Freedom sometimes means...Free to Die.
This morning, while driving to the food pantry to bring food back for my neighbors, I saw an extremely sad sight.
A man sat on the cold cement of the median strip in the middle of the road...(usually a prime begging location)...and it was about 34* outside. I KNEW how cold that cement was. His head had sunk forward on his chest, and I could see his backpack behind him. He appeared to be ill...probably hypothermia.
I fought with myself a bit. My do-gooder instincts are very difficult to fight off, though...so I ended up calling the police to see if they might be able to help the poor guy.
I was transferred to the Kingston police, where the lady who answered the phone said yes, that guy is homeless and he ALWAYS sits there. (First time I have seen him). When I asked if they could help him, or even bring him a hot drink, she said, "He doesn't WANT any help. We've tried to help him MANY times, and he always says NO."
Which brings me round to the NEXT thought I had...which is...WHY can't we help the mentally ill? They are mentally ill, so of course they are going to say they don't want any help.
And that brought me back around to civil rights...and the right to live FREE. Or die.
A man sat on the cold cement of the median strip in the middle of the road...(usually a prime begging location)...and it was about 34* outside. I KNEW how cold that cement was. His head had sunk forward on his chest, and I could see his backpack behind him. He appeared to be ill...probably hypothermia.
I fought with myself a bit. My do-gooder instincts are very difficult to fight off, though...so I ended up calling the police to see if they might be able to help the poor guy.
I was transferred to the Kingston police, where the lady who answered the phone said yes, that guy is homeless and he ALWAYS sits there. (First time I have seen him). When I asked if they could help him, or even bring him a hot drink, she said, "He doesn't WANT any help. We've tried to help him MANY times, and he always says NO."
Which brings me round to the NEXT thought I had...which is...WHY can't we help the mentally ill? They are mentally ill, so of course they are going to say they don't want any help.
And that brought me back around to civil rights...and the right to live FREE. Or die.
