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Would you help an 80-year-old blind neighbor evacuate?

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Skwmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:51 AM
Original message
Would you help an 80-year-old blind neighbor evacuate?
Edited on Wed Aug-31-05 07:08 AM by Skwmom
There was a Sidell (spelling?) policeman just on CNN voicing frustration over people not leaving as they were urged to do. He cited as an example, his 80-year-old blind neighbor. I understand he's a policeman and had his hands full but couldn't he have asked his wife to check on the 80-year-old blind neighbor to make sure he had a way out of town?

What in the heck is wrong with people? Are we that self-absorbed?

On edit: As someone pointed out, maybe his wife did try to get the neighbor to leave. If she did, kudos to her. I'm just noticing A LOT of people were left behind. It seems like if we really cared about our neighbors that this would not be the case.

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ET Awful Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:53 AM
Response to Original message
1. Of course I would, anyone that is actually human would if they could.
I just keep flashing on the image I saw last night of the water lapping at a street sign for . . . Humanity St.
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Maraya1969 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:54 AM
Response to Original message
2. Again people assuming the ones that didn't leave stayed because
of stubbornness. Not the truth for most I'd say.
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crispini Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:54 AM
Response to Original message
3. The man may not have wanted to evacuate.
His wife may very well have asked and been refused. You don't know the whole story. I am just amazed by all of these DU'ers on here who are so ready to condemn everyone they see on TV and second guess what everyone is doing from the comfort of their living rooms.
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Skwmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:59 AM
Response to Reply #3
9. Well "we urged people to leave", it's not our fault but theirs seems
Edited on Wed Aug-31-05 06:59 AM by Skwmom
to be the excuse of the day. Hopefully, the wife did ask the neighbor but the way the policeman came across in the interview was not encouraging.
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crispini Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 07:01 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. You still don't know the whole story.
People in that part in the world generally DO take care of each other. I know. I have family in Slidell.
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Skwmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 07:03 AM
Response to Reply #10
11. I added to my original post.
Edited on Wed Aug-31-05 07:03 AM by Skwmom
I don't know about Slidell. I'm still stunned by the number of people that were left behind.
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crispini Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 07:09 AM
Response to Reply #11
12. thanks for your note
but, again, is it "left behind" if people want to stay?
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Skwmom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 07:17 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. I realize some people wanted to stay but there seems to be MANY
who did not have the financial means or the physical ability to leave.
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tooncesj0nes Donating Member (129 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 08:12 AM
Response to Reply #13
14. those looters carrying their goodys seemed...
...like they would have been physically able to leave....
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demnan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:55 AM
Response to Original message
4. Seems to be a real lack of charity and human kindness
in the world. It is possible that he asked and the old man refused to go, though. Older people (especially if blind) hate to leave a familiar area where they know they can get around, for an unfamiliar one where they may not get adequate help.
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NMDemDist2 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:55 AM
Response to Original message
5. his wife has evacuated n/t
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flakey_foont Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:56 AM
Response to Original message
6. most definitely
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:56 AM
Response to Original message
7. And an 80 year old blind man can just pick up and walk out the door
because he is not frightened in the least. I mean everyone knows that losing one of your senses doesn't play into panic and fear. /sarcasm

I am really frightened at how compartmentalized we appear to be getting.
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rasputin1952 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 06:57 AM
Response to Original message
8. Far too many people are that self absorbed, and it is shameful that...
Edited on Wed Aug-31-05 07:01 AM by rasputin1952
we have become a society of people not willing to aid others in need; (at least that is the way the news portrays the citizenry).

While the majority of citizens would help others that have come across hard time, when a natural disaster threatens or occurs, the #'s of those willing to aid in some way skyrockets. Unfortunately, the grimmer stories dominate the news because that is where the $ is through ratings. Face it, people are negative in so many ways, they can only see disaster around every corner....:(
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lonestarnot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 08:15 AM
Response to Original message
15. At first glance, I thought I may have to leave one behind, is a repuke,
then I thought better of it and decided I would help, but put him on a long rope, so I couldn't hear him. LOL
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watercolors Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 08:26 AM
Response to Original message
16. Those were my thoughts also
It looks like so many lest behind were elderly, sick , pregnant or did not have means to leave. It is hard to fault anyone under such dire circumstances, but looking out for an elderly neighbor would have been tops on my list. My heart is breaking with all that is happening, sleep is difficult as I worry about all the people who need help. All we can do is help financially now and maybe in the near future a time will come when we can help hands on in some way.When that time comes most of us will step up to the plate and be there to help in some way.We are a great nation when it is required of us to help our fellow people, or the families of the world, we are there!
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Sgent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-31-05 08:38 AM
Response to Original message
17. My dad has neigbors of his
who didn't evacuate.

Mid 40's, decent physical health, 250k+ annual income, auto's, etc.

Quote "We haven't been hit ever, we are not going to leave our stuff".

I'm sorry, but people like these were selfish, and are now contributing to the problem. Its hard to work up a lot of sympathy for them being miserable for a few days if they survive.

Of course, they have suffered like us all, and will be devastated, but they put the rescuers in direct harms way for no reason but stubbornness.
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