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Someone Ought to……..Written By Al Jones
We’ve all heard it. Maybe we’ve even mouthed the words ourselves. “Someone ought to do something.” We voice these words when we see an injustice, an inequality, or someone hurting. We hear of a senior freezing to death in their sleep on a cold city street… “Someone ought to do something.” We hear of children going hungry… “Someone ought to do something.” We hear of the abusive or violent home life of another and shake our heads… “Someone ought to do something.” We all agree that, “Someone ought to do something,” but many of us don’t. Perhaps, because our lives are so busy, those situations are easily dismissed. Maybe it’s a reluctance to get involved in this day and age. For many of us, we may not even know what to do, and sit helplessly watching from the sidelines. I had the opportunity of meeting a gentleman a while back, which made me believe in the possibility of people with a higher calling, existing here on Earth. He was introduced to me, through a Scoop reader, who is convinced that this may be what most of us might consider, an angel among us.He goes by the strange name of “Someone.” I’m sure that’s not his real name, but that was the name he introduced himself as. To see him, you would not be impressed. I’m sure his clothing had not seen a washing machine in many weeks. A loggers cap covered most of his head, but could not hide the long, unkept weave of hair sticking out around it. A matted beard covered the majority of a weather-worn face and his eyes appeared to be recessed, giving him a hollow look. For our meeting, I was taken to a corner near the Calgary Tower, just off of Stephen’s Avenue Mall in Calgary. As we approached him, I could plainly see that he was panhandling. I remember saying to my companion, “If I smell booze on his breath, I’m outta here. The public is well aware of the hardships of the homeless, but I came to cover inspiration. What’s so
For the Week of:
March 19 - March 25, 2009
ISSUE #385Weekly
CommunityMagazine
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Page 2
inspirational about a bum, begging for money?” My companion smiled, “Forget the first impressions Al. Watch what he does from here.”I talked with him as we followed him to a nearby alley. He walked with a clumsy limp, but it didn’t appear to slow him down. In the alley, he grabbed a shopping cart and continued walking. “Wouldn’t it be easier to get a job?” I asked. “Can’t….I got commitments,” he replied. I remember thinking to myself, “What commitments could a jobless bum possibly have?” He pulled his cart in front of a little convenience store. “Come on…you can give me a hand,” he ordered. We followed him into the store and made our way to the back. But we didn’t stop at the back of the store….we continued into a tiny stockroom with an old refrigerator. He opened up the refrigerator and started grabbing wrapped sandwiches. He loaded up our arms as well as grabbing an armload himself. We then followed him to the front of the store where the cash register was. We counted out the sandwiches….forty seven in total. The man behind the counter said, “That’ll be forty-seven bucks.” The bum dumped out a bunch of change from his day’s worth of panhandling. “I’m short about three bucks….help a brother out?” he asked. I dug into my pocket and pulled out a fiver. By now, I’m baffled. There is no way this guy can possibly eat forty seven sandwiches. We dump the sandwiches into his cart and follow him as he continues walking. Every once in a while, he would stop to chat with another panhandler, then reach into the cart and hand them a sandwich. He continued to do this throughout the downtown core, until there were only three sandwiches left. “We’re done…these three are my supper tonight, and breakfast and lunch tomorrow,” he explained as he abandoned the now empty cart in another alley.Turns out, he’s been doing this for a few years. He had made an arrange-ment with the convenience store to buy their day-old sandwiches at a buck a piece. The convenience store owner was more than willing, as they probably would have had to garbage them otherwise. I asked him why he didn’t let them buy their own food from the money they panhandled for. “Because most of them won’t buy food. They spend it on liquor, drugs or whatever else gets them through. No matter how hungry they might be, food isn’t their priority,” he replied. “But there are agencies and shelters to deal with these people. Shouldn’t they be the ones to take care of them?” I asked. “You’d think so. But I waited and watched for months, thinking to myself that someone ought to do something. Then one day, a little voice in me said, ‘Why not me?’” I found myself struggling for words. I was, to say the very least, humbled by this man’s commitment and generosity towards his fellow man. I was in awe of a man that had so little to give, but gave more than most of us would ever dream of. I’m not talking about the giving of money. For most of us, we’re familiar with charitable donations. I’m talking about the giving of one’s self. The willingness to sacrifice without expectations of reward. The willingness to give up our own comforts for the well being of another. I can only hope that there are many more like him, that I will never meet. Because there are probably many more people that “Someone” ought to look after. And if “Someone” isn’t there to help….then who?
(continued from page 1)
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Virtue of the Week
UnityUnity helps us work and live together peacefully.
We feel connected with each other and all living things. We value the specialness of each person as a gift, not as a reason to fight or be scared. With unity we
accomplish more together than any of us could alone.
You are practicing unity when you…• Treatallpeopleasmembersofonehumanfamily• Seethegiftsindifferences• Refusetojoininwhenothersexpressprejudice• Solveconflictsthroughlisteningandfindingsolutions• Carefortheearthandalllivingthings• Actlikeapeacemakerwhereveryougo
AffirmationIpracticeunitywithothers.Thejoyofoneisthejoyofall.
Thehurtofoneisthehurtofall.Thehonourofoneisthehonourofall.
© 2002 Virtues Project International Inc.www.virtuesproject.com
“One touch of
nature makes
the whole
world kin.”
- William
Shakespeare,
Hamlet
“Of a truth, men are mystically united; a mysterious bond of brotherhood
makes all men one.”- Thomas Carlyle
“When we learn to come
together, we are whole.”
Anne Cameron
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* Valid only at BMO Bank of Montreal, Airdrie Branch, 750 Main Street, Airdrie, Alberta, T4B 3M1. Draw will be made in the Branch on Monday April 13, 2009. The approximate retail value of the prizes are: (1) 40” Sony HD LCD TV $1299.99, (1) Sony Home theatre 1000w 5.1 system -$499.99, (2) Panasonic 2 handset cordless phone sets -$49.99 each, (3) Ipod shuffle mp3 players $70.99 each, (4) Sony under counter CD/Radio units -$84.99 each, (4) Sony GPS Navigation units -$249.99 each, (5) Sony 7.2 mega pixel digital camera with Epson multi function printer pkg -$189.99 each. Prizes are non transferable, and must be accepted as awarded and are not convertible to cash. The chances of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is open to Canadian residents who have attained the applicable age of majority. This contest is not open to residents of Quebec. Contest closes Saturday April 11, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. To qualify you must visit the Airdrie Branch and ask for a copy of the “Better Banking Guide” brochure from the branch staff. No purchase necessary. For no purchase entry, mail a request to enter to the Airdrie Branch at the address above, attention Branch Manager. Before being declared a winner, the selected entrant must correctly answer a time-limited mathematical skill testing question. Visit the branch for full contest rules. Limit of one entry per person, regardless of the method of entry. TM/® Trade-marks/registered trade-marks of Bank of Montreal.
Opening Soon!
When you visit us between March 28 and April 11, 2009 and ask for a copy of the Better Banking Guide brochure, you will receive a ballot for a chance to win 1 of 20 great prizes!
Prizes include:
One 40” Sony HD LCD TV 1000w 5.
7printer package
New Airdrie Branch: 750 Main Street, Airdrie
March 28, 2009Enter for your chance to win*!
BM 6733Airdrie Branch AdBMO Bank of Montreal
Docket #: Description of Ad:
Client: C M Y K
FILE COLOURS:
Contact: John Knapp eMail: [email protected] Phone: 416.488.1033 x35
7.8” x 10.2”AD Size: Here’s The Scoop
March 19, March 26
Newspaper:
Insertions:
Page 6
Basic Training
When I was a recruit in Army basic training, one requirement was a demanding 12-mile march. We got started at 6:00 AM and were pumped up for the trek.An hour later, feeling the heavy load of our packs, we wondered if the end would ever come. “Men,” our sergeant yelled, “you’re doing a fine job. We’ve already covered four miles!”Revitalized, we picked up the pace. “And,” continued Sarge, “we should reach the starting point any minute now.”
Gambling
When I go to casinos, the most ridiculous sign I see is the one that says: “If you have a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.”I thought about it for a moment and dialed the number. When they answered I said, “I have an ace and a six. The dealer has a seven. What do I do?”
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I am certain that after the dust of centuries has
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not for our victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.
- John F. Kennedy
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Dating Again
After four years of separation, my wife and I finally divorced amicably. I wanted to date again, but I had no idea of how to start, so I decided to look in the personals column of the local newspaper. After reading through all the listings, I circled three that seemed possible in terms of age and interest, but I put off calling them.
Two days later, there was a message on my answering machine from my ex-wife. “I came over to your house to borrow some tools today and saw the ads you circled in the paper. Don’t call the one in the second column. It’s me.”
Time is a wealth of change, but the clock in its parody makes it mere change and no wealth. - Rabindranath
Tagore
There’s only one way to have a
happy marriage and as soon as I learn what it
is, I’ll get married again.
- Clint Eastwood
Here’s the Scoop and one of our advertisers each week are going to
“stick it” to one lucky reader.As of March 5th, we are putting a lucky sticker on one of our Scoops that we send out for delivery. If you have the Lucky
Scoop, all you have to do is call the participating business where you found the sticker and make arrangements
to claim your prize. It’s as easy as reading the paper!
Your West Side Service Centre
Automotive Service / MaintenanceNew Car Warranty Manager
403 948 1825
108 - 1st Street N. Airdrie, Alberta Canada T4B [email protected]