Cadgers Defended

In the April 1 edition of The Times, the article “Taming the Often Ugly Alms Pitch” by Andrew LePage, stated that officials said that panhandlers “resorted to grabbing and spinning people around when requests for spare change are turned down.” Who do they think they are? How could they let anyone say that? The panhandlers are out on the street because they need help in surviving. To survive, they have to lower themselves down to beg for money. Thus, some of the panhandlers have been “sworn” at and looked down on, etc. I work in the downtown area. Therefore, I know what it’s like.

I feel that the names mentioned in the article are “over exaggerating” the panhandlers. Panhandlers are humans just like all of us. They have to be out on the street as a means of survival, and it is wrong of people to look down on them. They have more “guts” and pride than most of us. They just need someone who is kind enough to lend a helping hand.

In a rich country like the United States, it is with pain to say that the government can do so much but they do so little. They spend millions and millions of money on weapons and they can’t spend half of that money to help the needy.

Therefore, it is up to us, individually, to help the needy.

BRENDA NGUYEN

San Diego