Inspiring

Now there is a decent human being.
 
Decent man indeed. I have nothing to give that would aid others, only the labour that I can do for nothing in return. Until a further date.
 
Oh no, INTJ on the scene! Cast aside compassion and brotherly love.

When I see videos like this, it makes me feel like that is a great person and that they truly care... but what about down the line? What about when he runs out of money to buy food and keep supplying to the destitute? I've always had a lingering uneasiness about many of these type of efforts to help the underprivelaged.

From seeing people who go on unemployment without any aspirations of getting a job until the checks are about to run out. Friends who say they have no opportunity and complain that nobody will hire them when they sit around their house playing video games all day and only fill out applications online - never stepping foot in the stores themselves to talk to a manager and make an impression. From the stories post-Hurricane Katrina where the government handed out debit cards so that the people could buy food, shelter, and clothes, but the #1 purchased item was alcohol. From people who will at once talk about how the government is taking all of their money for government programs for people who don't deserve them, and in the next sentence angrily state that the government isn't taking care of their needs enough, unwilling (or unable?) to see things from both sides. People acting like victims so that others will give them what they want... until they're supposed to actually do something for themselves, and then reacting angrily because they're unwilling to do so.

Sometimes I think of what the appropriate response would be for someone who really wants to help, and make a viable, long-lasting difference that isn't reliant on a source of external revenue. Perhaps a sort of house or warehouse with two communal bedrooms (separated by gender), a communal kitchen, communal bathrooms, and a multi-purpose room. Like in the military, or in an orphanage. Communal conditions for low functioning cost. Some of the occupants would be assigned to cook, some to clean, others to go out and find sources of income (jobs and such). Perhaps a communal business - Shephard Alliance Lawn Care Services. Volunteers would be needed to teach the occupants how to clean, cook, etc, and several streams of income from the working ones would allow for enough money to maintain the functioning of the facility after startup (perhaps along with charitable contributions). The ones who continually didn't perform their duties wouldn't be allowed to stay - it would be their choice to go back to their previous life. Eventually, the ones who did stay would learn the range of necessary skills in order to maintain themselves, would go off on their own (or in a group to continue in a multi-bedroom apartment or something - but on their own), and would be replaced by others who sought to get off the streets.

Even that, though, gives me that uneasy feeling. I get the feeling that theft, violence, drug use, unwillingness to perform, and all manner of other things would occur by a vast majority of the inhabitants. After all - how did most of them end up on the street in the first place? That's not to say that it's bad, but that it's their way of live and they choose not to change because what they're doing has worked decently for them for quite a while - relying on the charity of others. Some may say that's extreme pessimism. I would imagine it as being realism. I could be wrong though, this is an imaginary playthrough.

So, is there an answer, or is there not one? I think, more and more, that people have to do these things for themselves. That is to say that nobody can do it for them. So I don't think that I can be involved in the answer, I can just try to help where I can, knowing that the conditions of most will not improve... and that a lot of them are fantastic at weaving stories.

Of course, I could be wrong about all of it. Who knows?
 
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I really enjoyed this, thankyou. DrShephard brings up a valid point however, a longer term solution is needed, but that aside, the man's compassion is admirable.
 
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April said:
a longer term solution is needed, but that aside, the man's compassion is admirable.
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Agreed.

I used to work on short form documentaries similar, but longer, than this story...typically 8-12 minutes. What amazed me over the years is that there are people like this all over the world helping others as they are able. If we found out about one story, there were ten others surrounding it. It was pretty amazing. I am glad such people exist.
 
INTJ here too and all I can say is that I am past the point of deciding that my opinion is all that matters in how people should live their lives. I shy away from being judgemental against others since I have a hard enough time policing my own actions. I admire people who are capable of giving--whether time, energy, money, love--to others as a gift from their spririt. It truely take someone who is willing to accept that gifts come without strings and expectations on how they should be spent. I don't care if the homeless person buys beer with the 5 bucks I give him/her--its their choice--and dang, if I was on the streets I sure as heck would want to be drunk too. I agree that long term solutions need to be developed but in the meantime, short term help is always a good option.
 
I like it as an ISTJ for a few reasons.

1. he's helping his home town.
2. he's made it big and wants to bring that to the people he loves most.
3. a lot of these people cant get job because in the video some of them are obviously retarded. I dont know how you can expect a person who cant bathe themself and looks like they are in a daze 100% of the time to go find work.
4. A longer term solution would be nice, but I think it is nice that he is helping them the way he knows how.
5. I also like that he is reaching down from his position in the brahmin class to show love to the untouchables. A government program wont do that.
 
Of course those people shouldn't depend on him to survive, but they were in really bad health so the best you can do at this point is to directly help them.
That man is pretty awesome.
 
I've often times wished I could do the same thing myself. Whenever I have seen homeless people, I have freely given them money. I have also experienced many interesting and insightful conversations with homeless people; it's given me joy to actively interact with them on an equal level, as so often, they don't get that kind of respect. I remember pan-handling when I was 19. Oddly enough, I chose to go there, because it was less hurtful to be in a loveless environment around strangers, than with my own family. So I get that mental love part that he spoke of... I think that was part of his bathing and feeding acts; they could do it themselves, but he was "nurturing" them, by providing hands on care, himself.
 
corndogman said:
I like it as an ISTJ for a few reasons.

1. he's helping his home town.
2. he's made it big and wants to bring that to the people he loves most.
3. a lot of these people cant get job because in the video some of them are obviously retarded. I dont know how you can expect a person who cant bathe themself and looks like they are in a daze 100% of the time to go find work.
4. A longer term solution would be nice, but I think it is nice that he is helping them the way he knows how.
5. I also like that he is reaching down from his position in the brahmin class to show love to the untouchables. A government program wont do that.
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I really liked this story corndogman. Thank you for posting! I try to find something uplifting and inspiring like that to read on a regular basis. I also like the fact he was moving from his caste(is that correct) to help people in a lower class. That's a huge departure from the normal way of acting over there.

I found this story today and it too made me tear up. Hope you enjoy it...

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/1018/He-invites-suicide-jumpers-for-a-cup-of-tea

[QUOTE]Don Ritchie moved to a house outside Sydney, Australia, for the clifftop view. But soon he was stopping suicides by inviting potential jumpers inside for a cup of tea.[/QUOTE]
 
There are different kinds of homeless: those who chose that lifestyle (for reasons I still can't understand) and those who end up on the streets without having a say in the matter. Most of the men that the video showed are mentally ill or really old, and there's really no chance of them finding a job or carrying out a normal life style without the help of others.

Feeding them is admirable, but to go to such lengths as bathing them and shaving for them every other day and sit down with them and massage their feet? That takes a greater spirit and kinder heart that deserves to be commended.

He should consider getting financial aid from charity and non-profit organizations. (If that isn't what he's doing already)
 
Odyne said:
There are different kinds of homeless: those who chose that lifestyle (for reasons I still can't understand) and those who end up on the streets without having a say in the matter. Most of the men that the video showed are mentally ill or really old, and there's really no chance of them finding a job or carrying out a normal life style without the help of others.

Feeding them is admirable, but to go to such lengths as bathing them and shaving for them every other day and sit down with them and massage their feet? That takes a greater spirit and kinder heart that deserves to be commended.

He should consider getting financial aid from charity and non-profit organizations. (If that isn't what he's doing already)
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I feel like he is doing something for his spirit. I think getting paid for doing what he already wants to be doing is counterproductive.
 
corndogman said:
I feel like he is doing something for his spirit. I think getting paid for doing what he already wants to be doing is counterproductive.
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I didn't say get paid. If he did quit his job, then the money he's using to feed those people will eventually run out unless he gets help. You can do the right thing sure, but do it smart. Make it last longer, because those people are going to become dependent on him.

If he's truly doing it for those people (and for his spirit) he won't take a cent more than what he needs to keep the charity going.
 
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People go through many developmental phases on the way to sustainability with things like this...I'm sure he will sort it out as best he is able (long after the news crews lose interest). At least he had the conviction and courage to launch out. I hope his effort continue to be fruitful.
 
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