cc wrote:

> What if recycling was the job of most homeless in certain places (here for
> instance)?

60 yen per kilo of empty cans in Fukuyama, or 2 yen per kilo of cardboard in
Tokyo in one documentary is hardly a productive or rewarding form of work.

> What if most people considered homeless in equality with other
> non-homeless people in the recycling business ? What if that was their way
> to be kind to let stuff nicely packed with explanatory notes about how to
> use the stuff or what part is broken ?

If only that were true. No, we are talking about trash.

> You have probably noticed how proud many Japanese people are and how
> reluctant they can be to accept presents

Yes. Even homeless have refused my offer of packs of coffee, twice. And they
only seem to take what they need. They don't take my winter clothes simply
because they want more, for example. And only three or four asses have ever
actually demanded something of me.

> (outside the ritual futile present
> exchange game), tips, help, etc. That you have to pretend you need to get
> out at the next station to make people accept a seat in the train without
> feeling embarassed, that you have to tell your friends (when you know they
> have financial difficulties) you really need to get rid of excess of food
> you've cooked or useful objects you have in double or triple. People are not
> like that in Hiroshima? Possible. In Osaka, they are. I've always had
> friends in bad fortune, and in my place -no matter what our reputation is-
> the tradition is to make invitations and presents when you're the fortunate
> one, and accept them when it's the contrary. Sharing the bill at restaurant
> or for a party is not so common, presents are not "paid back"so there are
> many ways to help discretely without seeming to be Lady Di on a distribution
> tour. Unlike here.
>
> I don't do that often (I'm not kind and never pretended the contrary), but
> I've invited homeless or very poor people to chat in a coffee shop. I invite
> other people I find friendly, so why making a difference with them ? And
> what happened is they wanted to pay their share, if not everything, as they
> have their pride and like all guys of my father's age, they don't feel well
> when they see a girl paying for them at the cafe. In China, I have even
> provoked more embarassing situations. Because I was a visitor there, people
> that really live of nothing organised a real feast for me, to give back a
> modest invitation to share a cup of tea and donuts, and they accepted
> nothing in return but a few photos, saying foreigners are guests and I
> should invite foreigners in my place as gratitude. Being poor is not
> begging.
> I am not sure homeless need more material help than respect. If I were sure
> the lack of food was the only thing, I'd bring systematically my leftovers
> of food to homeless, like I was doing with my pigs. But they are not pigs.
>
> Everybody around me is aware of the existence of homeless.

Good. They don't deny their existence like a sizable proportion of people I
have known in seven years here.

> 2 or 3 assholes
> think society have to get rid of them, the society reciprocally thinks the
> same about the 2 or 3 assholes. For the rest, people are sincerely sorry for
> the infortunates, but that doesn't mean they find your way to help them
> (charity from strangers) is adequate.

Fact: For whatever reason including possible total lack of personal
responsibility, there are people laying on the ground in broad daylight in the
busiest part of town. Observation will confirm that a number actually lack
decent food and clothing, with winter fast approaching.

If social services, local employers, any friends, and family do not act, what
other way is there to attempt to improve the situation? [Even the local
Catholic girl's school, a school of elites' children, does not have a program
to help, though it is claimed they will in the future, and I am looking for
other aid groups.]

Ignore them, as most do?

> It's not unlikely they'd follow you if
> there was another way. My impression is in Japan, that's more complicated to
> "give" as not everybody is in position to invite/make presents to everybody,
> but you can rarely find people of a certain income/age that don't help
> anybody. A number of jobs/baitos are completely useless and maintained to
> avoid pushing more people into poverty. A number of old little shotengai are
> completely uncompetitive but are maintained because of community spirit. I
> have heard gaigins that can't get that criticising people that buy
> vegetables or anything in little markets rather than cheaper supermarket or
> 100yen shops, prefer made-in-Japan overpriced produce, etc. They don't say
> what all the people that do uneconomical jobs will become if things get
> "rational". I wonder where is the real kindness. All that to say your rant
> about society and those in power doing nothing is unfair.
>
> Do we live in the same Japan ?

Yes. But you and Raj seem to know different people than the rest of us. Nor am
I the type to ride a train just to eat lunch, in a French restaurant, no less.
I eat sandwiches I make for myself during breaks, usually peanut butter and
jelly.

> Here, the change of rules that allowed the
> opening of more modern supermarkets and massive imports from China have
> brought a really tragedy for the class of people living/surviving of little
> businesses. That pushed thousands of old people in the streets of Osaka.

That's right. The practices of many consumers and employers have caused this
problem. I do not blame Chinese, immigrants, or other sources of cheap labor.

> The
> area where I live has really changed. I can buy my food 1/3 of the price
> that used to be 6 years ago...and I don't do it, I'm not saving money for
> after my death and it's sad enough half of the mom-and-pop businesses of the
> area have disappeared. I have already witnessed the death of my hometown.
> Frankly, it's easier to maintain than to try to rebuild later with charity
> and public money.

You're right, and I know it from the start. But something is needed for those
who have already fallen through the cracks. A middle aged former laborer who
didn't acquire other skills or faces discrimination, has little chance of
getting their life back.

> I prefer paying a cup of coffee or takoyaki 500 yen today
> than giving 300 yen in tax for social support + 300 yen in charity tomorrow.

It's good you can afford 500 yen cups of coffee. I pay about 980 for a jar of
instant that will provide me over a hundred Starbucks tumblers full of coffee.
I am well aware that Bubble Era spending was one reason for Bubble Era
affluence for many, and tell people so.

Unfortunately, I am not one of those enjoying Bubble Era affluence to spend so.

Nor would I spend like a rich person, in the belief that is my service to
society, as many rich seem to do, and as Republican Presidents seem to promote.
If I spent like a rich person, it would be for me to live like a rich person,
which is what many rich do when they buy luxury houses and cars for themselves,
instead of reinvesting in their companies to be even more competitive and
productive.

> Japan has been idiot to obey the American ultimatum on foreign trade a few
> years ago.

What ultimatum?

> > There is no need for me to deflect attention from my argument or myself.
> And the
> > fact remains it is I helping strangers downtown with my time and money my
> family
> > should be using, not other people who have the means to make a real
> difference such
> > as providing aid or jobs.
>
> I have followed your posts about the homeless near your place, that's nice
> that you give them useful things and they can accept them from you.
> Still, I have a question. That's not a criticism, but curiosity. Why do you
> do that on your own instead of joining the Japanese volunteer associations
> that help homeless ?

Haven't found any, though some exist.

> They don't want you ? You think they don't do a good job ?

Considering the small scale of the problem in Fukuyama (perhaps 80 homeless),
and considering that it is little nobody me and my monthly allowance providing
people in the busiest and most visible part of town with what seems to be the
first and only aid most have ever received, in the form of unwanted clothes and
small amounts of food like things I buy on sale in the bento corner or my
uneaten breakfast from home, I would say that Fukuyama charities need to do
more.

--
"I want to meet my father and say, your sperm became me."

http://tinyurl.com/wc8y