People can sometimes be confusing. I say this because the memory of an experience is still imprinted in my mind. This happened on an extremely snowy, freezing winter day. A group of us decided (don't ask me why) that this day would be perfect to go gambling in Atlantic City--- way over in New Jersey. Now the way many casinos in Atlantic City get people to go there, is by offering what we call "packages". This consists of a local bodega, retail newspaper kiosk, or some other small business, selling you, for about 25 to 50 dollars, a trip to the particular casino--which includes: round-trip bus ride, and a voucher to play for "free" at the casino jackpots, roulette or whatever.
So we decided to walk to the neighborhood newspaper kiosk to buy the tickets to go. Now by this time-- the snow was really piling up, and the wind was so cold it sliced through your clothes. As we approached the kiosk, we noticed this poor homeless man, sitting in this little nook by a doorway, bundled up in his rags, shivering and under his thin blanket he had his dog. When -- just as we reach the kiosk, this well-dressed woman, dressed in a heavy coat, boots, hat, gloves, etc., comes upon the homeless man--and begins insulting this poor guy in a really loud voice---Shame, shame on you! How can you do this to that poor dog! You are a terrible, horrid man! I will call the animal protection league on you, you are abusing that poor dog!
Now, we just stood there--speechless....here was a fellow human being...whose dog was probably the only thing he had to comfort him in his misery---being told by this heartless witch, that his only consolation should be taken away from him. The thought occurred to me--what about the man, lady don't you give a damn about the man? He is suffering too, he is cold and freezing also--not just the dog...where is your heart?! We couldn't stand it, and told the woman to back off...to show some humanity--and gave the man the hot coffee and sandwiches we had bought for ourselves--and some money.
This left me wondering about the priorities some people have--between helping out one of their own, they would rather help another species--and not see anything wrong about it.
