Show Teens’ Giving, Positive Side Letter Of The Week: From Dec. 18

Re: Jan A. Somers’ Dec. 15 letter, “Giving just encourages panhandlers.”

I, personally, am getting sick of people judging the “disreputable teenagers” who they claim beg them for change unmercifully in the downtown area. Do you know what they want more than your stupid change? They want your smile; for you to look at them with some other emotion besides contempt; for you to talk to them, perhaps find out why they’re there.

Hey folks, pull yourselves out of your warm middle-class cocoons and realize that those are somebody’s children too. Perhaps if you acted respectfully towards them, they’d learn by example. Where do you think they’ll learn if we, the adults, don’t teach them?

Oh, and by the way, the Bible tells us to give unconditionally, out of love, not to worry about what our gift is being used for. Why not take one of these lost souls home for Christmas dinner; then perhaps you could remember what the true Christmas spirit is all about? This is our city and everyone who lives here has a right to be here. Merry Christmas and may God’s love guide your heart. Barbara Silvey Spokane

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