Year of Giving|施比受更有福

Year of Giving

施比受更有福

by Marcus Maurice

Can US$10 really  change a person's life?

10 块美金真的能改变一个人的人生吗？

The term altruism was originally coined by philosopher Auguste Comte. It means selfless concern for the welfare of others. On December 15, 2009, 36-year-old Reed Sandridge did something that people who just lost their jobs usually never do. _(1)_ Sandridge's plan was to give away US$10 to a stranger every day and then document it on his blog. He said his mother taught him that in difficult economic times, it's even more important to share with others. Sandridge knows that US$10 is not really going to change a person's life. _(2)_ Also, his stories have inspired others to do more to help those in need.

Some days, giving away money in Washington, DC is easy, like when Sandridge helps out a homeless person or someone down on their luck. _(3)_ In their opinion, no one in their right mind would be giving out money to strangers.

On his blog, Sandridge documents each monetary exchange and what happened that day. He keeps in contact with many of the people that have accepted his money and asks them to let him know how they spent it. _(4)_ Sandridge even has a section on the blog called Lend a Hand, where he lists the needs of the people he has met. _(5)_ At the end of the year, Sandridge plans to have a party and invite all those who have been featured. His mother would surely be very proud of him.

(A) However, he feels good in his heart, which is worth way more than US$10.

(B) Other days, it's difficult because strangers think that Sandridge is crazy.

(C) From this, his readers can send him the needed items, which he will deliver accordingly.

(D) He started Year of Giving, a project dedicated to his mother, the most altruistic person he knew.

(E) Some bought cigarettes, alcohol, or groceries, while others paid it forward and gave the US$10 away themselves.

　　『利他主义』一词最初是由哲学家奥古斯特‧孔德所创，代表对他人福利的无私关心。2009 年 12 月 15 号，36 岁的 Reed Sandridge 做了一件失业者通常不会做的事。他开始 Year of Giving 这项计划，而该计划是献给他的母亲，她是他认识的人中最无私的一位。Sandridge 的计划是每天给一名陌生人 10 块美金，并记录在他的部落格上。他说他的母亲教导他经济情况越是艰困，与人分享就越为重要。Sandridge 明白 10 块美金并不能真正改变一个人的生活。不过，此举让他感觉很好，而这价值远超过 10 块美金。此外，他的故事也启发了其他人帮助需要帮忙的人。

　　在华盛顿特区，有些日子分送金钱相当容易，像是 Sandridge 帮助游民或是时运不济的人的时候。不过有些日子则很困难，因为陌生人认为 Sandridge 疯了。他们觉得精神正常的人不会把钱分送给陌生人。

　　在他的部落格上，Sandridge 记录每一笔金钱交易以及当天发生的事。他和许多接受他金钱的人保持联络，并请他们让他知道，他们如何运用这笔钱。有些人拿去买香烟、酒或是食物杂货，而有些人则是传承这项善意，把这 10 块美金转送他人。Sandridge 甚至在部落格开设一个叫 Lend a Hand 的专区，这里列出与他相遇的人的需求。从这个列表，他的读者可以把所需物品寄给他，然后他再依照需求送出。年底时，Sandridge 打算开个派对，邀请所有参与其中的人参加。他的母亲绝对会以他这个儿子为荣。

答案：  1. (D)　2. (A)　3. (B)　4. (E)　5. (C)

For Your Information

除了像 Reed Sandridge 的无营利善心行为，为帮助街友脱离贫困的状态，英国人 John Bird 创立 The Big Issue《大志杂志》，让街友藉由贩卖杂志来赚取收入。经过征选和训练的街友或弱势族群，先以现金批货，批货成本约是标价的一半，最后全数所得则是归他们所有。

台湾则是以大智文创取得中文版授权，期待以这种方式提供有工作意愿的街友重拾自营生计的机会。（数据源：http://www.bigissue.tw/about）