lying on sidewalk
Bad Samaritans
by John M.
Weekend Trip
Situated near the Hungarian border, Oradea is a small Romanian city with several noteworthy, buildings.
I had decided to spend the weekend there, and wondered about center, taking in the sights.
Soon I came upon a more mundane street scene: shops and cafes, pedestrians walking about, people waiting for the bus. Further along further along orange-vested men did some roadwork.
Walking
Some 50 yards ahead, a man in his forties dressed in semi-formal attire and carrying a leather briefcase slowly made his way up the street. An equal distance away, a middle-aged couple walked towards him.
I had not consciously taken notice of him – until having looked to the left over his shoulder while walking, he walked smack into a concrete street-light post.
On the Sidewalk
Though not a particularly solid collision, he crumpled over like a rag doll and sprawled flat on his back on the sidewalk.
That’s odd, I thought. He just laid there, motionless, out cold.
Although this had happened in broad daylight, no one around came to his aid or made any attempt at anything.
Playing Hero
I grew anxious as I approached him, not really sure what I would do. Why won’t someone play hero and help this poor fellow (and relieve me of the impending burden)?
I reached the prone figure at the same time as the middle-aged couple. I could now see that his clothes had a rather worn and unwashed look. Rashes and puss formed on his forehead and beneath his week’s growth of stubble.
No Response
I waved my hand in front of his blank, slightly-open eyes, but there was no response. I hesitated about what to do next.
I knew I should help, but with no medical training, I could make matters worse.
Truth be known, I felt a repulsion about touching him. Besides his condition did not seem to be life threatening.
Or was it?
The Couple
As the couple passed by, the woman said something in her language, which I took to mean, “There’s nothing we can do about this; he’s drunk and will come out of it soon.”
Across the street, the people now boarded the bus without having displayed the slightest concern.
My conscience kept telling me to do something – but what?
And besides I had come to tour the city, and did not look forward to a potential interrogation by suspicious authorities later on.
So I moved on.
Looking Back
After several meters, I looked back. I had assumed the couple would have gone into a nearby shop and call for help; but they kept walking as if nothing had happened.
The man lay as still as ever.
I ought to return and help.
No. He’ll come about in a little while.
I walked on.
The road crew went about their work. Other pedestrians pasted me. I turned to see if anyone would do anything, but everyone just walked by.
I wondered why.
Demographics
Perhaps it had something to do with demographics. After all, this was Transylvania, in northwestern Romania. Here ethnic Hungarians and Romanians have traditionally coexisted uneasily with one another.
Perhaps this victim was Hungarian, and those ignoring him were Romanian. Or vice versa. But unless they opened their mouths, how could they tell one from the other?
Hope
Ah! Hope at last! Two young nuns made their way determinedly down the street! Surely they would not hesitate in assisting others. Perhaps they had heard what had happened and came to the man’s rescue.
I held my breath as they made their way towards the still unconscious figure.
But when they were within 20 yards of him, they abruptly crossed the street.
The Clinic
Up ahead I saw a clinic. A young couple and a man in a white coat and a black mustache emerged. The couple entered their car and drove off.
The man in white coat then walked resolutely down the street towards the prone man.
Upon reaching him, he knelt down and began administering help – at long last!
Medical Students
Since the communist era, many students from developing countries have come to Romania to study at universities, usually medicine. This gentleman must have been one of them – his name tag read “Dr. Khaled El-Swaify”.
1. The writer was visiting this city. True or false?
2. What did he witness?
3. He wanted to help the man. Yes or no?
4. Why didn’t any passersby help?
5. How did the writer feel about the entire event?
6. In the end…………………………
7. Does this story sound familiar?
