Leslie: The Barber

This is a sad story. Larry Fitzpatrick Sr. and his son tried to free the dying lady, Helen Jackson, from the MBTA, the Boston transit system's escalator. Her hair and scarf was caught in the grid, and Mr. Fitzpatrick tried to free her as people hurried on their way, knowingly or unknowingly what was going on, and not stopping to help. A few tried to help, but somebody had to have scissors, a knife, razor, box cutter, nail clippers...something. He said his son ran to try to get more people to come and help, but no one would come. I can understand how some would be reluctant to follow someone back to an area to "help" someone, but this was in a public area, and there seems to be no excuse for the cold, heartless act on not helping some. Often, people don't want to get involved. Mr. Fitzpatrick Sr. is still shaken up in the video, and probably will be affected by this for a long time. In the interviews, he talked about how he tried to free her and he was holding her hand, telling her to hold on and reassuring her that help would soon be on the way and that everything was going to be okay. Then he tells how her breathing slowed and she just stopped breathing. This is outrageous. What kind of society are we living in? The Boston Globe described the woman: "Jackson was a vibrant woman, they said, a former teacher's aide and bus driver who spent her retirement years volunteering at a local day-care center. She walked with a cane but would travel anywhere." Oh yeah. The Globe thought this was relevant and of the utmost importance that you and I know about: "A Globe review found that Fitzpatrick has a lengthy criminal history, but he said he holds nothing against authorities and, if asked, would provide his account to police." What the bleep does this have to do with the price of eggs? The man was trying to save someone's life, and we needed to know this? Come on Globe. Do better. They had to slip that in there. This story does illustrate a criminal record does not prevent people from having compassion and a sense of doing what's right for others. But that tidbit was totally irrelevant, and uncalled for. Before people jump on the "Boston is a racist city" bandwagon; I'd like to add this comment someone left on the Boston Globe comments section: "This is an stomach turning story, however I know there is opportunity for valuable learning. Apathy of all forms is not isolated to Boston or the United States, rather it is an issue in every corner of the world. For those who lay blame on anyone including Police officers, T employees, Bostonians, or Americans I invite them to contemplate an issue in their lives they ignore. "---gpgmass For those that say "Boston is a racist city"...okay. Where were the black people, who take the T? Surely, there were many in that station that day and at the time of this incident. That man and his son, were not the only blacks in that station. I guarantee that. This is a PEOPLE problem. source