People suck...but sometimes they surprise you
Let me predicate this post by saying I am a fan of 'personal responsibility' to the utmost. I believe that your lot in life is dictated (for the most part) on the choices you make. However, I witnessed something on Saturday that has me rethinking my view on society's role in assisting the downtrodden and 'less fortunate' amongst our midst.
I was making a run to the local Fred Meyer store to pick up some light bulbs and a lamp fineal for the living room. I was turning left off Aurora Avenue into the parking lot and while waiting for traffic to clear I spotted an obviously homeless man on the opposite side of the street. What caught my eye was that his ass was hanging completely out for all the world to see, and he looked like he was praying to a Chrysler LeBaron that was out for sale in the Fred Meyer parking lot. At first I shook my head and said to myself 'Jeez, what a wierdo'. Then, while still waiting to turn left, I realized this guy was trying to get up and couldn't. It was raining like hell, was about 45 degrees, and the wind was whipping badly.
Upon finding a chance to turn left into the parking lot, I whipped around and parked next to the LeBaron to watch him. After a few seconds, I realized he was in need of help, and that it was beyond me to be of assistance. I dialed 911 and described the situation to the dispatcher. I told her I would stay with him until aid arrived. Within seconds of hanging up, the siren of an aid unit could be heard approaching rapidly. The homeless man heard them too and tried even harder to get up, but to no avail. At this point I knew I had done the right thing.
The ambulance pulled up on him and two medics (a middle aged man & a young woman) hopped out. The man approached him. I overheard part of their conversation.
Medic Man: " How are you doing my friend?"
Transient: "I had some methadone this morning,...and my legs just gave out on me."
Medic Woman: "You want to go someplace? Where's home?"
T: "No, No, I just need to get up." (Or something like that..I could barely hear him over the drone of traffic and the whipping of the wind). He was obviously trying to maintain his independence to the last.
MW: "At least let's get you into the back of the van here so you're someplace warm and dry."
The homeless man seemed to acknowledge this need and surrendered himself to their care.
At this point, I knew that he was going to be okay without me. The medics hadn't noticed me sitting in my truck yet, so I said "Thanks guys!" loud enough to get their attention. The guy medic heard me, was a bit surprised, and turned my way. Realizing quickly that I was the one who called in, he said "Thank YOU."
This struck me.
It was so sincere, so filled with gratitude, so appreciative.
...It was the last thing I expected.
I had pulled this poor EMT out of his warm and dry station on this severely crappy, rainy, cold Saturday and had led him to be crouched over a smelly, destitute man on the side of a major highway---and he was thanking me with all the sincerety of someone you had just helped out.
I pulled away and drove to a parking spot as close to the entrance to Fred Meyer as I could. When I stopped, I started to cry. Exactly why I'm still wrestling with, but I think it has to do with how that Medic responded to me. I'm sure this man has seen hundreds, if not thousands, of inebriated individuals over the span of his career, and many have been less than appreciative no doubt. You would expect callous, clinical responses in most cases. But this guy obviously loved his career choice to help people.
Did I feel bad for the homeless guy? Yes and no. Yes that he was in such a sad predicament where his need for drugs placed his life in jeopardy. But no that he had decided to get involved with drugs in the first place.
"Did society fail him? Did the education system fail him? How could I prevent this from happening to someone else again in the future? What led him here in the first place?" I found myself asking these questions while I sat in my truck, drying my eyes.
I know a popular culture that doesn't show the consequence of drug abuse can make those impressionable fools we call teenagers more prone to 'experimentation'. Popular culture that glorifies drug abuse assures there will be some casualties to drug addiction. So what to do? I don't know right now, but I need to do something.
The man on the side of Aurora with his ass hanging out had an unintended effect, and I can't turn away from it any longer.
I was making a run to the local Fred Meyer store to pick up some light bulbs and a lamp fineal for the living room. I was turning left off Aurora Avenue into the parking lot and while waiting for traffic to clear I spotted an obviously homeless man on the opposite side of the street. What caught my eye was that his ass was hanging completely out for all the world to see, and he looked like he was praying to a Chrysler LeBaron that was out for sale in the Fred Meyer parking lot. At first I shook my head and said to myself 'Jeez, what a wierdo'. Then, while still waiting to turn left, I realized this guy was trying to get up and couldn't. It was raining like hell, was about 45 degrees, and the wind was whipping badly.
Upon finding a chance to turn left into the parking lot, I whipped around and parked next to the LeBaron to watch him. After a few seconds, I realized he was in need of help, and that it was beyond me to be of assistance. I dialed 911 and described the situation to the dispatcher. I told her I would stay with him until aid arrived. Within seconds of hanging up, the siren of an aid unit could be heard approaching rapidly. The homeless man heard them too and tried even harder to get up, but to no avail. At this point I knew I had done the right thing.
The ambulance pulled up on him and two medics (a middle aged man & a young woman) hopped out. The man approached him. I overheard part of their conversation.
Medic Man: " How are you doing my friend?"
Transient: "I had some methadone this morning,...and my legs just gave out on me."
Medic Woman: "You want to go someplace? Where's home?"
T: "No, No, I just need to get up." (Or something like that..I could barely hear him over the drone of traffic and the whipping of the wind). He was obviously trying to maintain his independence to the last.
MW: "At least let's get you into the back of the van here so you're someplace warm and dry."
The homeless man seemed to acknowledge this need and surrendered himself to their care.
At this point, I knew that he was going to be okay without me. The medics hadn't noticed me sitting in my truck yet, so I said "Thanks guys!" loud enough to get their attention. The guy medic heard me, was a bit surprised, and turned my way. Realizing quickly that I was the one who called in, he said "Thank YOU."
This struck me.
It was so sincere, so filled with gratitude, so appreciative.
...It was the last thing I expected.
I had pulled this poor EMT out of his warm and dry station on this severely crappy, rainy, cold Saturday and had led him to be crouched over a smelly, destitute man on the side of a major highway---and he was thanking me with all the sincerety of someone you had just helped out.
I pulled away and drove to a parking spot as close to the entrance to Fred Meyer as I could. When I stopped, I started to cry. Exactly why I'm still wrestling with, but I think it has to do with how that Medic responded to me. I'm sure this man has seen hundreds, if not thousands, of inebriated individuals over the span of his career, and many have been less than appreciative no doubt. You would expect callous, clinical responses in most cases. But this guy obviously loved his career choice to help people.
Did I feel bad for the homeless guy? Yes and no. Yes that he was in such a sad predicament where his need for drugs placed his life in jeopardy. But no that he had decided to get involved with drugs in the first place.
"Did society fail him? Did the education system fail him? How could I prevent this from happening to someone else again in the future? What led him here in the first place?" I found myself asking these questions while I sat in my truck, drying my eyes.
I know a popular culture that doesn't show the consequence of drug abuse can make those impressionable fools we call teenagers more prone to 'experimentation'. Popular culture that glorifies drug abuse assures there will be some casualties to drug addiction. So what to do? I don't know right now, but I need to do something.
The man on the side of Aurora with his ass hanging out had an unintended effect, and I can't turn away from it any longer.
posted by oldman71 at 08:44
1 Comments:
it's the little things that area always the most important.
one of the perks of living downtown is having a lot of homeless people around...sometimes they're annoying, sometimes i want to yell at them and tell them that whatever is in my pocket is mine, and that my cigarette is MINE and i paid for them..blah blah blah blah
most of the time i give them what i can. i wholeheartedly believe in accountability and dealing with the consequences of your choices....but it's not like anything you described in your post is singular to our society. europe and asia are the same.
everyhwere is the same.
it's just how it's always been, and will be.
sometimes it's nice to help...
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