Leaver's letter a sign of society

I decided to step out of my comfort zone and respond to this elderly lady Helen Leaver's letter.

I believe for her to have been made to wait outside for a taxi at a local gas station during our most recent snow storm only reaffirms what I feel and continue to see what has happened to our society as a whole. Her generation knew what kindness really meant, to help a fellow man or woman. It was that generation that served (in the world wars) and gave their lives so that many of us can enjoy our freedoms now.

How cruel to make anyone wait like a dog out in the cold like they did. It is appalling to hear anyone be anything less than compassionate to an obviously elderly person, treating them like we owe them nothing, like they don't matter.

I honestly think that if that "gentleman" as she referred to him as, saw a doe instead of a dear needing to seek that same shelter, he might have ignored any such rule.

People are treating each other disrespectfully at all ages like they don't matter. So many people have become selfish and ignorant, rude and just plain cruel, with their words, their ideas and their actions against even the sincere, who never once posed a threat of any kind.

To me, this is what's wrong with everything: Our children, our society, our homes, our families. No one cares much about anyone other than themselves. We all talk the talk but second guess or refuse to walk the walk. We all think we're nice to others, good parents, nice neighbours, good members of the community, great citizens. I could keep going here sadly at every level. But it is times such as this when each of us should at least have tried to make a difference.

It would not have mattered if that lady stood inside. Honestly, tell me that there is a policy in place that specifies 'no kindness, no compassion' in this regard, and that failure to adhere to these rules would be grounds for dismissal. Come on now.

On the contrary, I bet that local business owner would have much rather been reading in our local headlines that it was 'that' local gas bar and its attendant that were kind and compassionate to offer shelter to this lady during the storm. How many other gas stations have a GO bus stop, phone booth and a gas bar on Innisfil Beach Road, within walking distance of each other.

Not my idea of free advertising, nor my idea of how I'd like others to think of the way I run my business.

Even with the hurt feelings that this lady has been made to feel about her recent treatment, she presented her feelings with dignity and respect to others by wording her letter the way she did.

This is something that we all need to take a closer look at within ourselves for each and every instance that we may come upon and really honestly walk the talk.

We really need to start acting like the decent people that we all think we already are.

Morals, principles or ethics: Does anyone have these anymore, outside of being paid to have them or use them?

Hat's off to those of us that do try to make these differences, for the world needs more of us.

God knows there are plenty who are and would be appreciative. For some, it just hasn't happened to them yet.

To you, Helen Leaver, who had this most unfortunate experience, do not worry, there are still some that know the real meaning of respect. Thank you for stepping up and writing in, I feel you wanted to make a difference with your letter, by speaking to a generation that needs to be reminded of their personal accountability for their decisions through their actions.

Have a very merry Christmas, with all it's meaning, the old fashioned way; the proven, better way.
Lisa Bélisle,
Alcona