Arms for the Poor

Welcome, kind readers, to Hari Harian - my daily thoughts. Here I am, about to commence a year of study in Indonesia, and I figured: new country, new blog. Though of course, living here for five years at the end of Suharto's heyday, Indonesia for me is almost the old country. While there are things here that are still very familiar to me, like bakso, the humidity, and the traffic, there are some things that have been quite a suprise.

So although my time here the last week and a half has been lots of fun (thought busy and at times rather stressful), my first post is going to be about one of the more negative aspects of Indonesian society that I've encountered.

For those who don't know a great deal about the Islamic religion, one of the five main pillars of faith is giving alms to the poor. Now, as my futsal coach explained to me on the way to training, after we got caught in the rain and encountered a singing begger under someone's front porch, there's no set method by which you give alms. If a beggar approaches you, you can give them money, but there's no obligation. He said that usually people are supposed to give 2.5% of their earnings to the poor, there is no set way by which you have to do this. However, it seems like most Indonesians will give a beggar some small change. I was in a cafe a couple of days ago, and a beggar opened the door and stood asking me and my (also Australian) friend for Rp1000. We were both completely at a loss as to what we should do. After awhile, one of the waiters went to the door, gave the guy a small note, and closed the door. Yesterday, I was having lunch with another friend and some of her friends, and first an old man with a guitar stood outside playing, and then a little old lady with a bell. Each time, one my friend's friends gave her a small note or coin, and she passed it onto the beggar, as did a person from each of the other tables in the restaurant.

Beggars don't only wander up to you in restaurants or on the side of the road. There are plenty who wait at intersections, not unlike the windscreen 'cleaners' along Northbourne Avenue in Canberra, who do all sorts of things such as sell giant, coloured lighters, dance 'traditional' Indonesian dances, play ukulele, or simply ask for money. These people range in age from practically toddlers to the elderly. I've even seen one man who appears to be paralysed from the waist down, and gets around on a pair of crutches, his legs swinging beneath him. I've had children following me with a plastic container, barely five years old. However, the most frightening experience I've had with beggars so far was the crazy guy today, who grabbed me by the arm on the way past, and then on the way back again.

Now, the problem I have isn't with these poor people; even the crazy guy, because it was obvious that he's mentally disabled and in many ways not responsible for his actions. My problem is, I just don't know what I should do when I run into a beggar. In Australia, people asking for money don't chase you. They don't beseech you. Usually, they don't even beg. People will sit on the sidewalk with a sign, busking or performing or selling art. Every now and then in Civic you'll get someone asking for bus money. On the very rare occasion someone does approach me, though, I'm in the same situation. I don't know what I should do. I'm not a wealthy person, by any stretch of imagination, but at the same time I don't go hungry. Should I share the spare money I have with these people? Should I ignore them? I know I can't save everybody. I know that Rp1000 isn't going to save anybody. But does that mean I shouldn't give it to someone who asks? Do I have the right to decide whether I should discourage begging by turning people away? I know that such a small amount of money isn't going to make any difference, whether I choose to give it or not.

Anyway, I hope I figure out what I should do soon, otherwise this could be in some ways quite an uncomfortable year!