If you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this but that you first make thieves and then punish them?
Sir and Saint Thomas More
Utopia
Check out Gregory Taylor's story.
He went to jail for 13 years in California after stealing food from a church.
A regular Jean Valjean.
Tossed in the slammer, the world closed its eyes and forgot Gregory was there.
But I'm sure he remembers.
Last Fall, a homeless man visited our office regularly looking for rental assistance, clothing referrals, and general support.
In my very humble opinion, he was - or is - a great writer. A well spoken man with a fervor for giving people in his situation a voice...a voice heard by more people than his case worker.
During one visit, this client went to refill at the water cooler in the back room. Shortly after, he left to return to his new apartment (aside: success!!!). Later in the day, I went back to make lunch and noticed that our dish soap and papertowels were missing.
Logically, my client was the only one who could have removed these items.
The moment of theft was a little jarring. It opened my brain to ethical thoughts I don't normally contemplate.
Was I mad? Angry with him? Disappointed?
Was I happy my client now had something he really needed and couldn't afford?
If he asked me for some papertowels, would I have given them to him?
Probably yes.
Convinced he stole from us, could I...should I...help him in the future?
In my very humble opinion, he was - or is - a great writer. A well spoken man with a fervor for giving people in his situation a voice...a voice heard by more people than his case worker.
During one visit, this client went to refill at the water cooler in the back room. Shortly after, he left to return to his new apartment (aside: success!!!). Later in the day, I went back to make lunch and noticed that our dish soap and papertowels were missing.
Logically, my client was the only one who could have removed these items.
The moment of theft was a little jarring. It opened my brain to ethical thoughts I don't normally contemplate.
Was I mad? Angry with him? Disappointed?
Was I happy my client now had something he really needed and couldn't afford?
If he asked me for some papertowels, would I have given them to him?
Probably yes.
Convinced he stole from us, could I...should I...help him in the future?
ABSOLUTELY.
Sure, angry feelings swirled in my heart for a few days. And even more so, the shadow of disappointment lingered for a while. But after the emotional clouds subsided, my brain cranked the volume on logic.
This man needed something, and knew nothing else other than not having. He was without and stole, probably an action not too unfamiliar to his lifestyle. His little stealing habit simply indicates that he's struggling...and as deserving of help as anyone else.
We all need a little help sometimes. Rich or poor. Old or young. Educated or uneducated.
I'm not giving up.
I think he deserves a second chance.
I'm not giving up.
I think he deserves a second chance.
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