Jul 2006 - Neil Espie

My heart is torn in two when I see people whose life is a misery, epitomised by this bag lady - tears in her eyes, trying to just get through one more day.

This need not be...

Recently, my son was door-to-door collecting for a well known charity who helps the poor and needy. He was surprised at the number of knock backs that he received where people would slam the door in his face without contributing a cent. After awhile he remarked, sadly, how the smaller donations seemed to come from the wealther neighborhoods.

In particular, he remembers one well-to-do middle aged woman. After identifying himself and the agency he was collecting for, she remarked acidly, "What would I give them money for? They have never done anything for me. I don't need them! " before promptly shutting the door without saying another word.

Is that what this world is all about, "What have you given me? I don't need you. I won't help you!"

There have always been selfish people down through the ages but are we seeing more of this attitude now, on average, as we become richer?