Friday, April 30, 2010

How without compassion can we pass them by?

A homeless man saves a woman from knife wielding attacker, gets stabbed and lays in a pool of blood, dying, for over an hour as 20+ people pass, even stopping to take pictures.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/passers_by_let_good_sam_die_5SGkf5XDP5ooudVuEd8fbI

Sadly, this is not an unusual situation, as we hear similar stories quite often.  

Last year, ABC ran a series called "What Would You Do." They sat up different scenarios and watched how people responded.  This one relates to the story at hand:
http://abcnews.go.com/whatwouldyoudo/  (under March 10- Aiding the Fallen)

The 'nicely dressed woman' gets help within six seconds. The 'homeless' man three minutes or more. The 'homeless man with a beer can'? Even longer. It took repeated pleadings from another homeless woman before someone-grudgingly- acted to call 911.

What has happened to us that we can pass by someone who is so obviously in need? How can we stop, look- directly in his face, even take a friggin picture, then continue on our merry way? This man gave his very life (no greater love- eh?) to help someone in need and no one came to his aid....because he wasn't 'worthy' enough? He wasn't 'pretty' enough? He was one of  'those' people?

Such a sad commentary on us all. May Hugo Alfredo rest in peace.

I tried to find this old song on You Tube, but had no luck- not even on itunes, so here are the lyrics.


THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I
By PAUL OVERSTREET

There's a man on a corner with a cardboard sign that reads
I will work for food
A woman stands beside him with hungry eyes that plead
Our children are hungry too
Some may say I'm foolish for giving to their cause
I've become a believer that heaven's helped us all.

Oh there but for the grace of God go I
How without compassion can we pass them by
Oh, it could be you it could be me the world has cast aside
There but for the grace of God go I.

When I think about my home late in the evening time
How we've been blessed with much more than we need
Keep a warm fire burning when it's cold outside
We don't have to worry that we might freeze
How can I go to bed at night and sleep so gracefully
If I haven't given something for the least of these.

Oh, there but for the grace of God go I
How without compassion can we pass them by
Oh it could be you and it could be me the world has locked outside
There but for the grace of God go I.

Oh, the time has come for everyone to learn to help another
We could turn this whole wide world around if we only loved each other.

Oh, there but for the grace of God go I
How without compassion can we pass them by...
Oh it could be you and it could be me the world has locked outside
There but for the grace of God go I
There but for the grace of God go I
There but for the grace of God go I
There but for the grace of God
There but for the grace of God go I
There but for the grace of God
There but for the grace of God go I

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