I wrote a blog about a month back. Since then I have been trying to write every day since I find something happening every moment but I had been absorbing all that and keeping inside just to make it brim full to let it flow out. I don't know yet whether this blog is the real over flow or not but yes for sure! I cannot stay any more without writing. But do you really read what I write???? and if you do then please make a comment and /or become a member so that I feel that there is someone waiting to hear from me or looking forward to read something. I guess my blogs have the right to feel wanted... so people share your comments when you read any of my blogs.
Well, readers this is going to be a big reading because I have been looking and observing several things happening around me in the subway in the past 1 month- If you had read my previous blogs, one of them talks about a beggar couple in the Metro North Rail Road at Grand Central. I was just so angry to see the couple using a baby to beg. I now feel they are still better, about 3 weeks back I saw a teenage couple doing something similar, what makes them worse than the Metro North Rail Road couple is that, this teenage girl had pulled down her T-shirt and was exhibiting the child being breast fed...yeah agreed the child was of the age that he/she can't take anything else, yeah agreed that this is not anything vulgar but wait...the child was fast asleep and was definitely not suckling. So it was all made up...When I noticed the girl, she was wearing Nike sneakers and was well dressed with a clean, costly canvas bag hung diagonal across her waist, her male partner played a guitar that was not any song or tune but just for the sake of playing it for about a minute followed by this girl going to every one and leaning so that people can see the child. I was on my way to Jackson Heights, the teenage couple got off at the same station from the number 7 train and some thing asked me to follow and see where they go and what they do... Yeah the brain bug bit me and I strongly felt that they are not beggars rather begging is an easy way to get extra cash for something else...I followed them and as the girl was getting down the stairs she pulled her shirt up and sat at the wooden bench before. The baby was tied with the girl with a sling and had it's head backwards, the baby was sleeping!!! She pulled out her ipod and then came out the cell phone which seemed like a smart phone, at that point I decided to move on. I never saw them again in any of the Queens subway routes that I take. I really question at times...were those teenagers really beggars???
Another incident that I relate to our current life is the one that happened around the beginning of the month. I was in the Q27 bus from Holly and Kissena to Main Street Flushing. A lady around the age of 50+ boarded the bus, as she paid the fair she looked around for a place to sit...quite natural I always do that!!! now this good looking guy who was literally sleeping was patted on the shoulder by this lady. She said "Excuse me, I am going to have a hip surgery, I can't stand" this guy politely left his seat, while sitting this lady made a couple of vocal sounds that presented well that she found the sitting difficult. As we reached the Main Street the lady in focus surprised me...she was supposed to have a hip surgery...then how come she was wearing boots with heels? She stood up without the sounds explaining pain and as she walked past me I saw her normal gait and a strong urge to run to her and ask her the reason to lie kept pushing me but I pulled my control wire and did not question. As I turned my head away from the lady, the good looking guy was also walking by me and may be he also noticed what I had and he asked "did you see that?" I responded raising an eyebrow and giving a smile by saying "think twice before you sacrifice next time." Amazingly we both were together in the 7 train again but this time seated opposite to each other. After noon schedule was on and the students were packed in the compartment. Many people were standing and among them stood a man with crutches, none offered a seat to him, this time the good looking guy was not so polite. He probably took my advice..lol. Two Indian guys were sitting next to me, one of them said in Hindi (I am translating) "see poor guy he must be given a seat, you sit, I'll stand up", promptly the other one said "be quiet, they pretend a lot to get a seat...trying to sacrifice huh? They take a lot of advantage of other people's goodwill, sit hear no need to be so good." Yeah! I just smiled at myself but before I could offer my seat to him the man with crutches got off the train.
Unfortunately this is what happens in our lives too. Those who lie and are able to snatch it, win; those who really deserve, more than often loose!!!
If I think, being in a social services field I know quite well how people take advantages of others. Thinking about "well to do" parents paying more for school projects so that the "not so well to dos" can be helped. On the other hand these "not well to dos" keep expanding their families with new born children and children with special needs. People earning millions yet lying to the system to get Medicaid and other benefits while people legally earning really meager amounts are mandated to pay taxes, but those getting paid in cash get to happily lick the cream. Frustration hits more when educated people struggle to make ends meet while the others without any degree stand claiming everything for free and virtually mock at the qualification of those who have skills and passion to really work.
Yes! many reading this blog by now feel that I am extremely frustrated and irritated and becoming a hater. Some would even wonder being in the social services how can I even think like this?
When I was joining this field I was asked by someone very close to me encouraged yet warned me by saying..."many of those whom you'll help will be making a fool of you because they live by manipulating the system." I know 99% of the people who come to seek help usually are clever minds and well skilled in manipulating the system but I am there because I have been educated; I have the qualified skills to passionately help that 1% who are genuinely needy.
Don't you think something similar???
