I don’t know what’s the deal with kids selling flowers in Kaslik, but I spotted one of them sitting at Starbucks and texting on her phone all the time, while another one refused a nicely wrapped cookie that I had just bought from Starbucks. I don’t know what’s up with these kids, and what they’re doing on the street but I am not giving them anything anymore.
they make pernight more than most make in a month
Why don’t you ask them?
Please stop projecting what you think is right for these kids to do.
First of all, if they make more than most in a month, I don’t think they will be in that position. And If you really do think that they do, then you are free to join them.
Second of all, they have the right to *NOT* do anything with their day if they wish. And I wouldn’t be accepting food from anyone, no matter what.
It’s not because they are poor, or seem to be poor, that they should obey a certain set of rules you decide are the way to go. Maybe they just ate and are not interested in a cookie. Maybe they have been poisoned by people before. Who knows.
They bottom point is, they are offering flowers for money. Either buy flowers for money because you need flowers, or leave them alone.
Sorry to be like that, but I have been following your open mind for a year on this blog, and this is the first piece of judgemental bullshit you have dished out.
Alex,
First of all I never pretended they make more than most in a month.
Second of all, I rarely give money to child beggars or kids selling flowers on the street because I know the money will probably go to their employer or parents. That’s why I’d rather give them food or even buy them food and the cookie I had just bought was clearly not some leftover so it was weird for him not to accept it but it’s his choice of course. If he’s not hungry, he could save it for later.
As for offering flowers for money, like I said, I don’t want to be giving money to some guy using these kids so I usually offer to buy them food or food if I have any. If they have a problem with that, then I am leaving them alone and that’s what I said.
Najib you make a great point. I also think alex has a very skewed perspective on things and doesn’t understand what their guardians do to them to get money and by promoting them we are promoting child labour and child abuse..I had the same happen to me where I offered them to come inside with me to buy them lunch and they refused, so just like you I will never give them money, but only on one condition, that they are crippled or old, hence they cannot work for their money, other wise they’re better off working a labourous job like we all do instead of walking around selling flowers all day only to get beat at night and have all their money taken away. Also I’ve seen how they collect these kids at night, some sketchy guys with leather jackets stop at the traffic light and whistle to them to come into their car at night, someone is making serious profit off of this venture and the kids are getting dirt, literally which is why I hate such things. If I knew my money was going to the child I would give them all of it to enjoy, but it’s not.
These kids are rented by their parents to people who use them to make money. They bring them every morning and drop them in kaslik and i guess other locations around lebanon so theyd sell things or beg and get cash. Weve seen the people dropping them and picking them up at the end of the day. These people should be jailed and the parents should be jailed too. This is child abuse they have little girls and boys aged sometimes less than 10 alone on the streets begging. They dont care if they get hit by a car or get kidnap or killed. They just want money. I stopped giving them money a long time ago i offer them food or water and thats it. Theres also an old lady that sells gum in kaslik as well. I really think something should be done about these old people and kids they shouldn’t be on the street being sold by their families to slave in the sun or cold.
I think noone should encourage them and give them anything ,most are our lovely neighbours from Syria ,i am not saying they’re not humans ,but let them beg in their country .All they did is act like savages 25 years ago and now they beg on our streets .Truth is harsh ,but this is the truth .Noone should encourage or give them anything .We will see then who’s behind them, or who employs them .Let them all get out of our country ,as well as terrorists
A comment from a fed up Lebanese
And instead of questioning silly gays in our country ,the ISF should question these kids and who are behind them ,as well watch very closely every foreigner in this country ,whether refugees or tourists or so called tourists
i’ve seen the people who watch them too ,Right Cynthia ,they should be jailed
We all know where they come from and what they do to them. Parents, pimps, or whatever you want to call it.
If the kid had any other choice, he would take it. It’s easy for you to judge sitting in your AC cars and appartments. Hidding behind supposed noble causes just so you can feel happy and sleep at night.
Prostitutes have been pimped for centuries, and this thing has been dealt with for centuries to no avail. You cannot change the way things are by dealing with the kids or micromanaging them. By not buying flowers, you are hurting them more because they will get beat up by whoever is running the show.
Buy flowers and let them save a couple or be happy ounce in a while if they get a little extra. They have enough on their plates already. And if you want to change stuff, then act where it is necessary, government actions and regulations.
Alex..wow..I think it’s pointless arguing with you. So I’m just going to leave it at that OMFG!
“If the kid had any other choice, he would take it…”
I don’t think children have any choices! Child labor is punishable in civilized societies. Don’t encourage the pimps!
i think its hard to find a solution for this. if you give them- you encourage the scumbags behind them. and these scumbags dont give up. if no-one buys flowers, they will come up with something else to sell. if you dont give them- they get belted at night. id rather they dont get belted.
anyway maybe that kid was depressed or just not hungry. when i was in Lebanon a kid who was there sat with me and ate at burger king. maybe because at that time he was hungry. but the next day he wouldn accept. i asked him why and he said his boss will find out.
so whatever man… i dont know. if you have spare change give it to them so long as you have enough for the rest of the month…
As usual,lebanese fight over comments.Like said ,i don’t retreive it and never wikk,i will never have mercy for these children and the ones behind them.i will never have mercy for foreigners stealing Lebanese jobs .id rather buy something expensive from a lebanese trader than one flower from these streetchildren.Truth is harsh .i will never have mercy on foreigners while i knowww there are many disadvantaged kids in lebanon too .Never have mercy on them or the ones who brought up 10 kids or so