The Voice - Student Newspaper

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

By Mary Allan
Reporter, The VOICE

Trying times like these can bring out the worst in people, especially if they feel like they have nothing left to lose. Crimes are being attributed to the recession. Everything from email scams to mass murder.

Job seekers looking for employment online have become scammer's latest victims. A woman answered an ad for a mystery shopper. After evaluating a few stores like Wal Mart the victim received a check for $5000 from the company who hired her. She was then told to wire $3000 cash back to them so she could evaluate Western Union. The $5000 check bounced and she lost her $3000.

Some people simply cannot stand the struggle of coping with the recession. Although there is no hard evidence for the change, bank robberies have increased in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Houston, some people blame the economy.

The picture gets worse.

With two guns, a hunting knife and ammunition slung around his neck, Jiverly Wong stepped through the doors of American Civic Association in Binghamton, New York with murder on his mind. He shot14 people and wounded 4 others, he then shot himself. His sister said he was distraught at his inability to find a job.

Lupoe owed the Internal Revenue Service at least $15,000. He was at least one month behind on a mortgage. ErvinLupoe of Wilmington, CA owed about $2,500 and a late fee. He also owed thousands more on a home equity line of credit. He and his wife had recently been fired from Kaiser Permanente. On March 31, this husband and father shot his wife, 5 children and himself.

According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, about 48% of Americans were seen as "thriving" on Jan. 2, 2000. By the time the economy was officially declared a recession 11 months later, the "thriving" group was down to 38%, while 62% of Americans were in the "struggling" or "suffering" categories.

This is one of the most troubling times this country has experienced. There are people who simply cannot withstand the stress and we all suffer for it.

Trying times can bring out the best in people. However, in this economic downturn good Samaritans are coming out in droves.

The Red River was past flood stage, the people of Fargo were afraid of their town being submerged in the icy deluge. The call went out; all media outlets were utilized including craigslist and twitter. The plea was heard and they came. Over 5,000 volunteers traveled from all over the country to help fill sand bags. College kids on spring break turned their back on sunny Cancun to brave the frigid temperatures of North Dakota. Men, women and children filled sandbags as many as 20,000 an hour for a week, about 3.5 million sandbags. It worked, the town was saved. In the town of Brewton Alabama, the strangest thing was happening. The town merchants were being inundated with $2 dollar bills. The mystery was result of one man's clever, yet practical, way of paying it forward. Pharmacist Danny Cottrell reaction to the hard times was not to downsize, but keep all his people and give them bonuses. He had some stipulations however; the money was to be spent in town, and 15 percent had to go to charity. He paid out the bonuses in $2 dollar bills. Because of this one man's stimulus package, his employees, his town and people in need are doing a little bit better tonight. In Denver, Colorado the Same Café serves up more than Apple-Blue Cheese Pizza or Springy Creamy Onion soup. They offer a big dollop of generosity. Fred and Libby Birky opened the Same (So All May Eat) Café with a vision in mind, that there is beauty and grace in feeding people. The grace comes in the form of asking people to only pay what they can. So the café is filled with town's people and the less fortunate alike. All are welcomed. Many of the homeless people don't have even a penny to pay, so the Birkys let them work it off by doing odd jobs around the place. They leave with a full stomach and a sense of dignity.

There are many more stories out there. They are ordinary people, doing extraordinary things. They do it by taking that extra step to do something for some else. If Americans keep this up then maybe we will come through this crisis with our dignity intact.

Please send comments to mcallan@gccvoice.com