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• Zachary Tyler
• West Islip, NY
• United States

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Social Class Interactions: To Pity or To Revile.

This morning, I had trouble staying asleep. I decided to go out to my local Dunkin Doughnuts to pick up some breakfast for my family.

On my drive there, I passed an abandoned bar and outside the vacant drinking hole was a shaggy man in raggedy clothes, still sleeping next to his Target cart full of plastic bags. Normally, I don't see many homeless people in my suburban community. Many of my peers look down upon the homeless; I actually witnessed a friend (now, ex-friend) spit on a sleeping homeless man while on vacation after screaming "Get a job, you bum!"

I went inside the Dunkin Doughnuts and picked up five muffins and a small coffee. I had asked the cashier for some milk packets and sugar. I proceeded to drive of the spot where the man had made his night's sleep. He woke up once he heard my car. I looked at him as I stepped out of my car and placed the coffee, along with some milk and sugar, next to him. He looked into my eyes and said, "God bless you, sir." I smiled and wished him a good day.

This small interaction made me think about what I had really done. Had I given that man his morning jolt so he could go try and find a job? Had I given him a free handout that he would ignore?

Therefore, I put my hands out open to you, the TED community, in sharing your views on what I did.