You are sooooooo right, Mr. Ed! From one who has come close to losing faith in humanity, where did the self-centeredness and uncaring come from? It's definitely a different world today, one in which people who do care feel alone.

In Spirit,
Bear

Ed I didn't see it, but I've seen things like it. You are right to yearn for the good old days, but my friend we have generations of people who have grown up with total self-interest and they just don't have the same principles and morals we were taught to live by. The first,thing missing is sacredness. some didn't get a godly upbringing.Also they were taught by society, tv, media, internet, etc that self image and doing whatever pleases themselves is what to do. While both parents were working, the kids grew up with their own observations of what to do, and had no real education in relationships and how to treat each other. Also many of us us have become inured to what's going on around us, because of terrorism and the atmosphere we live in our culture has changed.We keep blinders on afraid to get involved. Go easy on yourself Ed, it will only get worse, according to the bible!



Love,

tiger lily

This poem really tears at my heart ... I was never able to just walk on by and always helped anyone I could in every way I could. I can't comprehend how the others before me could have turned a blind eye ... Like Susan, I have been called many names for helping people and I could careless about the name calling as long as I know, I helped someone in need ... I miss those good old days too, Ed ... People were much kinder ...

You compassionate heart gives us a lesson that we need to take to heart. I am compassionate and would give my last dime if need be, I've been called stupid because of my generosity but what is love if not compassion and sharing.
Blessings and love,
Susan

I think Karen makes a valid point for I too grew up knowing what it was like to go without and when you learn what that is like somewhere in your life you are less likely to turn your back or avert your eyes when you see someone in need, whether it be a child, a seniour, a vet, a disabled or even the druggie and winos's for as the waying goes...There but for the grace of God go I..."

Fee

Dear Mr. Ed, this is not something new and I can assuredly vouch that it has been going on for decades that I am aware of. You see, a very long time ago, in what I call "another life" I was one of those children and watched grown-up after grown-up pass me by as if I did not even exist. Oh there were a few shopkeepers who would leave a few leftover out for me like I was some stray animal and others who did pay attention and try to offer help, but the majority were just too busy looking after their own worlds. Just the way it is sometimes. Perhaps that is why I always liked the story of "The Little Match Girl" that is recited during the Christmas holidays. In the end I became, by the grace of God, one of the lucky ones, but there are so many "street urchins" that sadly die into obscurity.

As Robert and I were driving to our first visit with the Vet for our new puppies, we passed a man "dumpster diving" and without thinking Robert passed a comment which I just could not ignore. I simply said he (meaning the man) was ME a long time ago. Nothing earth shattering, but Robert then stopped the car, backed up and parked. We talked with the man for a little while, bought him some breakfast, gave him some money and went on our way. Sometimes it is just the way it is. I have helped, tried to help and taken in many over the years, but perhaps it is because I know what it is like to go without and fight just to survive. I will end this here and continue instead to pray that others will try to understand and maybe think about what it is like to walk in THEIR shoes.....

Be always safe,
Karen

Be always safe,
Karen

this reader is speachless at the lack of humanity shown on so many levels

'Lost' is exactly where every single person will find themselves if they do not change, stop, and help... REALLY! Selfishness has become a way of life for too many for too long. Blessings Ed, Holly

Too hard to even think about; our future as a race is sadly looking pretty dim...e

This kicks right in the guts, Ed. And you are so right. We are immune to even the unspoken pleas of the oldest and youngest in society now... the totally defenseless. We all know of the myriad and complex reasons now why "life is cheap"... where societies become faithless in terms of belief systems that are holistic of the whole of earth's peoples and inhabitants, murder creeps into the heart of each man and woman. The reports I am getting back of my own son's work in Peru amongst some of the poorest citizens on earth and their love and generosity towards our British "gringos" who have gone to try to help is humbling and moving to the nth degree. I stand condemned by both for the very little I personally do myself. Think I've already said enough. And this is apart from the monsters who abuse their own flesh and blood. I read this and weep. When will we stand together to say "enough is enough"? And tonight a very high percentage of the total world population will go to bed hungry... as well as lost. Slipped through the nets of our ignorance. God have mercy, cos we don't seem able to. Kate xx

Ed, last time I approached a little child, that was wandering with big eyes searching, and asked if i could help him to find his mammy I nearly got arrested with looks saying I was the nearest thing to a child molester they knew.
Sorry brother, today we are branded bad first until we prove our innocence...and even after it...

Georg

ED - I saw this show also - certainly depressing. You ask WHY? Let me count the ways.

How about - approximately 60 years of bombardment of Billions upon Billions of Madison Avenue Advertisements? Commercials? Subliminal Suggestions? Corporate Greed that has PROGRAMMED us - DO THIS! DO THAT! FEAR THIS! FEAR THAT! TAKE ME! DRINK ME! EAT ME! GET FAT! GORGE! SPEND!

CARPE DIEM! SEIZE THE DAY! EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY FOR TOMORROW YE MAY DIE!

Two Generations of: Give It To Mikey! - Let Mikey Do It! I gotta go to WORK! Keep up with the Joneses! I NEED! I WANT! I MUST! I - I - I ... ME - ME - ME!

How about - the fact that - in those "good old days" - Mothers were truly FULL-TIME Mothers; not part-time, rushing, dpg-eat-dog scramblers - dumping kids off somewhere else for 8-10 hours, for someone ELSE to DEAL with them - to instill VALUES - SURE! Instead of a 1-on-1 ratio, or 1 mom on 2 or 3 kids ratio - we delegated these responsibilities for the formative years onto 1 or 2 Nannies, AuPairs, or Baby-Sitters, to handle 5-10-15-20-25 small children - thus diluting the ratio drasticly! Fa-Get-A-Bout QUALITY - we need QUANTITY!

How about - all those years of COVERT CHILD ABUSES? It was bad enough when Preists, and other members of "the Cloth" were EXPOSED (both figuratively and literally) for being PEDOPHILES - but even WORSE when PARENTS themselves were discovered: BEATING, ASSAULTING, SEXUALLY ABUSING, STARVING, MURDERING THEIR OWN CHILDREN!

And we wonder WHY some complete stranger might be a tad WARY of getting involved?

And that's only when being presented with a face-to-face encounter with an innocent child! What about Street People? Homeless Vets? Anyone who looks like a LOSER, or a DIRT-BALL, or a DRUNK, or a DRUGGIE? or a HO? KEEP YOUR DISTANCE! STAY AWAY! ARM'S LENGTH! DON'T INVADE MY SPACE!

Although we all know the beautiful Bible Story about The Good Samaritan, we also know the other Story about the Ten Lepers! AIDS! That is the NEW LEPROSY! Who wants to render FIRST AID (note the oxymoron therein) to someone who MIGHT have it? BLOOD - MOUTH-TO-MOUTH resuscitation - CPR - ??? NAH! LET MIKEY DO IT!

How about - IMMORALITY? BLATANT, IN-YOUR-FACE PORNOGRAPHY - A Nation of SEX, LUST, EROTICISM - FILTH - FOUL LANGUAGE - UNFAITHFULNESS - another bombardment of maybe only 30-40 years, or one generation? Movies - Television - Radio - Magazines - then the past 10-20 years - RAP - INTERNET PORN - Videos - CD's - DVD's - BOOTY CALL - LET IT ALL HANG OUT - TATTOOED CRACKS - and more!

GEE - am I a PRUDE, or what? Hell, anyone who has read any of my porno poems, knows better than that! Now even I stand accused - GUILTY! Yeah, I'm HUMAN too!

How about general Morals - Values? A few may persist in a minority quantity, but in general, most have GONE TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET!

If our Government and Corporations had OVERTLY stated that "WE ARE GOING TO DESTROY THE FAMILY UNIT" - they could not have done a better job doing so!

OOPS! There I go again, with that "WE - THEY" syndrome BS! We all know that these problems of our world have nothing to do with the APATHY of the Individual, right?

In closing, it would seem to me that yet another Bible reference would be apropos - the admonition - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" has been replaced by the more SELFISH paraphrase - "Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you!"

A FINAL THOUGHT:

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

"If there is to be Peace - let it begin with me!"

Tom.

Times really haven't changed. I can remember the soup-lines, the "hobo" camps near RR tracks, the "Poor House", the "waifes" of the cities. The big difference is modern communication: TV News, TV Specials and Documentaries; thus, the sad realities are brought into our homes. How easy it is to take non-perishable foods and personal items to our Mission and Shelter locations, but how often do we do this. "Outcasts"? Remember, "there but for the Grace of God go I."
Well written outcry, dear Ed.
Blessings and Love ~~ Micke

>tears! <

My friend...What a pround write....you always make us think, and this shows what a fanastic writer you are....one of my best...cheers...love n luck....BHUWAN!!!

I watched 20/20 and like you I could not believe it. I know people walk past the homeless, but children. You have written some powerful words here, my friend. May we all pause in life and see what the rest of the world sees.

Thank you for making us think. Unfortunately, I think that the kind of people who write and read poetry are also those 3% who would react: compassionate souls guided by instictive feelings forgotten by the crowd. I say "unfortunately" because I wish that we could reach all the others before they are totally lost for humanity.

Axilea

God help the unborn who die in scorn

What a deeply passionate write, and all one needs to do to witness this 'lost' soul is to look next door.

Cheers and peace,
Dan

To have empathy for others, one has to know that the other is in need, many today have not experienced what real need is, never suffered that deep suffering others are experiencing,,, most of that extra affluence gathered by those that have plenty, has been garnered at the expense of the ones left behind, it starts be seperating yourself from those in need, or your neighbour in the very beginning, We are not our brothers keeper it seems, far from it!
We have become a community of seperatists, those that have comfy apartments and swimming pools while others starve on the streets.
If you are smarter or more ruthless, have all the benefits of education etc, society today, good for you, f.... the other, not a Christian philosophy to start with is it? Bless you Ed! for this most important write and Beautiful poem to boot! Jasmin Horst

Your poem captures very true happenings in this world today. Looking back...oh, how things have changed. Neighbors are strangers and those on the street are non-existent to our turned-inward eyes. Its so sad to be trapped explicitly inside our own lives to the point of excluding all the wonderful joys to be found in others around us.

This is quite profound... and utterly sad.

Thanks for sharing...
Cryssa

So sad,,well done dear man...have wonderful and safe day...HUgss

It is hard to understand how one could be so calloused,, truly a sad day when one looks away from a child in need!!! NO excuse for such behavior.
Christine

These days, as I wander a world growing starkly cold and indifferent

I see many beings very few of us help, who are today in great distress

Well written, Ed and very true. Sadly true. All this was told about by Christ but that does not make any less painful.
God Bless,
Lew

Ed,

The Bible says, that in the last days, the love of many will wax cold. Believe it - and it's only getting worse - shows man's inhumanities to man and God's creatures - tragic. Painfully penned sadness - I mourn, with you -

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla. :(