Thoughts about giving sincerely

Sincerity from the bottomless pits of my cold, dark heart?

“person getting 1 U.S. dollar banknote in wallet” by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

I was at the 24-hour coffee house, having a late supper -or breakfast at 1.30 am with a friend. It was Mus’s treat as he was terribly late to the table. His defence? There are outstanding followups to be done at work and his bosses have been breathing down his neck.

The streets around Syed Alwi Road is unlike anything you witness during the wee hours of Singapore. From the bargain hunters to the queers, everyone shared a part of this intersection, each respectfully minding their own business. It is a time when the night takes on a darker shade and the sleepy activities begin with hushed fanfare.

A man approached our table and asked in broken Singlish,

“Hello, want to donate? I got family to feed…”

His voice was drowned by the ambience of the night. He looked surprisingly smart, equipped with a belt. I glanced on his hand; a few rings, some precious gems. He gestured a feeding sign and motioned to his mouth.

We politely smiled and said, “no thanks” before he sidestepped briskly to the other table, a Malay-Chinese couple with sunken eyes.

I tugged at the sides of my paper thosai. This was my second supper. While waiting for Mus to arrive then, I was lured to the McDonalds’ billboard commemorating 50 years to the introduction of Big Mac and fell prey to it, for a very agreeable price of $5.50.

I digress.

Many people think that Singapore is a wealthy and sterile country. Like any bustling metropolitan city, we do have our fair share of quirks and eccentricities, the makers of joining ends and the not well to do. The night is a perfect occasion to witness these instances.

Why then did you not donate and help out?

1. In Singapore, there are proper channels for aid and various professional bodies that reach out to those in need. By donating, I am in approval of their actions which only serves to encourage and reinforce the receiver.
2. I am unsure of taking a stand on donating when there is ambiguity. Who knows if you’re supporting illicit actions through the money given.
3. I am here to relax and also absorb what the night has to offer. Does a journalist intervene with the event that unfolds? Does someone with the capacity to influence, interfere with a scenario, be it for good or bad? Maybe it is a symptom of the bystander effect. I am still struggling to understand on the ethics of this.
4. There is something that doesn’t sit well with me. His attire, his tone and his body language was quite questionable. To me, the spirit of donating is when someone gives without bearing any sentiment or reluctance. If I harbour any thoughts or criteria, e.g. use this money for food only, then I am not really giving, sincerely doesn't it? The key is to give sincerely, without expecting anything in return.

Thank you for reading!