Happy Father's Day

I was watching a programme called Would You Save a Stranger? Many of us like to think that we would, but would you really? I can honestly say "Absolutely." I stick up for people all the time, I speak up when people cut in line, when people give me dirty looks, I ask if people are ok when they are passed out on the street and have even asked a woman who was crying if she was ok...heck even when a prostitute was being beaten outside my house, I called the police. There are many situations I have been in where I probably shouldn't have said anything, but have. Bradford is one of those places where being mugged and stabbed is an occurrence that one might be faced with, and I have definitely had my share of chaves yelling things at me while I walked home (and let me tell you, they didn't get away with it...an instance I have been told I should have let go).

What I found so interesting about this programme was 2 instances that involved people on a crowded bus witnessing abusive behaviour. The people on the bus did nothing. For me, confronting bullies on a crowded bus is a no brainer. There is mob mentality being observed here. No one is doing anything because the people who want to do something, aren't...as soon as you get that one person to stand up and shout "stop," everyone else who wanted to do something will stand up. The most appalling thing about these bus instances was that they involved pre-teens being beaten and harassed by a large group of older teens. Now, if kids are involved, I definitely feel obligated to do something, I don't care how many there are (as long as there are people to back me up).

In another example on the show, a guy tried to wrestle a robber with a gun at a quicky-mart and was almost stabbed to death. In this particular scenario, I did not agree with the man's actions because the girls who were in charge would have opened the safe, or if they didn't have keys, would still give the men the money from the register...I just thought that the risk involved did not warrant a "hero's" response. This seemed to be more about a man feeling it was his duty to protect the women in the store...good for you man, but unnecessary.

I am not saying that if you are in trouble, call me, because when I really reflect on any given situation, there have to be other people present for me to get involved (I am a small girl after all) and if there is a visible weapon, then I am pretty sure I am not going to be a hero...however to call the police post-haste is a given and providing help after the threat has passed, you bet.

I was thinking, why am I like this? The stories where people did nothing made me so angry and tear up even (please don't blame the hormones). My epiphany about my decision came when I tried to picture what my dad would do. Can I see my dad turning a blind eye to someone who was in trouble? The answer is NO, not by a long shot. There is not one scenario I could run through my mind where I could picture my dad turning away and pretending he didn't see anything...and to me I think that is an interesting in site to how I portray my dad and what he means to me.

So thanks Dad...even though you didn't know it, I do look up to you and you have passed down admirable personality traits that I find heroic. There is something there that I know in my mind that you will always be there no matter the risk...Respect (sorry, it was getting too mushy).