Comments on: e·piph·a·ny - 3.a. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something. http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/ blogs are props Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:09:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: maggie http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-520 Fri, 17 Feb 2006 17:29:17 +0000 http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-520 all right, all right.....agreed. sheesh. all right, all right…..agreed. sheesh.

]]> by: Cedric http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-519 Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:13:00 +0000 http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-519 Don't be too quick to judge the religious motivation. Whatever you can do for God, you can do for an intrinsic reward as well. I'm not even sure I believe in God anymore, remember? The point was that no matter who they are, they are giving you an opportunity to practice generosity, which is a virtue. Unwillingness to give what is yours is exactly the opposite of generosity. Honestly, I don't give much to the 4th St. bums, either, but that is because I have grown familiar with them. Because of that, I don't have to put them in my blind spot whenever they are around to alleviate some sort of middle-class guilt. Willful blindness is really what this post was about. Give or don't give, but don't practice ignorance. Don’t be too quick to judge the religious motivation. Whatever you can do for God, you can do for an intrinsic reward as well. I’m not even sure I believe in God anymore, remember? The point was that no matter who they are, they are giving you an opportunity to practice generosity, which is a virtue. Unwillingness to give what is yours is exactly the opposite of generosity.

Honestly, I don’t give much to the 4th St. bums, either, but that is because I have grown familiar with them. Because of that, I don’t have to put them in my blind spot whenever they are around to alleviate some sort of middle-class guilt. Willful blindness is really what this post was about. Give or don’t give, but don’t practice ignorance.

]]> by: maggie http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-518 Thu, 16 Feb 2006 18:38:11 +0000 http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-518 True, but don't you think that those people using the panhandlers for their own glorification in the eyes of god are doing it mostly for that reason and not because they feel compelled to do so? I realize that people do feel inclined to do it because they truely care for the individual as a person, but when you have an award, such as heaven, awaiting you in the end, don't you think they were mostly doing it for brownie points? I'm just saying that that's human nature and it's also in our nature to be jaded and untrusting of those who will attempt to take what's ours. I don't like the idea of giving to people who will use it for drugs and I know the 4th street bums well enough to know that they will. I used to give no matter what. Now I guess I'm jaded. I can tell you tons of stories, sweetheart. Here and in mpls. True, but don’t you think that those people using the panhandlers for their own glorification in the eyes of god are doing it mostly for that reason and not because they feel compelled to do so? I realize that people do feel inclined to do it because they truely care for the individual as a person, but when you have an award, such as heaven, awaiting you in the end, don’t you think they were mostly doing it for brownie points? I’m just saying that that’s human nature and it’s also in our nature to be jaded and untrusting of those who will attempt to take what’s ours. I don’t like the idea of giving to people who will use it for drugs and I know the 4th street bums well enough to know that they will. I used to give no matter what. Now I guess I’m jaded. I can tell you tons of stories, sweetheart. Here and in mpls.

]]> by: Cedric http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-517 Thu, 16 Feb 2006 15:10:55 +0000 http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-517 I guess I don't really believe in E.T., but I do think popularized ideas of conspiracy like Roswell and faked moon landings probably appeal to people for the same reasons all these movies appeal to me. As far as the homeless people go, I'm not sure if it matters whether or not they really deserve what you give them. In both Jewish and Islamic tradition, I think you will find that professional panhandlers have often been looked on as providing a way for worshipers to practice religious devotion. In other words, it is not so much the worth of the recipient that is focused on, but the act of giving alms which is always blessed no matter who the recipient is. This might almost have to be another blog, I've been thinking about this quite a lot. I guess I don’t really believe in E.T., but I do think popularized ideas of conspiracy like Roswell and faked moon landings probably appeal to people for the same reasons all these movies appeal to me.

As far as the homeless people go, I’m not sure if it matters whether or not they really deserve what you give them. In both Jewish and Islamic tradition, I think you will find that professional panhandlers have often been looked on as providing a way for worshipers to practice religious devotion. In other words, it is not so much the worth of the recipient that is focused on, but the act of giving alms which is always blessed no matter who the recipient is. This might almost have to be another blog, I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot.

]]> by: maggie http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-516 Wed, 15 Feb 2006 23:25:30 +0000 http://cedric.wallsareprops.com/2006/02/15/e%c2%b7piph%c2%b7a%c2%b7ny-3a-a-sudden-manifestation-of-the-essence-or-meaning-of-something/#comment-516 You wrote what I've been thinking for a while now. *sigh* just like people saying if extra terrestrials do exist, is the government hiding it from us because they think we can't handle it?....like the way the news makes everything look all hunky dorey with guest cooks showing us how to barbeque for our family in less than an hour. Our lives are so fucking easy. SO fucking easy. People just don't get it. I wish I could pay more attention to the homeless, but it's nearly impossible to tell the ones who are truely deserving from the ones who lie to your face, making a mockery out of you. It's all a gamble. *sigh* I guess as long as we make an effort to reveal the truth it'll help ease the angst. ;) You wrote what I’ve been thinking for a while now. *sigh* just like people saying if extra terrestrials do exist, is the government hiding it from us because they think we can’t handle it?….like the way the news makes everything look all hunky dorey with guest cooks showing us how to barbeque for our family in less than an hour. Our lives are so fucking easy. SO fucking easy. People just don’t get it. I wish I could pay more attention to the homeless, but it’s nearly impossible to tell the ones who are truely deserving from the ones who lie to your face, making a mockery out of you. It’s all a gamble. *sigh* I guess as long as we make an effort to reveal the truth it’ll help ease the angst. ;)

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