I found this link to an article about a man who died on a street when he was trying to help a woman who was being attacked. He saw this woman and a man fighting and it began to get physical so this guy stepped in to help her but he ended up getting stabbed and was then laying on the side of the sidewalk. It was reported that 7 people walked by before an ambulance actually came and an hour or two had already passed and so it was too late.
I thought this was just awful because people could have had the opportunity to help but they didn't and so they basically killed him. I understand that seeing someone stabbed may be shocking but I wouldn't just leave him and walk by.
This made me think of how people judge others and how they don't always think of how they can help. Some people are too nervous to take a stand and others are too selfish to help anyone but themselves. To connect to this to history, it can sort of tie to people being to afraid to help someone who is in a different situation. In history, there have been many instances where people are not being treated fairly but the people who are treated fairly don't have the guts to stick up for the other side because they are worried that will hurt them and make them be treated unfairly. In this case, the guy was stabbed and bloody on a street and people may have been frightened that they might be killed if they helped or that the blood would get on them and cause a disease or infection. I think that someone should have helped earlier on by at least calling 911 or getting someone else to help if they couldn't. Personally, I would feel awful if I found out I could have saved someone's life but instead I chose not to be late for work or something.
Article URL:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_dying_and_ignored
Megan, this was a very thoughtful discussion of the article you read. I had also heard of this incident in the news and like you was both disgusted and saddened. I completely agree with the argument you stated, that a vast majority of society is either to insecure or lacks the confidence needed in order to stand up for what is right. Voicing one's opinion is a difficult task, and in this case was completely vital, and yet not followed through on. Do you think there are any specific examples in terms of events in today's society where one has not spoken up and the result has been fatal? I feel as though in terms of historical events, the Holocaust is a pretty straight forward example of that, however I was wondering what your thoughts were on present day issues of that nature. Again, very much enjoyed reading your blog post.
ReplyDeleteAlexandra, you can't exactly protest against Hitler and get away with it. He silenced all internal dissent within the German police state. Even if people had spoken out, there would have to be a way for them to organize against a massive, overbearing government that watched their every move. Not so easy.
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