Charity Display? (I never felt like the face of poverty — until I met my benefactor.)

New York Times ^ | January 2, 2005 | CHARMIE GHOLSON

[ScottFromSpokane]

The word "ingrate" is floating through my mind.

[sockmonkey]

At the polarized society we live in where the working poor voted themselves into deeper poverty while the rich still coast.

Say what?

[TheDon]

She needs to read "A Christmas Carol".

[riri]

I love my kids to death but I really don't know at what point I would accept charity.

[lodwick]

Winner of The Most Bizarre Post of The Day.

Somehow woman gets mysterious call for assistance, meets stranger with "forms," gets clothing, gets divorced, regrets re-election of president, writes letter to newspaper - and they publish it.

[exnavychick]

I didn't recognize the cellphone on caller ID but answered anyway.
____________________________________________________________

Perhaps she should ditch the cell to get the money to clothe her kids. Wal Mart stuff is good enough for my kids, anyway.

[OldFriend]

None of this story makes a bit of sense.

Considering it's in the New York Slimes, I'll not believe a word.

[sockmonkey]

I didn't recognize the cellphone on caller ID but answered anyway.

Not sure how much caller ID costs where she lives, but mine is over six dollars a month. Guess I'm Mrs. Nasty, but if I couldn't afford to dress my children, I probably would try to save a little by dropping extras like Caller ID.

[Max Combined]

This woman cannot control her children, has run off her husband, and is angry at someone who tried to help her. Typical democrat.

[moonpie57]

It is extremely humbling to have to ask for help, but sometimes you have to do it. It also feels degrading. I can totally understand what this lady is feeling. Unfortunately, many of us find ourselves in these situations sometimes.

[riri]

Good point, I don't even have caller ID and I can afford it.

$6 will buy you a new pair of kid's jeans on sale at any discount store.

[Future Snake Eater]

Same here. Sometimes you just need to set the ego down, step away, and say "thank you."

And her political rant at the end pretty much killed any other sympathy I had for her and her situation.

[sockmonkey]

OOps, guess great minds think alike, and you type faster, too.

[anniegetyourgun]

Me either. Especially since it's written by someone named Charmie.

Where do they get these people?

[APFel]

Charmie Gholson is the host of a public-affairs radio show, ''Renegade Solutions,'' and a writer in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Was this a work of fiction?

Apf

[Nataku X]

She's complaining that she got $80 for each of her kids? I looked at the article and I can't find a thing the doctor did wrong/rudely.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

"I couldn't shake the feeling that the doctor used me as an example."

Doctor to son, once they got in the car:
"Let this be a lesson to you, Penrod. Never marry a self-obsessed, liberal harpie. If you spend enough time on your career to provide for your family, she will divorce you because you no longer "make her happy". Because of the courts bias against men, she'll end up with your kids. When she tosses her own career in the shitter to do a public radio show and "freelance", she'll end up taking a handout from some kind soul, then spitting on him as he leaves, making a note to herself to call her lawyer to hit you for an increase in support. She'll teach the kids to resent you, and make your life a living Hell at every opportunity. So, next time you think that earthy babe at the "Stop Bush" rally is nice piece and you want to ask her out for coffee, remember this!"

[expatpat]

No, taking charity is much harder if you have self-respect than giving it.

[exnavychick]

It's a good thing that a keyboard isn't a gun, cuz I've shot myself in the foot by posting too quickly before. :)

But great minds do think alike. :)