Awkward thoughts: The intersection of poverty and professionalisation
I’m trying to write more. Awkward thoughts is a series of articles that hope to provoke your head, by an examination of my own heart (not a criticism of the great work people are doing).
Our family has been in Cape Town, South Africa for almost 4 months now. Living in Cape Town has exposed me to a host of curiosities, opportunities for people watching and self reflection.
One such is the apparent professionalization of traffic light begging.
In the Eastern Cape, we had people at every road intersection, asking for loose change. Similarly in Cape Town, there is almost always someone waiting for you at the traffic light. But, this time selling the Big Issue, Funny-Money pamphlets or offering to take your car-trash for a few bucks.
Our country is radically unequal. The presence of desperate citizens at traffic intersections has been a daily, sometimes hourly, reminder of the situation. While I have chosen to give toward disadvantaged communities using formal channels, there is inevitably some feeling of brokenness and guilt when refusing their requests.
However I have noticed in myself an easing of that since arriving in the Cape. Now when I say ‘No thanks’ I’m no longer refusing to help them, I’m just choosing not to purchase their product.
I’m no longer refusing to help them, I’m just choosing not to purchase their product.
My worry is: have we (the have’s) managed to sanitize the presence of the ‘have nots’ in such a way that we can now more comfortably ignore their situation?
Put another way… does the presence of a flimsy business model unintentionally soften my understanding of the terrible circumstances that forced them to accept this job?
(Third times a charm) Has the push to see the impoverished not asking for handouts, also given me an easy out of helping them?
My issue lies entirely with my own human nature. My personal, subconscious pursuit of comfort in every situation. I have huge respect for the organisations that run these programmes and believe that they have their place.
But as a South African, and a member of the Cape Town community, my responsibility to my fellow man extends past economics, past the supply and demand of services. It is to the man himself. I must not loose sight of the individual or his reality.
Its just a thought.
Akwards Thoughts are brief moments of reflection. Its not supposed to be a liberal diatribe. If anything I hope it provokes thought, maybe even helps you audit your own views.
If you enjoyed the moment of reflection reading this, hit the clap button below and gimme’ some love.
