On our cruise around Australia and New Zealand, we were certainly among the overfed.  Our waiters inexorably pushed food at us although we specified we wanted half portions. They showed extreme anxiety over my refusal to sample the extensive dessert menu.  Consequently, I actually lost weight over my vacation at sea on the other side of the world.

I once had a friend, Artie, who felt his conscious pricking him in his gut each time some panhandler hit on him for a hand out.  I was with him while we walked through the streets of New York City and we were stopped a rumpled and frayed individual who did not look in our eyes as he asked for money. Artie immediately reached into his pocket without questioning the actual need, and gave over what was in his pocket.

I had to question Artie; how did he know that there was a real need rather than it being the work of that individual to earn money in that particular way. Artie is like that.  He felt that he was the brother of every other human on this earth and if asked for help, he gave it. He believed in the goodness and honesty of all and had to give when asked to do so.  I asked him if the relief organizations, churches and government that were in the business of food stamps and help of various kinds such as shelters and food kitchens did not meet the needs of people such as this one who stopped strangers on the street.  He replied that he had to help if asked.

I raised the problem of all those too proud to ask or those who did not know whom to ask for help.  I also pointed out that there were those who believed that “God helps those who help themselves.”  Some of these enter your house at night and help themselves to your possessions.  In our world of South Florida we have people who have taken possession of highway intersections where they hold up signs that say, Will Work for Food, but clearly have been there day after day merely panhandling.  Then there are the people who hold up a copy of a newspaper purporting to be the Voice of the Homeless.  They stand on their corners wearing specially colored and printed T Shirts and panhandle with buckets made from gallon plastic bottles.  This may be a good business for they are there every day. How can you tell the difference between someone in actual need and someone who begs for a living?

Australian and New Zealanders voted themselves Cradle to Grave protection and we saw no corner people begging.  They have a serious problem of native peoples who have yet to rise to self-sufficiency despite government shame and efforts to reverse hundreds of years of persecution and then, neglect. They are trying for there were very few that we saw who were underfed down under.