Poverty is the shame of the society

Today ( 1/6/14), the windchill temperature in Appleton, Wisconsin has dipped to -50 F.  While most of us can stay warm in a house, I am worry about those people who had lost homes.  Appleton has 'Warming Shelter' to provide shelter for those homeless people to stay warm in frigid winter.

This brings up a story I recall from a friend.  Although it is hard to research its authenticity, I think  it is worthy to re-tell the story as it teaches us not to be indifferent to society's poverty and homelessness problems.

The year of the story was approximately in 1935 when depression hit America and affected lives of many Americans especially the poor.

One day, a court was hearing a case that an old lady in the 70's was accused of 'stealing a loaf of bread' at a bakery shop.

' Did you steal a loaf of bread from a bakery owned by Mr. Charles?'  Asked  the judge.

'Yes, Your Honor.  I have 3 grand-kids  to take care of as their dad is really sick.  All of us are very hungry."   Answered the old lady.

" Very well.  According to the law, you can pick and choose the following punishment:  Either you pay the fine for $15 or you can stay behind bar for 10 days". Said the judge.

" Your Honor,  if I had $15, I would not steal a loaf of bread.  If I stay behind the bar, who is going to take care of my sick son and three grand-kids?"  Answered the old lady.

There was some noise in the audience as they were talking to each other in small voices.

Suddenly, a gentleman stood up.

"Your Honor,  I will pay the $15 fine for her."  The gentleman said.

Then he faced the audience and continued to say.

" My name is Richard Peterson, the mayor of this town.  I will be collecting $50 from each of you including myself as our 'debt' to this old lady and the poor people like her in this town because in this great society of Boston, we allow our indifference, and apathy  to permeate through and not showing any compassion so that this old lady had to 'steal' a loaf of bread to feed her grand-kids and her sick son."

As the story goes, Mr. Peterson passed his hat collecting $50 debt from everyone in the court including the judge.

The moral:  Poverty is the shame of the society.  We all have the responsibility to eradicate poverty in our society.