EDITOR:
I am once again amazed at the lack of empathy for the downtrodden by so many in our community who have so much.
We have warm homes, food in the cupboard, jammies, blankets, warm showers and medicine for those that are sick in our household, yet we are so concerned about “our stuff” that we cannot see the unthinkable circumstances of a homeless person’s life.
The homeless regularly make their way through our old neighborhood on their way to the park and they have never stolen anything on their way through. Most of them never even make eye contact because they’re used to unkind faces. What great fear is there for children that might see a homeless shelter functioning? Maybe the fear is that the children might see the reality of the situation and develop a compassion for their fellow man that Mom and Dad are not comfortable with. Maybe the greatest fear is that if you have to pass a homeless person regularly, you might begin to look them in the eye, you might begin to realize they are just another human being, that if life dealt a different set of cards this could be you.
Then, if your conscience was in full swing, you might have to find out what you could do to help that man or woman get a productive life. It’s difficult to think about the problems and immediate needs of a stranger, a neighbor, anyone outside of our circle of friends and family. We are all so busy now days and our problems are all consuming. It requires something big, and that is learning to listen to that small voice inside of you that whispers you should care.
Maybe if we could learn to think outside of our needs and reflect on someone else’s, Gilroy could become known as the Kindness Capital as well as the Garlic Capital.
Miriam Williams, Gilroy
Submitted Friday, April 26 to [email protected]
