Being a Good Samaritan
What ever happened to being a Good Samaritan? Last week in New York, Hugo Tale-Yax, a homeless Guatemalan immigrant, was stabbed repeatedly in the chest while saving a woman from a knife-wielding attacker. Then he fell to the sidewalk, bleeding to death as dozens of people walked past. While some turned their heads to catch a glimpse, others actually stopped to gawk and talk. One guy stopped, rolled Tale-Yax onto his side, saw the puddle of blood, and then kept walking. Another person actually took a photo before moving on!
“HOW CAN PEOPLE WALK BY A DYING PERSON AND NOT HELP?” outraged citizens ask in utter disbelief. “WHAT’S THE WORLD COMING TO?” dismayed talking TV heads ask… acting as if this were something new.
According to social psychologists, Mr. Tale-Yax was the victim of a psychological phenomenon called “the bystander effect.” I first learned about this in a college sociology class. Back then it was called the “Genovese syndrome” named after the infamous 1964 rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens. Dozens of people witnessed her attack and heard her screams but did nothing to stop it… let alone report it.
It seems the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that any one of them will help a person in need. Research shows that individual bystanders monitor fellow bystanders to try and determine if it’s necessary to intervene. When no one takes action, they all conclude their help isn’t needed. Some individuals assume that another bystander will intervene… and as a result, no one intervenes. Many individuals assume that another bystander is more qualified, so they don’t bother getting involved. Certain bystanders are concerned about “losing face” in the eyes of the others… while some fear legal consequences should they offer their assistance.
For whatever the reasons, I still find myself asking, “Whatever happened to being a Good Samaritan?” For those unfamiliar, “The Good Samaritan” is a parable Jesus shared with his disciples. In this parable, a Jewish traveler is beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the roadside. First a priest passes by and then a Levite… neither stops to help. Finally, a Samaritan comes to his rescue. What’s significant about this parable is not only that the Samaritan stopped to help, but that Samaritans and Jews despised each other.
While the bystander effect is evident during life-threatening emergencies, it can be seen on a regular daily basis, too. Think about your workplace, the organizations you belong to and your social circles. Do you buy into peer pressure or stand up for what’s right? Many people believe it’s best to not cause waves… to just go along with the crowd. They prefer to follow the status quo regardless of how it affects others—especially those outside the group. Unfortunately, it’s this kind of thinking that leads to tragic, dangerous and destructive results. Just reflect on history for a moment… you don’t need to look far.
So, whatever happened to being a Good Samaritan? Nothing. Good Samaritans are still around today… there’s just not many of them. I doubt there ever was. Why? Because Good Samaritans think independently, act responsibly and stand up for what’s right, regardless of the consequences or how they’re judged by society. They aren’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers or go against the grain—especially when someone’s in need. Mostly, Good Samaritans listen to their hearts, they put themselves in others’ shoes, and then courageously take action. Ask yourself this question: “Am I a ‘Good Samaritan’ or a bystander?” Like Mr. Tale-Yax, your actions will reveal the answer. He was a Good Samaritan… unfortunately he was the only one in the crowd that day.
Please share your thoughts on this subject… or any Good Samaritan examples.
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5 Responses to “Being a Good Samaritan”
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Hey Mike,
This was good. Thank you for sharing with all your fb friends. I so enjoy reading all of your material you post on fb. I have never come across anyone who is in desperate help on the street or in public, other than homeless people, which my heart breaks for them. I know many people have experienced violence and other human beings attaching each other.. I cannot imagine turning away from a person in need.
Just the other day, down here in Flordia, I was standing in the Post Office LIne. They are always long and you need to plan ahead for waiting at least 30 minutes each time you go. I love people watching and their are lots of very old people down here. I was observing a very elderly man, who was very hunched over, thinking to myself, that poor little guy, he’s so cute, I wonder if that could be me a few years down the road. He started to come towards me, I smiled at him. He was struggling with a roll of tape. You know, that tape that you need to seal your package with. It just get so stuck and it’s so frustruating to deal with. It’s practically useless. I smiled again and said ” oh, can I help you with that? ( I hate that kind of tape). He said ” sure”. It litterally took me 20 minutes to get the tape unstuck so we could seal his package. His smile and his spirit were beautiful, and so appreciative for me helping him with a simple role of tape. He was sending an oil painting he had painted to his daugher up north. A scene of the beach.
Of course we were visiting with each other as we were trying to unravel this awful tape. Ends up he is from Illinois, has 5 kids and many grand children. His wife was in the car waiting for him this whole time. He asked for my address and said he was going to paint me a picture and asked me scene I would like for him to paint for me. I said of course, the beach and the sunset, maybe with a sail boat. He so wanted to do this for me. I ended up going out and meeting his wife. They had to be in their high 90’s. So adorable, so precious, what a beautiful couple who had loved each other for so many years. We stood in the parking lot talking about our kids, families, and I told them about my Christopher. I had tears in my eyes, just the love and kindess I felt for these elderly people. They were just darling! I know when I get home to Sycamore, I will have a new friend and a beautiful painting waiting for me on my porch. All over an annoying piece of shipping tape. Life has many blessings! Wanted to share this story that touched my heart so dealry!
Great post, Mike. It made me think of the time I was in a foreign country with my daughter. We were on our way back to the little bed and breakfast where we were staying when we hear a commotion a few doors down. There was a man yelling at a woman on the street, and then he slapped her. He was out of control. I didn’t know what to do. He was a big guy, and I had my 12-year-old daughter with me, and we were in a foreign country. I looked up and saw the owner of the B&B standing in the doorway with a couple of the maids, but nobody was doing anything. We were all afraid to act. Anyway, I finally just yelled at the guy. He yelled back, but by yelling at him, it was enough to break things up a little bit. The owner of the B&B called the police. Meanwhile, the guy cooled down a bit. I know that’s not a great samaritan story, but I guess the point is you don’t have to be a hero. Sometimes it’s enough just to remind somebody that they’re in public and that people are watching. Don’t just ignore what’s going on around you. You can make a difference just by speaking up.
I saw this on t.v. and was upset that so many just walked on by ? I think it’s called desensitized ? There is so much shown on t.v. movies of blood and guts and on the news it’s not shocking or upsetting to others that this is happening for real anymore ? I find it frightening ! Then there is the fact of helping someone and then you may or may not, get sued ? I think that too ” What IS happening ?”
I would like to think there are more do gooders out there in the world then not ? Life and the world must start to respect who and why we are here really soon or there will be NO here ? God Bless this world and the people that occupy it . Pray for all ? Personally I would have helped this man no matter what …..
What a beautiful story, Lee. I can picture you in the post office helping/bonding with this little old man… meeting his wife… and seeing the entire scene unfold. You’ve always been a loving, caring and compassionate person. In addition, you turned a problem into a “Pink Bat” solution… and a loving memorable one at that! You’re right, “Life has many blessings”… we just need to embrace them like you do.
Thank you, Mike. Stepping up to a dangerous situation can be scary. You did it sensibly and achieved your objective… and opened the door for other bystanders to get involved. You also served as a great role model… and your daughter, perhaps unknowingly, learned many valuable lessons by your actions. Thanks for sharing your story.
I share many of your thoughts and concerns, Kelly. I like to believe I would have stopped and helped this man, too. As a society we all need to practice the Golden Rule… doing unto others, as we would have them do unto us, is definitely a step in the right direction.
Dearest Michael, this is the first time I have read your work but I will be coming back for sure and reposting your links. I really am amazed at the story and the lack of empathy and compassion in the world. With all 9 of my children, the hardest thing I think to teach them is to be kind to one another. People just do not take that to heart nowadays. And the fact this was such a monstrous event, I can’t imagine seeing something like that and doing nothing let alone “gawking”. Is the world so self-centered now? I hope for my childrens’ sake it is not.
Yesterday when I went to Kroger to get food for Mother’s day supper, I saw one of my kids friends walking out. She is pretty young a third grader and she has spent the night before. She was pushing some lady, I didn’t know, who was in a wheelchair. She had about three bags on the back of the chair and the lady had a couple in her back. I stopped to talk to them and asked if they needed a ride. I had no idea how to work a wheelchair or if I could get the lady even into my 15 passenger van, or even if she could get up for that matter. They were happy, I threw the bags in, got her lifted up there, closed up the chair after she told me how to work it and took them home. It caused my trip to be maybe 30 minutes longer but it was worth it to help someone out and maybe show them that some people do have compassion, even for people they do not know.