Bonding experience
Triplicane, Madras, Tamil Nadu
At 7.45 in the morning, I saw Nagamma buying rubber cement-glue from the corner shop (I was just on my way to breakfast - no intention of spying).
She immediately insisted that the glue was to fix her foot (!??). Sure, everyone applies commercial strength rubber cement to the soles of their feet. Then she immediately asked for a cash refund from the shop man.
By now, I know that these kids are professional liars and con artists. I no longer expect any truth from them. But what's really amazing is that the shop guy, who is probably a college student, then very self-righteously said, "These are bad children, do not help them." I said in fact I do not give them cash at all, but for him to please NOT sell them the glue, for god's sake. He repeated his sermon like a robot, seemingly completely oblivious to his own role. "Do not help them, they are very bad." Well, do not help SELL them the freaking glue, then.
Sometimes I think this is a country of 12 year olds in which absolutely no one can assume any responsibility for their own actions. "What to do?" Grow a spine, maybe? The man is not going to go bankrupt by refusing to sell glue to teenagers.
Sorry for my anger. I have railed before against giving to beggars and this is a perfect example of what happens when you do. In the tourist ghettos I see well-meaning new arrivals to India (who still have loads of money since they haven't been ripped off by everyone yet) very proudly giving handouts to children. You can see the role ego plays in this for the tourists: I am such a big-hearted, generous person; I feel SO good about myself now. Nagamma and Vela go straight to the bookstore and buy glue with your money, even before food. Nagamma had not even washed her face; her eyes were still encrusted with sleep. She had not eaten any breakfast yet, but had to have the glue.
This is what happens to the money tourists give the cute beggar kids, so that they (the tourists) can go away with self-satisfied stories about how they "helped" the poor kids. If you want to give these kids something, give them your time.
I related all this to "MeestaRobett. " He replied that he would pay $100 for Vela's funeral and $100 for Nagamma's.
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Comments from nonBlogger readers via email-
from WillyB of Pennsylvania:
Caroline, This is the fourth time I have started this email. All the other time I have been knocked off. So, I will simply say that from my experience, glue is a monster to break. One good thing is that regenerative liver recovery does occur. Also, there is a noted tendency for the abuser to just put the stuff aside at a point when they are older. If they make it that long. I think the potential for the follow up articles is good. Will you continue with the series? Drop me a line. Love Willy B
And this from Darkhorse of Nashville:
As you've written and said many times before... no one wants to take responsibility, region-wide. Not far away, everything is blamed on some 2005 cartoons.
Yeah, those cartoons are the cause of all our violence! Those cartoons are MAKING us kill others - even one another! (check yesterday in Pakistan). It's all the cartoons' fault! The westerners should KNOW that they are so all powerful, even a drawing can force us to kill one another. The Westerners have all the power. We are completely helpless in the hands of the evil west and its depraved ink pens.
No one is perfect and I think both the sides are wrong in doing what they have done. An eye for an eye will only make the whole world go blind but then who is going to see that it does not happen again? There has to be some sort of self control and restrictions by the authors as well as the press (in what they print) whether it affects the freedom of the press or not is not the question but the after effects of what they print is what matters more as seen in this case!!!
Aadil.
The cartoon rage is spilling to all over the world. The latest to join the bandwagon is Pakistan. And the violence already claimed 100+ lives and millions of dollars. As aadil said, both sides are wrong, but wasn't such a non-issue blown out of proportion? Nowadays it's a fashionable thing to protest and attack the west. And the fanatics would love to spread the message that all the evil things are done by west and they are muslim-eaters. Now who can quell this wide-spread violence? Is it going to die down or will it continue untill they satisfy with their bloodthirst?
Very glad my humble site is becoming a discussion for such weighty and worthy subjects...but I don't recall *anyone* ever suggesting that India was a Muslim country. Maybe if I had seen the film in question....Indian Muslims do tend to have a more liberal attitude toward many things including iconography and puja. I see Muslim adaptations of Hindu shrines (little street corner niches and so on) all over Madras and other cities. I understand that Eastern European Muslims drink liquor.
Well, I have seen a lot of Indians, Pakistanis and many muslims from other Arabian states in the gulf including Saudi Arabia also drinking liquor, so what is this about only Eastern European muslims drinking it? I've seen it first hand and not just from hearsay!!! BTW, your humble site is doing a great job in awakening some people at least if not too many!!! Just keep up the good work!!! All the very best for your page on the world wide web.
Cheers,
Aadil.
Sorry for the nonsequitur AAdil and Amod - that was written hastily.
It was my intention to say something more like - `Muslim subcultures vary locally throughout the world and orthodoxy varies accordingly.`Thanks to everyone for participating, it`s all good!
I`ve been offline a few days - my mouse hand was freezing up from overwork. She needs a rest!
for King Amdo:
I sincerely do not understand the connection bet. blowing up anything and helping street kids, besides which I am nonviolent.
I have had an opportunity few western tourists do - that is, to see the long-term effects of handouts to young beggars. I can`t dictate behaviour but my heartfelt request is that we give in other ways.
My point exactly, KingAmdo...I'm not looking for a fantastic, self-centered buzz, but a sustainable long term way to help people.
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