ù Quoting D.E. Bryant from a message to Jim Westbrook  ù 
DB> somehow place them above the rest of humanity in quality.  You may 
DB> think you are being gracious when you approach a homeless person to 
DB> say that you will help them with clothing and to get employment.  On 
DB> the surface it looks good but in reality you are imposing your view 
DB> of value on them without ever asking THEM what it is THEY wish or 
Ah, thank you. This is exactly what I'm saying. The conversation I'm having 
with Tom centers around this issue. His view on things is that he might give 
money to someone asking for it, but only if he makes sure that it gets spent 
on
something he thinks is important. Everyone thinks they have a lesson to teach 
the homeless or extremely poor - that if they would just go buy a hamburger, 
or, as Tom suggested, "get a hair cut," everything will turn up rosy for 
them. 
What this means is that Tom thinks that if he were in that person's shoes, he 
would not be in that situation. It reeks of paternalism and arrogance.
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