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First and last chance
By Joe Renna
The cover story of Charlie Higgins donating his kidney to
his uncle, Billy, has had a profound effect on me. Charlie is
basically risking his own life to save that of his uncle's. It
is an ultimate act of unselfishness. What makes it more special
is that he must plan for almost a year to do it. This is not a
spontaneous act or reactionary response. At a time when it is
hard to find compassion in people, Charlie has restored my faith
in the nature of man being good.
It is one thing when people of need are deliberately not attended
to but recently there has been so many instances where the suffering
is deliberately caused. It has gotten to a point where I questioned
if it is possible to remedy societal ills at all.
The article on page 7, which brings to light the plight of
homeless children, questions the effectiveness of the system that
is in place to help them. One of the primary roles of government
is to correct inefficiencies in society that strip some people
of their basic human needs. It is heart breaking to think that
those given the power to do so actually do the opposite.
What we are dealing with is a case of the "haves and have
nots". On a personal level Billy Higgins was blessed with
having his nephew in his life. In contrast, Padro Neves is not
as fortunate. It leads to thinking of those, like the Arroyo family,
who have nothing and no one.
I've gained so much appreciation for growing up in Peterstown
because, even though the community was not affluent, it was rich
in humanity. The compassion and love that was shared by neighbors
overcame adverse circumstances. The greatest thing one could have
is the simplest to supply - some one to call.
Last year, on Mothers Day, Edward Sinclair Jr., 17 years old,
hung himself while in custody in the Union County Juvenile Detention
Center. He was convicted of stealing a bike. For years, the state
has cited the county for neglect and mismanagement of the center.
Still the county is has not made it an initiative.
Edward was a "Have Not". He had no one to call for
help. He suffered excessively for his crime. I look at the people
I meet each day through work and socializing and think how no
one I know runs the risk of ever having their child locked up.
They all have means to avoid it. They all have some one to call.
About the same time Edward was going through his ordeal, the
son of one the county freeholders was involved in a hit and run
accident. He was young, probably panicked and left the scene.
A stupid thing to do? Sure. Dumber than stealing a bike? You decide.
The fact of the matter was that a few phone calls were made and
the young driver was retrieved back to the scene and a very serious
lesson was learned.
This kid probably would never do something as irresponsible again as long as he lives. One could argue that justice was served. Whatever reparations had to be made, his daddy must have taken care of them. He was given a second chance. The "Have Nots" don't even get a first chance.
Not for Nothing But...
the "Haves" are more concerned about keeping what they
have than the "Have Nots" are about gaining it.