un sourire de la vie . ... Plus tard je me dirigeais en voiture vers la sortie et en haut de la pente raide je dus stopper pour permettre à une jeune femme de passer sur le trottoir . Elle me fit un gentil sourire en me regardant et je vis sur ses lèvres qu ' elle disait " Merci " . Deux jeunes femmes ne sachant rien m ' avaient permis de retrouver le moral .
Que de contrastes dans la rue entre les individus et les instants dans un si court moment au coeur de la ville !
Contrasts in the town .
Yesterday in the evening I went for a walk to the town center in Amiens , which is unfrequent . The main street was bathed in sunlight . The shops were wonderful . A lot of people were walking there . But I saw some beggars , men and women . One of them , rather young , was standing on his knees in a supplication posture and held a placard saying : " I am hungry " . I was shocked . No one gave him . What should I do ? I continued on my way . It was now an old beggar man then an old beggar woman huddled up in a corner . What should I do ? At last I met a beggar woman with a placard saying she was a bosnian refugiee . I gave her a coin . With a smile she thanks in a unknown language . I just understood " Allah " . I was not satisfied at all about me neither in this case nor in the other cases . Certainly there are professional beggars but there are sometimes people really in distress . Perhaps should I buy a sandwich for the hungry on his knees ? " I was hungry and you fed me " .
Well , I was rather upset when I reached the underground car park . I called the lift . The door opened . A young lady was there . I stood sideway to let her get off . She passed in front me in kindly saying " Excuse me , Sir " . That exquisite politeness appeared to me like a smile of the life . ...Later I drove my car to the exit and in the high of the steep slope I had to stop to allow a young woman to pass on the sidewalk . She made a kind smile in looking at me and I saw her lips that said " thank you " . Two young women , knowing nothing , had allowed to me to have again a good spirit .
How many contrasts in the street between the individus , between the times during a so short moment , in the heart of the town !
Comments (15)
A wise man once told me that every beggar on the street was Jesus and to give accordingly.
Cela me désole aussi lorsque je marche dans les rues de Montréal et vois tous ces mendiants. J'aimerais tant tous les aider mais c'est hors de mon pouvoir. Heureusement, quelques refuges existent pour eux où ils peuvent trouver l'aide nécessaire lorsqu'ils veulent réellement s'en sortir. C'est le type d'aide le plus approprié pour eux. Individuellement, on ne peut faire beaucoup mais faire des dons à ces refuges est une très bonne façon de tous les aider à la fois.
I&B's&FlymbsJ...
Michel:
Yes, the bear awakens. Read your comments on the beggars, and was moved by it. Here in Bogota there are many poor, all speaking Spanish, but the universal language of poverty transcends the language barrier. It almost seems that there is no middle class at all...just the affluent and the poor. It is also true that there are "professional beggars" who actually rent little kids to carry around and claim they are their own. It is impossible to help all, but as you said, so much can be gleaned from a smile. I shall endeavour to write more frequently on my site...the hibernation is over.
Michel,
I like how you see things & it makes me think & feel deeply. It is very true that perspectives can be changed quite quickly. I most like your reference to scripture. It is a good thing to use as a point of reference in dealing with any issue. I truly believe that.
I also told Mikey of your entry today. He has made comment before me. I have yet to read it, but am glad he has gotten back into the sites. I hope now he also will log in his journal more often.
I look forward to your next entry Michel!
Je pense donnant de votre coeur est ce qui importe vraiment . Pas s'il est begger professionnel ou une personne dans le besoin réel.
It is difficult to say who is a professional beggar and who is not. In Rotterdam you can find them more than in the villages, but they can be found here also. Mostly blocking your way to the supermarket, to sell their newspaper - "so they can sleep that night", but they are coming on a scooter... Yesterday, some organziations for food help were collecting food - they ask you to buy something off a list, and give it to them as you have paid the groceries and leave the supermarket. These organizations will bring it to the Eastern European countries - I hope... A lot of those actions have passed in the last weeks and they received donations... I think that you did well for that lady, but I also find that a lot of people - beggars in our country - are choosing an easy way to receive their money. We have to work hard for it...and feed our children with that money...
Hi Michel,
Encore une fois un superblog. it makes me think. If i give something I feel guilty,if i don't I feel guilty. A lot of beggars i don't trust.They are at crossroads,at the supermarkt, and then,in the evening someone will come to take them home,with a big mercedes.Sometimes they have kids,they have to stay all day longin the cold.
I hate them (not the kids),and i feel horrible.
I have a tradition of giving to the beggars,they were Christ,like Mistical2 says,but now the society is to much changed.
There was a boy,about 17/18 years old beggind for money at the door of the supermarkt,my neighboors needed someone to help and asked him if was interested in a job,are you crazy,man?no way.
The world is changing to much.
We have very few situations like this here in Chillicothe, as it is a small town compared to many. The beggers wouldn't get much here.
The Uk has given succour and shelter to so many thousands but so many return our goodwill by carrying knives with which to rob us Now we have lost our freedom for it has become unsafe to leave our homes What are we to believe?
I thinks its so sad when you see people begging. Theres a man in my town who sits there with a sign round his neck that says "hungry, will work for food." For someone to lower themselves to something like that, it shows you how dire their situation must be. I do give to beggers sometimes, but I hate it when they don't say thank you. Those words cost them nothing, and they mean so much.
Bonjour Michel,
Je suis dans le site.
Les derniers jours j'ai beaucoup des difficultées pour charger xanga.Soit c'est impossible de le charger,soit il prend un temp fou.
Ciao
Votre une sorte hearted homme. Faites que votre coeur dit de faire.
Ici à Ottawa il y a plusieurs mendiants. Souvent j'ai envie de leur donner quelque chose; un café quand il fait froid, un sandwich ou quelque chose du genre. Mais je n'ai jamais rien quand je les vois. Je trouve qu'ils font si pitié.
Merci Michel pour le courriel,
Je ne suis bien de retour mais j'ai eu quelques difficultés avec xanga ces derniers jours et je suis très occupées à me préparer à mon déménagement qui devrait s'effectuer au début décembre, à l'arrivée de James. Je promet un blog prochainement racontant un peu où j'en suis...
I&C&X&FlymbsJ...
Hi Michel! I really, really enjoy reading your journal. Everything that you write stays on my mind throughout the day. You are full of beautifully expressed feelings and emotions. I've travelled around and have seen many types of beggars on the street. Some were old, some were young like myself, and some didn't even look like beggars, more like people trying to just get some more money than they already have. Through it all I never stopped to donate any money until one day when I was in Portland. I gave a beggar a meal that I had just bought for myself and some spare change. It felt good, especially since the person looked like someone I had known. I guess my conscience took control and made me do the right thing.
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