Whenever I read these "we should help our own needy first" I just have an image of someone who doesn't want to help anyone.
What are the exact rules they think apply? Seriously, what is the falloff amount vs distance which measures how much help someone should be given. Next door? The same street? A city block? The same town / city / region? Province or state? Country? Hemisphere?
It's simply insane.
What it often means is "help people more like me". So does that mean same language? Or same color?
Why can't it be like Triage where you help the most needy?
The idea that you would help all of one group before helping all of another is ludicrous. Should we not help sick animals because there are sick children?
How about people help whoever they can and want to. But they should shut the fuck up telling other people that they shouldn't be helping others.
Personally, I feel some refugees are more in need and deserving of my help than someone who has squandered every opportunity in life but just happens to live locally.
BTW: Interesting local article about Homeless in Calgary supporting help for refugees:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-homeless-say-help-syrians-too-1.3362917