Thursday 12 November 2009

The quality of mercy is strained

No gentle rain droppeth into his bucket -
He was challenged;
He was ignored;
He was ridiculed;
Neither the giver nor the taker was bless-ed.
Ralph Waldo's voice of an old intelligence
Regarded as untrustworthy even though caring for life -
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

13 comments:

brattcat said...

Three very interesting studies of humanity and interrelationships. Excellent title, excellent text, keenly observed visual commentary.

VP said...

Love your commentary and the photos, but I am not sure to understand what is this guy doing... He has and ID so he's collecting money not for himself but for someone else. He has some orange, so Hare Krishna? Nobody does such things here...

Julie said...

VP, that is exactly what he is doing. He is a volunteer collecting money on the railway concourse at Bondi Juntion for Hare Krishna. Yes, a couple of people dropped coins into the bucket. But more people pointed to his badge and said something which from a distance appeared to be sarcastic. Most people walked straight past.

Lowell said...

Methinks if you want to do something for humanity, get a job, earn some money and then do it. Don't expect the public to finance your charitable impulses or whatever.

Joan Elizabeth said...

That chant takes me straight back to the 70s! Fun shots Julie made richer by your words.

Leif Hagen said...

I wouldn't have guessed Hari Krishna dude! No orange Hari sari!

Anonymous said...

Chapeau !

Being very much impressed by the ability to see such things you call your own, allow me to bow silently in respect of your writing and photography as well.

Julian Davis said...

Three excellent photos with great commentary. I am really impressed with your great photography and writings .

diane b said...

Gosh you can write some thought provoking stuff. Great captures of the disinterested passers by.When my mum was alive and in a retirement village they took her on a bus tour of the Hari Krishna farm in Uki. She was intrigued to see that there were not any old people living in the community. What do they do with the oldies??

Virginia said...

Interesting photo series Julie but I"m afraid i have to agree with Jacob on this one. I would have walked right by myself. I prefer to give money where I'm sure how it will be spent.
V

Virginia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
PJ said...

The Hare Krishnas have been around for a while, haven't they? I think this is a remarkable photograph. I can't remember the last time I stood in public and declared my faith in such a way, if ever.

Julie said...

This is a thorny conundrum, isn't it? Is he there simply to collect money for his favourite charity or is he there wearing his faith on his sleeve like a scarlet letter?

If he were collecting for Legacy or for the Red Cross would the general public have been more friendly and more generous?

Should all our humanitarian impulses be done anonymously? How confident can we be that ANY money given in the name of charity is used for the purpose stated? Should all charity money be collected and allocated by government to ensure equity and probity?

Or is charity work more about simply the money ...