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Yes, if you choose to look at it like that. I choose not to. If you dig deep enough in every feel good story you’ll doubtless find some things that tarnish it. I choose to feel good about the compassionate heart of a man.

You choose to ignore large pieces of truth then.

"Yes, if you choose to look at it like that. I choose not to. If you dig deep enough in every feel good story you’ll doubtless find some things that tarnish it. I choose to feel good about the compassionate heart of a man."

Yes, and complete with the photographer who just happens to be the supervisor of a police call center.

"I choose to feel good about the compassionate heart of a man"

Amen.

I remember the moment very well when I realized what compassion really was.
It was summer in downtown Indianapolis... it must have been 105 degrees and we were experiencing a long heat streak, everyone was getting sick of it. I was on my lunch break and had already eaten and walked to the 2nd floor of the parking garage to retrieve something from my car before returning. I happened to look down (outside on the street below) and saw 2 homeless guys. One had fallen over and was unconscious, the other was shaking him around, doing his best to revive him. Now, the first thing that mad an impression on me was the other people... everyday people like me who were walking on the sidewalk and very literally stepping over this man who lay on the ground... and they kept right on walking like he was a piece of trash.

Now, regardless if this man was drunk or drugged out, he was a human being... most likely stroking out and quite possible on deaths door. I called for an ambulance and continued to observe from the second floor above.

The police showed along with fire/rescue about 2-3 minutes later and what happened next made me realize what made a man.
The police, whom I routinely look at with disdain and near hatred, treated this grimy, smelly and tattered homeless guy as if it were his own brother. He carried him into the ambulance himself and was talking to the now partially coherent guy and trying to give him any comfort he could. He treated him and his property with dignity and respect.

I don't know the outcome, I have to assume the guy was Ok in the long run. But, I got the message... when the almighty sends you a postcard, you read it... and you don't forget it. I don't see people the same way anymore and I do my damnedest to make sure that I am NOT one of those people stepping over those in need. I don't spend time trying to figure out how they got there or if I feel they deserve help or not... they will be judged on their own merit, as will I.