There is no good at all in inflaming his hatred of Germans if, at the same time, a pernicious habit of charity is growing up between him and his mother, his employer, and the man he meets in the train.
Of course, it’s a lot harder to be charitable to the man on the train—or worse, to one’s own exploiter employer—than to one’s mother. For one thing, the wider the circle of charity, the deeper a pit to fill with one’s efforts!
Which was precisely why, during my internship last summer, I eventually just picked one homeless guy and gave him my loose $1 bills every day during my commute.
Of course, it’s a lot harder to be charitable to the man on the train—or worse, to one’s own exploiter employer—than to one’s mother. For one thing, the wider the circle of charity, the deeper a pit to fill with one’s efforts!
Which was precisely why, during my internship last summer, I eventually just picked one homeless guy and gave him my loose $1 bills every day during my commute.