We often hear praise for people who overcome difficult circumstances such as losing a spouse or child, fighting disease or surviving warfare and giving their life a positive turn.
An example of this is Mr. Frank O'Dea, a Canadian businessman who was homeless until 1975, when he managed to slowly get his life back in order and he evntually co-founder the Second Cup chain of coffee shops, and is President and Co-Founder of charitable organizations.
What Mr. O'Dea did is absolutely incredible and fascinating, he deserves every single ounce of praise he receives, we can all learn from him.
My point though is not about Mr. O'Dea directly, it's about people CURRENTLY in the situation he found himself in in the early 1970's.
There are more homeless than ever before (in Canada) despite the fact there are more resources than ever before.
We, as a society like using people like Mr. O'Dea as examples when it's convenient to us. (IE. "Look at him, he did, why can't you?")
The excuse that people need to "help themselves" is crass at best.
Next time you see a homeless person, and you think of Frank O'Dea, ask your this. If this person becomes another Frank O'Dea, do I want to have simply walked buy, or do I want to be part of the beginning of something big?
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