 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
 Posted - 31 May 2008 : 03:08:28
|
FOOD TO HEAVEN
Sitting in the hot sunny street
Beggar and empty bowl
No food
No drink
No cash
Or sympathy on offer
The whole day
Out at a shrine
Wherein lies buried a holy man
Rush upon rush of prayers come
Offering food,drink and cash
Hoping for multiplied returns in kind
Round the cruel streets
From household to household
Beggar and empty bowl prowl
Chanting the beggars chant
For food,drink or some money
None was on offer anywhere
Lifesaving food,drink or money
Offered to the dead
But refused with reason to the beggar
A lifestyle of our times
The more they give
The more they gain
Like for like
So no food,drink or money
On offer to the needy beggar
All goes to the shrine
A donation to the holy dead
This beggar thus must die
To enjoy food heaven
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2008 : 11:06:24
|
Very evocative of the REAL world for so many.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
 |
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2008 : 18:09:07
|
Very interesting poem. I think the theme of this poem is about people's tendency to give to the dead rather than to the living needy. This brings up the questions of beggars and begging, particularly in West Africa (Gambia and Senegal for sure). We have discussed this topic before where I made reference to Amina S. Faal's "Beggars Strike", which illustrates the 'nuisance attractive' nature of beggars and begging in West African culture.
Begging is wrong, and should not be encouraged. As far as I know, all the religions discouraged it, and in many countries, especially in the Western world, begging in the form of pan-handling is prohibited by law. In deed "the hand that gives is better than the one that receives".
Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian writer also condemned it. Tolstoy argued that charity perpetrates poverty and inequality. This is interesting because Tolstoy himself, a man of the poor, abandoned his wealthy origins to experience with the poor.
All able-bodied men and women should strive for self-reliance. The handicap should be assisted by the state. The dead, however, unless there is some form of insurance, cannot do much about his/her own condition. Therefore, the burden of his death falls on the loved ones and ,in West Africa, the community.
Perhaps the poet is aware of the general hardship in West Africa where "our means have become a little frugal lately". Hence, the "Beggar and empty bowl prowl...".
In deed, the lessons of life in the streets is tough. The "...beggar thus must die..." first before anything.
Nice Poem anyway. Thanks Kaanibaa. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 31 May 2008 18:11:31 |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 31 May 2008 : 19:48:10
|
Kay,as you say we have done beggars before,instead of the reasons for begging and the acceptance of giving charity,do you think that a possible culture change could come about in Gambia?or is begging just too endemic? |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2008 : 02:53:28
|
| Thanks for the nice analysis Kay.I am not for encouraging begging but I hereby question the rationale of offerings to a dead persons shrine, I suggest it is more humane to give to the living , even before they beg. I submit that it is more honorable to beg than to steal or obtain by false pretenses etc.After all the charitable organizations are doing a fine job of assisting the poor and needy, this can be replicated by the better off by offering zakat ,gifts and other humanitarian assistance . |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2008 : 13:55:49
|
No problem with that, as for giving food offerings to the dead,this is a religious belief and as such one should not interfere
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
|
kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2008 : 21:14:14
|
Begging is quite endemic in the Gambia. We have all been told stories of how giving to the poor can turn on one's lucky stars.
However, there is a difference between giving to the poor and being solicited by a beggar. There is a very fine line between begging itself and harassment (private or public). I am sure most people with the means are glad to assist the needy, but no body wants to be confronted by a crowd of beggars sitting at a street corner or just patroling the highway around Serekunda market for example. Some of these beggars openly display their disability, injuries, or ulcers purely to generate sympathy.
There should not only be a cultural change, but the government must also have a policy concerning assistance to the poor and the disabled in the Gambia. All the disabled persons in the Gambia should register with the state so they can get assistance in food and other basic needs. The government can do this by revising the tax policy and curbing corruption and government waste.
Zakat, which I suspect did not contemplate the modern state, could be given out based on individual prerogative, but it must not be confused with income tax. Everyone earning income must pay tax to the government. May be those better knowledgeable in Islmaic studies here can enlighten us about the relatioship of zakat and income tax in a modern state.
Humanitarian assistance is very important, as you already said. It is generated from the people's feeling that they have a stake in the development of their people; that they need to give back to their communities who helped them become what they are.
But, I think first the government must have the ground works, a policy frame work for these kinds of things. The government of Jammeh has done a great job in terms of helping with education (scholarships and other grants), but not quite so in terms of helping with alleviating poverty. There should be an economic incentive for people to go out and help themselves, but I believe there should also be a robust social program to help those who, for no fault of their own, falls through the crack. |
|
|
|
toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jun 2008 : 22:58:53
|
There is a white man who represents a charity in the west ( I am sorry I cannot be more specific for I dont know)who every few months comes and distrubutes rice to the handicapped at the Red Cross offices near westfield I have seen this being done,single disabled people are given their share and those with families to support are given more.This is a fact,if foreigners are able to do such charity I cannot see why the government cannot do their share.
I like this espicially from your posting Kay.
There should be an economic incentive for people to go out and help themselves, but I believe there should also be a robust social program to help those who, for no fault of their own, falls through the crack.
|
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
