The spirit of altruism and generosity is wired into the human psyche. I recently saw a number of people on the metro-rail reaching into their pockets for coins to give a homeless man on the train, even though it was fairly obvious that the train passengers themselves had very little to give. Millions of people all over the world give of their time, energies, talents, and monies just because they feel compelled to do so.
This week’s Bluestocking topic is about gift-giving and gift-receiving. Discuss a special gift you once gave to someone, or would like to give to someone in the future. Conversely, what special gift have you received in your life that has meant a lot to you? Or what gift would you like someone give to you? What acts of altruism have you witnessed in your life?
Comment below or post to BS 20.04.07 Gifts.
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April 24, 2007 at 11:11 pm
jan2
When the first suffragettes were throwing themselves under race horses and chaining themselves to railings in the early 1900’s there were many homeless beggars on the streets of London. A century later poor people are giving coins to a homeless man – in the most significant nation on the planet. In London the homeless are sleeping under arches and women go by the name of ‘bag ladies’ – as is the case in all of our cities. In the meantime the two nations could probably house a million people with the money they are spending on missiles and weapons of mass destruction. What does that say about the development of 21st century ‘civilisation?’