The scene that no one will ever forget

The image of the three police officers directing traffic, the driver talking on the phone, the journalists conducting interviews, and the passersby watching and commenting—while the girl lies dying alone on the side of the road—is not something that can easily be erased from one’s mind, and it is understandable that anyone who thought that in that girl’s place could have been their own daughter, sister, or girlfriend would have had the intense emotional reactions we’ve read about.

The temptation to judge

I learned long ago not to judge anyone, especially if I don’t have firsthand information, so perhaps everyone really did their duty, and perhaps what we’re seeing is exactly what needed to be done, I don’t know.

At some point, you couldn’t expect the police to stop directing traffic, the businesswoman to not warn her business partners that she’d be late, or the reporters to miss a golden opportunity to land a sensational scoop, and so on.

And anyway, experience tells us that if an incompetent person tries to administer first aid, they are more likely to do harm than good. So, perhaps, everyone did nothing but what was most reasonable at that moment, and all this outrage makes no sense…

That’s what I’m trying to tell myself, rationalizing, but I still can’t get the image out of my mind of that girl on the road, struggling—all alone—between life and death.

The hand nobody held

I think that was the part that really hit us all: the feeling of indifference and abandonment. If one of the police officers, or the female driver, or anyone, had been there to hold her hand—even if it was to no avail— the whole scene would certainly have been sad and tragic, but it wouldn’t have had the devastating emotional impact that it does.

Someone to hold her hand as she dies. A gesture that might have been futile, but one of humanity.
It didn’t happen.

And because of that, thousands upon thousands of people were quick to point the finger at the “monsters on Kiseleff Boulevard,” to sign petitions, to condemn indifference, apathy, the urban jungle, the savage city, and thousands of other expressions I’ve read.

Why outrage feels so satisfying

I think each of these people felt a little better and morally superior by speaking out against those who appear in the video. Of course. And very conveniently.

To have “someone” hold your hand… hmmm.

I ask myself—I ask you—as you read these lines, if you don’t think there’s someone in the neighborhood where you live who might need someone to hold their hand. Or on the street. Or anywhere. Not necessarily in need of help, not necessarily in need of money. Simply a gesture of humanity and compassion.

Compassion begins close to home

Honestly, I don’t think you’ll have to look very far.

Will you do it? What’s stopping you from doing it? Right now? Don’t have time? Are you busy? Do you have other things to do? Do you already have too much on your plate? Is there nothing in it for you?

Those who were so vehement in accusing the people on Kiseleff Boulevard of indifference and apathy—how many acts of sincere compassion have they shown lately?

I repeat, far be it from me to accuse anyone. I don’t recall having done anything special in this regard myself. I, too, am busy, I have work to do, I already have too much on my plate, I don’t have time for volunteering or anything like that, and maybe I wouldn’t waste my time holding hands either. And anyway, there are too many hands to hold. So, I’ll just mind my own business.

Before judging others

Jesus told us not to look at the speck in our brother’s eye when we don’t see the log in our own. So, perhaps, instead of easing our conscience by accusing others of indifference and apathy with hate-filled messages, maybe we should take a look at what we’re doing ourselves, to see how often we’re unable to make a small gesture of kindness because “we have something more important to do.”

And maybe we’ll understand that there were no monsters on Kiseleff Boulevard, just ordinary people going about their business. With something more important to do than hold the hand of a dying girl.

With so much else on their minds and so little time.

Just like us.

by Bruno