About contact with the poor
So we like looking at people. That’s what I wrote earlier on. But what I prefer is talking to them. Unfortunately, the economical difference between poor people and me causes troubles in contact. This problem has become very acute during this India tour.
There are lots of beggars here, of course I knew that before I came. Also, I was instructed not to give them anything, not even go buy food for them, because they will find a way to convert it into money and do bad things with it, like bring it to their bosses, who control gangs of beggars, people that sometimes have been mutilated to facilitate successful begging. We see a lot of deformed people here. It’s for crying out loud, and most of the time I cannot resist giving some money. But what I find really tragic is the fact that begging seemingly is part of poor man’s culture here. They all seem to do it! No matter what they do for you: point you the way, walk up with you, ask your name, age, country, family or background, they will hold up their cupped hand afterwards. This contaminates every possible contact, because it reduces my openness. I cannot relate to people if they act unequal to me. I don’t want to be treated like a mobile money dispenser. Is this an Indian thing, or have I just become more sensitive to it?