Regard for others - respecting a Latvian beggar

Earlier this week I was teaching in Latvia, and after arriving at the venue went for a meal in one of the delightful old town bars. I was sat at a street side bar when I noticed and elderly and rather dirty beggar approaching me...

Sure enough he came up to my table and said something in Latvian, which pretty clearly meant can you give me some money. I looked him in the eyes and politely said, “Sorry no, I am eating my meal and would like to be left alone.” To my surprise he smiled at me and offered me his hand to shake and said “Thank you” and walked to the next table. there was another English guy at the next table who has also approached and asked for money. The English guy ignored the beggar and continues reading his paper. The beggar asked again, this time a little louder. Still no recognition from the English guy. Now the beggar started to say something quite loud in Latvian and the English guy responded by calling the waitress and saying rather aggressively “Can you please tell this stupid man to go away.” Afterwards I reflected on the very different responses the beggar showed me and the other English guy. Was it perhaps that I showed him some respect and the other guy didn’t?

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