Homeless man with a golden radio voice

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

Yes my religion teaches forgiveness. The pattern is repentance followed by reconciliation and forgiveness. But what does my faith have to do with this man taking accountability for his actions?

I posted that link because CNN protrayed him as a hero and a victim and that isn't really true. The fact is he put himself in that gutter and left an ex-wife, a couple girlfriends and 9 children to deep poverty in the process.

I'm glad he is attempting to get his act together and I hope he is motivated to do more than feel bad inside. He should start thinking about others starting with his family.

Because we don't need your dirt-digging judgement.

I don't care if you think he needs to feel more than just bad inside or if you have a holier than thou attitude that he should start thinking of others including his family. His love and attempts to reach out to his family seem self-evident.

I'd start with empathy, compassion, and understanding for what happened in his life before forgiveness. You can't always assume that there is something needing forgiving for, creating an endless spiral of guilt.

[Reggie Dunlop]

He'll be back on the streets within a year.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

He'll be back on the streets within a year.

At least he'll have plenty of Mac n' Cheese

[Sr. Mints]

Build 'em up, tear 'em down.

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Because we don't need your dirt-digging judgement.

I don't care if you think he needs to feel more than just bad inside or if you have a holier than thou attitude that he should start thinking of others including his family. His love and attempts to reach out to his family seem self-evident.

I'd start with empathy, compassion, and understanding for what happened in his life before forgiveness. You can't always assume that there is something needing forgiving for, creating an endless spiral of guilt.

So you don't think he needs to do more than feel bad inside for bailing on the 9 children he brought into this world?

How has he shown love to his family or reached out to them?

I'm not just assuming that there is something he needs to be forgiven for: There is! It sounds like his family would be willing to do it too. The article said they have been praying for him since he left them.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Build 'em up, tear 'em down.

Oddly enough, probably the most accurate post in the thread... This is exactly what the American media does.

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

So you don't think he needs to do more than feel bad inside for bailing on the 9 children he brought into this world?

How has he shown love to his family or reached out to them?

I'm not just assuming that there is something he needs to be forgiven for: There is! It sounds like his family would be willing to do it too. The article said they have been praying for him since he left them.

according to your own scripture, every person has sinned and fallen short- does it matter if the individual is wearing rags or a suit? It is interesting that christians are so upset that an individual has been handed redemption and forgiveness on a silver platter. I guess the expectation is that he should fight and claw for it... quite a catholic way of thinking I suppose. In my experience, christians get their jollies from pointing out and criticizing the mistakes of others.

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

according to your own scripture, every person has sinned and fallen short- does it matter if the individual is wearing rags or a suit? It is interesting that christians are so upset that an individual has been handed redemption and forgiveness on a silver platter. I guess the expectation is that he should fight and claw for it... quite a catholic way of thinking I suppose. In my experience, christians get their jollies from pointing out and criticizing the mistakes of others.

Such hyperbole! What Christians are upset? The author of my article simply wanted to point out the real "heros" that were passed by in the original press. Also, I don't even know that he is a christian let alone speaks for all christians.

Furthermore who are you to forgive him for something he did to his wife and 9 children? Not only do you quote scriptures but, you think you can absolve people of sins!

[SeeBass]

anybody want to start a pool on when he blows it

[Maritime Q-Scout]

According to the Early Show interview he found God in the last year, which could be inferred that's when he started to turn his life around. However, he has been clean for 2.5 years, so maybe that's when he turned his life around.

Under either premise I'd be hard pressed to believe a homeless man wouldn't have any of the charges he was accused of. Theft, loitering, drugs, not really a shock if you're living on the streets. Steal for food or drugs, as drugs could be more accessible and give the illusion they're better bang for your buck sort of speak.

I don't think he simply said "Screw you family, I'm going to live on the streets, pee in front of a Lowe's and shower in the rain next to a tire store, hahahaha suckers!" He probably got mixed up in alcohol, and then drugs and ended up on the streets because of it.

That said, maybe he was scum of the earth, perhaps he still is. But I don't think you should jump down the throat of a homeless man over mistakes he's made in his life. Addition is a horrible thing which lead him there, based on his desire to immediately go visit his mother he probably does have feelings for family.

I'm not shocked the first words out of his mouth were "I abandoned my 9 kids and have committed crimes while living on the streets!" I mean, would they be yours? He did outright say he's done things he's not proud of, he said he doesn't want to dwell on them but not forget them either.

Maybe he will be on the streets again, but I don't think you can really condemn a homeless man, who ended up on the streets because of drugs and alcohol for making poor decisions when he was addicted.

Heck if I was living on the streets I'd commit half those crimes to survive on the streets, and the other half to get caught to spend the winters in prison so I could eat and not freeze to death in the winter.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Jake

He has already admitted he has made mistakes in his past. Not sure what this dirt-digging is going to accomplish.

If I remember correctly from other threads, you are religious. Doesn't your religion preach forgiveness?

as long as he takes whatever newfound wealth he gets from his success and helps out his family, then i see no problem with his "rags to riches" story being inspirational

[peter12]

So I agree with Calgaryborn, actually. This is just haymaking feel-good BS by the media.

[algernon]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

According to the Early Show interview he found God in the last year, which could be inferred that's when he started to turn his life around. However, he has been clean for 2.5 years, so maybe that's when he turned his life around.

Under either premise I'd be hard pressed to believe a homeless man wouldn't have any of the charges he was accused of. Theft, loitering, drugs, not really a shock if you're living on the streets. Steal for food or drugs, as drugs could be more accessible and give the illusion they're better bang for your buck sort of speak.

I don't think he simply said "Screw you family, I'm going to live on the streets, pee in front of a Lowe's and shower in the rain next to a tire store, hahahaha suckers!" He probably got mixed up in alcohol, and then drugs and ended up on the streets because of it.

That said, maybe he was scum of the earth, perhaps he still is. But I don't think you should jump down the throat of a homeless man over mistakes he's made in his life. Addition is a horrible thing which lead him there, based on his desire to immediately go visit his mother he probably does have feelings for family.

I'm not shocked the first words out of his mouth were "I abandoned my 9 kids and have committed crimes while living on the streets!" I mean, would they be yours? He did outright say he's done things he's not proud of, he said he doesn't want to dwell on them but not forget them either.

Maybe he will be on the streets again, but I don't think you can really condemn a homeless man, who ended up on the streets because of drugs and alcohol for making poor decisions when he was addicted.

Heck if I was living on the streets I'd commit half those crimes to survive on the streets, and the other half to get caught to spend the winters in prison so I could eat and not freeze to death in the winter.

You subtract that!

[HPLovecraft]

Instead of posting a long reply in here I think I'll just say I have judged him, and that's that. No need for the typing! Judge, judge, judge! Take that, homeless man!

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

He'll be back on the streets within a year.

Yeah, I think so too, kind of a dickish thing to just blurt out and say, but you're probably right.

Anyone see his interview on the Today show the other morning?

Guy was close to breaking down at several points, was totally overwhelmed by everything that was happening to him and with how fast it was happeneing.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

Such hyperbole! What Christians are upset? The author of my article simply wanted to point out the real "heros" that were passed by in the original press. Also, I don't even know that he is a christian let alone speaks for all christians.

Furthermore who are you to forgive him for something he did to his wife and 9 children? Not only do you quote scriptures but, you think you can absolve people of sins!

Some people forgive, some judge. Human nature I think.

[worth]

So is he homeless again yet?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

He'll be back on the streets within a year.

We'll take that bet

[habernac]

Originally Posted by peter12

So I agree with Calgaryborn, actually. This is just haymaking feel-good BS by the media.

better than most of the negative crap we're fed day after day.

[Calgary '89]

Originally Posted by Calgaryborn

Yes my religion teaches forgiveness. The pattern is repentance followed by reconciliation and forgiveness. But what does my faith have to do with this man taking accountability for his actions?

I posted that link because CNN protrayed him as a hero and a victim and that isn't really true. The fact is he put himself in that gutter and left an ex-wife, a couple girlfriends and 9 children to deep poverty in the process.

I'm glad he is attempting to get his act together and I hope he is motivated to do more than feel bad inside. He should start thinking about others starting with his family.

I disagree with this post COMPLETELY.

The "pattern" is something you've been taught. Those are your rules, not everyone's.

CNN portrays him as a hero cuz that's what they do. Dogs bark, babies poop and the media exaggerates. You don't have take a position against the guy because of CNN, he messed up and no one knows it more than he does. He's already shared with everyone that he did this to himself and he's happy to have the chance to fix the mistake. He can only do this looking at the future, not the past.

Finally, I don't think he should start thinking about others at all. Not yet. He's got too much to figure out before he can start giving anything to anyone.

As much as I feel good for the guy, I feel sorry for him cuz he's just so humble and apologetic. He can't live like that now, he needs to remember what it's like to feel confident and proud. I hope he's able to pull it off.

Thank you.