This person... this fine specimen of humanity, is only 32 years old.
Obviously there are some, er, issues.
And what a stupid headline.
"Woman accused of pushing 3-year-old onto MAX tracks in 'unprovoked' NE Portland attack"
On what planet could such an attack be considered 'provoked'?
KATU often causes me to wonder what the hell they're smoking over there.
I'm glad the little person is going to be okay. That there wasn't a train coming or a serious injury from the fall. I don't know how the child's parent kept from beating the hell out of the person who did this, either, although she has clearly been beat to hell by life.
32. What a shame.
While I was still on FB, an old high school friend posted a link to a Go Fund Me on behalf of Steve, another former classmate.
If I had to pick a person from our school who was least likely to end up in some kind of trouble, it would have been Steve. Immensely talented guitar player with an incredible voice, a sense of humor and a... presence. He owned the stage when he got up to sing.
Here's a link to a YouTube video of Steve. This one is good, too.
It doesn't have the charisma of a live performance, but from what I have read here and there, the band had a real following.
He was Charlie Brown and I was Lucy in our high school production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
I didn't know him well, but I admired him. He was a nice person, always decent to everyone.
The blurb on the fundraiser said the money was to help Steve find some stability. The money was to buy him a travel trailer so he could get his life together. There had been bouts of homelessness and addiction and legal troubles over the years, and he needed help.
I contributed, although I've never heard anything else about him. Not sure if he got the help he needed. I fervently hope he did.
Long ago (1989) I used to ride the light rail MAX to downtown Portland to and from work. The issues that exist in the downtown area now weren't happening as much back then. I wasn't afraid to ride because most of the people on the train were people like me. Just trying to make a living.
As the train got closer to downtown, more people got on. The surrounded-by-empty-seats perch I chose in Gresham eventually had people crammed in all around me and it was standing room only until Lloyd Center when a bunch of people got off to do the daily drone in the office buildings all around.
Lloyd Center was also the stop where, once in awhile, someone who looked/smelled a little sketchy would get on the train. That was the start of 'Fareless Square', an area of downtown where one could ride for free.
One morning my seat companion was a 20-something guy. We'd had a small conversation, you know, the weather, where you headed? Just a nondescript ordinary guy.
A man boarded the train at Lloyd Center. He was filthy, hair long and greasy, grimy clothing and a strong smell. His shoes were duct taped together and he was hauling two black trash bags full of ??
He stood at the front of the train, waiting for his stop. The guy who was sitting next to me stood up and made his way to the front of the train and stood next to the homeless guy for a moment.
Then, he said, "Good morning," to him. When the man just looked at him, my new acquaintance said, "When is the last time you had something to eat? Can I buy you some breakfast?" The train slowed to a stop, and the man answered, "No, I am fine," and got off the train.
My acquaintance came back and sat down again. He said, "A few years back, I was without a home and stuck with addiction and just like that guy. Someone talked to me and asked me if I needed help. If they hadn't, I would still be in that life. So I reach out when I think I can help."
Wonder where we'd be if every time we could help, we did.
I am no great humanitarian or philanthropist.
I do things to help people if I can.
But I could never approach a person like that guy on a train and offer to buy them food.
I took the train from DC to Manhattan every week for work. I'd see this homeless man in winter trying to keep warm inside the train station at 5:30am. I saw his bare feet peeking from his shoes. One day I asked if I could buy him breakfast. He was so leary of me. He ordered coffee, I told him to get anything he wanted. He got just about everything, mumbled thank you and sat at a table far from me. On my way home I looked for him. I gave him socks. He took them and said thank you several times but could not look me in the eye. Never forgot this man.
ReplyDeleteDoing a kindness is never a waste. How many years ago was this? And you still remember... if he's still alive, he remembers too. I guarantee it.
DeleteA girl I worked with fed several homeless people on her way to work. She gave them food, sometimes money. When one of our co-workers scornfully told her, "Oh they're just going to drink the money, or snort it up their noses," my friend said that what mattered was her intention, and that once that money left her hands, she was not responsible for its use. "The only thing I'm responsible for is trying to help. Too bad not everyone wants to."
A friend of mine was going to a baseball game. There are always people holding up "need help" signs. One guy had a sign "need money for beer". My friend went over and gave him a few dollars.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess in that case it was true, 'he's just gonna drink up the money'.
DeleteHe had talent. I hope he has the support to help him. I was married to an addict. It's sad.
ReplyDeleteYour work friend is wise and good. I haven't had much opportunity to help people but I have been the animal helper. Oh, and yes, how could such an attack be provoked?
I just hope he can find some kind of peace and equilibrium. He was such a decent person. Now I know who you were in high school doesn't always match how you finish up, but I also think if you're strong enough to resist peer pressure and even though you're hugely popular in school still treat everyone around you with the same respect, you're made of strong stuff. Addiction is hard, and it's sad to see what happens to people. My mother in law was an alcoholic who died when she was only 43. She looked 65 at least.
DeleteI saw you'd adopted another cat... or should I say you were chosen by another one?
KATU often uses really odd wording in their headlines. It's nothing if not humorous, although a little dark on this one.
There are many ways we can help others, it doesn’t always involve giving money to people on the corner…not that I haven’t done it from time to time. Once I gave money to an older man in downtown Albuquerque. When I entered the coffee shop, I glanced back and he was gone. The person I was with mentioned he was probably going to go get drugs or wine. Maybe. But there’s no way to know, right? There’s an awful lot of need out there, some of it doesn’t include money! Kindness works too.
ReplyDeleteBeing kind is the only thing we can do to help. That takes a lot of forms. I wish I could give away millions. I would.
DeleteThat experience will be with that child for life.
ReplyDeleteI hope at 3 years old the kid won't remember. What a shitty thing to do.
DeleteHappy New Year! Here’s to a fabulous 2023!
ReplyDeleteTo you as well... hoping all surprises in 2023 are good ones. :)
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