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2010-02-09

2010-01-19

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Monday, November 16, 2009 9:20 PM

Holiday season should be a time for patience, empathy

Compassion

The Ottawa Herald took an exhaustive look at the economy and its impact on Ottawa and Franklin County last week, and one thing is clear.

A lot of people are suffering in one way or another. With so many people dealing with job losses, retirement savings declines, medical problems, a loss of a home and other issues, it is clear everyone needs to show some empathy, patience and understanding for others.

Last week, an Ottawa resident ran out of a gas and left his vehicle on a downtown street while he went to get a gas can and gasoline. In the 45 minutes he was gone, his vehicle was towed away.

City officials say they attempted to contact the vehicle’s owner before taking such drastic action, but the man didn’t have any calls from the city at his home, office or on his cell phone. Consequently, when the man arrived back at the scene and attempted to straighten out what was already a bad day, things turned worse.

His car was gone. It had been towed away and would cost more than $100 to retrieve.

That is an onerous amount for someone already struggling and rubs salt into the wound of individual and family already facing challenges.

How much time would it have taken for individuals and organizations to show a little compassion and empathy and really have contacted the individual or given him time to right a wrong?

In this situation, an officer believed the vehicle was a public safety hazard and blocking the roadway, so he had to have it towed immediately. A law enforcement official said others may be able to avoid this same fate by calling 911 to alert police dispatch to the situation or by leaving a note under the windshield, so others arriving on the scene would have an explanation, time estimate and contact information.

Similarly, how many others wait impatiently behind shoppers who end up not having enough money to purchase all the items in their cart? How about understanding the person who seems moody and depressed? What about the other person who endures a sick child without going to the doctor because they don’t believe they can afford the bill?

All of these situations cry out for empathy, patience and understanding.

Especially as we enter into the holiday season, it behooves each of us to treat others as we would like to be treated. The city can help by trying to aid a resident rather than making things worse. Police Chief Dennis Butler said officers always take the compassionate route of contacting owners first before towing.

We can all do our parts, too, by offering a kind word of encouragement and affirmation to help others see the silver lining and get past hard times.

— Jeanny Sharp,

editor and publisher