Mankind

I'm sitting in Starbucks as trying to think of some inspiration on what to write about. I don't always have a topic to write about but somehow a random thought sparks and I run with it. As I'm sitting here with my laptop drinking my coffee and eating an unhealthy pastry, I see a man just outside the window directly in front of me. He's frail and tired, he is weathered wearing torn up clothing and It's as if he couldn't take one more step before slouching over the trashcan. After a couple minutes of him spitting up, I ran out with a glass of water and offered to purchase him some food. He refused.

I walked back into Starbucks and witnessed dozens of people walk right by him looking with a mix of concern with even more disgust. Not one person had enough decency to ask if they could help or how he was doing. Really? This deeply saddens me. Do we feel we are above those who suffer with addiction or homelessness? It's not like the first time they took that first sip of alcohol, snorted cocaine or shot up heroine they thought to themselves, "this is going to ruin my life, I'm most likely going to end up homeless, eventually lose touch with all my family and when I decide I'm done with this lifestyle I will be so far gone with this addiction that I will deal with such severe withdrawals that I will most likely die of a grand Mal seizure." I'm surely not a saint, and most certainly I have passed those in need for fear and ignorance. All I ask is that we as a community of loving people start to look at those with mental illness, physical limitations and addictions in a different light. They are people just as we are they have just been dealt a different set of cards in life. They have feelings, they are suffering and they need love just as all humans need.

"There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot prevent droughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help."
Jan Schakowsky

Such an awesome picture!