Posted on 08/28/2015 10:46:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway
"When [Abdul] heard the amount, he just broke down and started crying," Simonarson said. "He was so thankful and he kept saying, 'thank you for all your generosity,'" Gissur Simonarson, the man who took the photo, said.
Heartbroken readers around the world have made a definitive statement after seeing a viral photo circulated on the Internet this week -- showing a Syrian father selling pens in the streets of Beirut while cradling his sleeping daughter.
And that statement so far has nearly six digits in it.
A Norwegian activist named Gissur Simonarson came face-to-face with the refugee on Tuesday. With a heavy heart, he posted it to a social media account -- as a symbol of the omnipresent challenges faced daily in the Middle East by those trying to attain safer lives for their families.
It didn't take long for Simonarson's photo to explode online -- first with his 6,000 followers, and then the global news media.
"Syrian father selling pens in the streets of #Beirut with his sleeping daughter," Simonarson wrote beneath his photo.
The next day, the Norwegian tweeted that he had set up a Twitter profile for the man as a way to jump start the philanthropy for the needy father and daughter.
The new Twitter handle: @Buy_Pens.
Although only his daughter is seen in the photo with him, the @Buy_Pens profile says he has two children.
"It's a terribly emotional picture," Simonarson told CNN. "You see the look in his face and just the way he holds the pens out, as if those pens are everything he has in the world."
After two days of effort, the man was finally identified as Abdul -- a Syrian refugee from the violence-marred town of Yarmouk.
A crowdfunding account was subsequently established and has so far raised nearly $100,000 for Abdul -- $95,000 more than Simonarson first hoped to raise.
The Norwegian was stunned. Abdul was floored.
"When [Abdul] heard the amount, he just broke down and started crying," Simonarson said. "He was so thankful and he kept saying, 'thank you for all your generosity.'"
Abdul, 35, said he can now send his young daughters to school with the donated money. He also reportedly said he will use some of the funds to help fellow refugees.
God Bless him and his little one. But have them stay in Beirut, please. We don’t need more Muslims here.
She’s getting a bit big for that but no shoes. :(
I’ve got a 41 year old daughter, who will occasionally (and unexpectedly) plop down on my lap. I’m just happy that she’s petite and not obese.
Why do you think they are Muslims? I know people from that area under similar circumstances who are Christian. Personally, I can’t tell them apart.
no mention of the mother...is this guy really a who he claims he is or a grifter...yes I’m a skeptic about the circumstances!
Alot of Christians in Lebanon.
Every now and then I get to see a bit of good in humanity. This is one of those times.
It sure beats the hell out of hating people constantly.
Given that muslims are donation $$$, it can’t be Christians. I do not trust a Norseman trying to help poor muslim “refugees.”
http://www.buzzfeed.com/hayesbrown/how-a-heartbreaking-photo-raised-50000-for-a-syrian-refugee#.apzX0RwAOW
I see Glenn Beck has got into the act too (The Blaze has a HuffPo article). It is a jihad scam, I am sure.
The picture Drudge had up yesterday was very moving, similar to this in talking about “Exodus”, what a mess.
The US is NOT bringing in any of the persecuted Christians as refugees.
FOXNews needs to look into the reasons why...
Hannity where are you when we need you?
lol!!
They could easily be Assyrian Christians. The little girl certainly isn’t dressed in Muslim garb.
Might be. Them we could take in, with one caveat: They must want to become Americans, not remain foreigners in a strange land. I'll be glad to help that kind.
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