Many people look to street corner, in the open air, for intriguing discoveries. There are also many people, who look to street corner, on the inside of a public space, for shelter and protection.

Lately, I have noticed more and more socially and financially disadvantaged people, who have sought out a warm corner in the food court area on the inside of a public building for a temporary stay. They are usually ordered to leave by either maintenance staffs or the security, shortly after their stay. In case of their demonstration of a level of unwillingness or aggression, they will be forcefully dragged and led out.

On one hand, I do understand the reality that having homeless people gather in front of a shop window or of a store entrance does pose threat to tarnish a business’ reputation and image: on the other hand, these are humans just like the rest of us. The way, in which they are being treated by other humans only perpetuates their publicly perceived and self-internalized inferiority.

I don’t always give out monetary donation. But I always garner a level of compassion and sympathy for these people, hoping and praying that they could have been treated differently and that they could have been in a better social and financial position soon.

This is one of the life’s conundrums that I deal with frequently.