By Peng Aizhen
Translated by Wang Jing
Recently, there emerges another group of new "beggars" around the Shanghai South Railway Station. All of them are young boys and girls less than twenty years old, dressed fashionably and with an empty draw-bar box or a small bag as their properties in hand. Chinese Version>>
The author has been to many countries of the world. No matter for the Wall Street of New York or the SHINJUKU district of Tokyo, there are various beggars. Speaking from the angle of human rights, it is all right to say that "begging" is one of the basic rights of human. So, tolerant society should leave spaces for beggars.
However, the newly emerged group of new "beggars" in Shanghai is fairly "shocking". They have caused our eyebrows to raise, made us frightened and call being taken in.
First, they can not be identified as "begars" from what they wear. Compared with those shabby, embarrassed, and raunchy beggars in our mind, they are much more fashionable. However, it is this kind of fashion that becomes "the best overcoat" to "disguise" themselves while they are begging.
Second, the way of their begging is different from ordinary beggars. As for ordinary beggars, they will bow their thanks no matter how much the alms is. However, these new "beggars" have a big stomach, and you will never "dismiss" them with less than dozens of Yuan.
Third, these new "beggars" all have a "beautiful lie". It is most probably because of the attraction between opposite gender that the "beauty" of the new "beggars" always responds to "handsome boys" walking alone forwardly and then shows the "embarrassed appearence", asking whether they can help collect a dozen yuan of bus fare. Tenderness always come over those "handsome boys" after seeing the delicate and touching "beauty". So, they give money to these "beauty beggars" without hesitation.
It is ought to say that many of us have come across these "alternative beggars". Why do we call them "alternative" beggars? In fact, it is better to call them "frauds" than beggars. They take advantage of the kind psychology of some people and cheat people out of money with faulse sweet-like lying words. What they should be if they are not frauds? As the saying goes, "a gentleman makes money in right way". What is the "right way" for some of the "alternative beggars" who earn more than ten thousand yuan per month? Isn't it the "unorthodox way" taking the social "honesty and integrity" as its price?
As for the city beggars, our government has put forward a series of polices to help them. For example, using the police of housing, repatriation, and salvation. However, as for these "alternative beggars", we can never tolerate and allow them to continue. Because their emergence has not only spoiled the social atmosphere, but also promoted somepeople's mentality of acquiring without labour. They have left strong legacy of trouble to the society and are indeed the inharmonious notes of our society. As for these "alternative beggars", Our police department should crack down them without any mercy.
The World Expo is coming. Considering for the city image of Shanghai, we can never let these "fake beggars" spoil the scenery of Shanghai.
Home > Hot Topic> Eastalk