BABY BOOMERS AND GENX'ERS HAVE NEW NAME

Your disdain for an innocent child is very apparent in your statement "Sitting on her lap was a young boy proudly clutching his $200 backpack, compliments of Governor Patterson". Just wondering how you know how much his backpack cost and how you know where the money to purchase it came from. Did he have "welfare recipient" stamped across his forehead?

Cecelia, I feel very sorry for that child, and am happy for him to have a nice backpack. I would be more worried about the second hand smoke he is inhailing. I guess until one of us walk a day in that little boys shoes, can we condem him for his backpack. You should also thank GOD that you can walk and are not confined to a wheelchair. Who knows why she is in her Hoverround, maybe she has MS or something(horrific disease). I just dont see why you were mad about that?

I saw the same thing when I had dropped my daughter off for her first day of Kindergarten. I sort of felt good for that little boy because he seemed proud his ride to school, unfazed by social pressures. I hope he keeps that innocence.

What's a hoverround?

Kind of like a scooter chair I think. For people that have problems with mobility.

We cannot judge another unless we have been in their shoes. You don't know why the individual is in the scooter and what kind of cards have been dealt to her. Pray for them instead.

Plenty of kids do not wear helmets, many from 'good' families. Plenty of people still smoke, and around children - many from 'good' families. I'll pray for you, and will you pray for me, too? I know I need them.

Maybe it wasn't a cigarette at all but a Smoke Assassin. "Smoke Assassin™ doesn't contain tobacco, tar, nicotine or over 4000 other harmful chemicals and carcinogens linked to traditional smoking. The water vapor emitting from the user looks like actual second hand smoke, but it is only water vapor." I saw that commercial right after the Hoverround commercial.

OMG! Does no one get the point here? If she has a medical condition then she shouldn't be smoking at all and do none of you see the danger for the child? Not only should he not be exposed to second hand smoke but I have seen first hand those hoverounds tip from just a pebble in the road...would there be more attention paid to his safety after he fell and had head trauma?!!!

Cindy - everyone gets that point. But to assume that the child has a $200 backpack that was purchased with the money given to recipients of social services and food stamps is a stretch. First of all - I have been purchasing backpacks for close to 20 years for my children and have bought some that I thought were quite expensive but $200? Not sure where Ms. Lullo buys her backpacks but I don't think you could buy any backpack in Batavia for that price. And I'm still not sure how she knows where the money came from for this child's backpack. Does she know the family personally? How else would she know? If that is the case, maybe she could offer the child a ride to school so his life wouldn't be placed in such jeopardy.

And if you read Ms. Lullo's post again - the main part of her story (and the title) is not about the cigarette or the lack of a helmet but about what she calls the "hoveround generation". She seems to think that the fact that a younger person is on a hoveround is the result of a Seinfeld episode - not because they may have an actual disability.

Hi Cindy, yes, I think <i>everyone</i> 'gets' the point.

She could be the disabled "grandma" who lives near to the school who is taking care of the child while their mother is at "work" with no other choices for child care. Too many "scenarios" here, and too many are too quick to judge. I agree, the smoke part could be avoided on her part while getting the child to school though.

Interesting comments on this thread.

Kelly,
I agree with you on not judging people. With being out on the streets every week with Care-A-Van that is one of our prayers before even leaving the driveway, Lord, let us not judge anyone.

We see the hurts, the needs, we see it all. We do have people that come to the bus for food on the hoverounds, yes young and old. When talking with them, yes they have a disability. I truly am thankful for my health and for what I do have in my life. My life could have been so much worse.

It is true if we walked a mile in their shoes, we would not be so quick to think what we may first think. I think this is why I have such a passion for people. Amazing where God has broughten me! A year ago, I may have not even spoken to the some of the people that I now hug and pray with.

I do see the concerns of the child being on lap and the adult smoking in front of the child. But to be honest when I first read the post, all I first saw was the judgement and the assumption of the scenario.

I encourage us all as we go about our day to day life, as Kelly said to pray, pray for the people here in the city for their need, and pray for ourselves that we do not judge, and pray that if your heart is touched to make a difference to find where your talents and passions can be used. Hey , we would love to have any of you join us on a Saturday morning for our grocery distribution or other events that we have. It is 2 hours of your time on a Saturday morning. I can truly tell you all that you yourselves will walk away blessed.

The needs are increasing and we sure could use some help.
Have a wonderful week-end all!

Robin - I accept your invitation and would be happy to help with a grocery distribution on a Saturday morning. Please let me know when you will be doing it next. And Ms. Lullo - I'm hoping that you could also take a few hours out of your busy life to help out. You may learn a thing or two about our neighbors. I know I will. And as Kelly said, I'll pray for you and hope that you will pray for me also.

Beth,
We're on the same page.
I emailed Robin when I read her post about Sat. mornings.
We talked on the phone and I'm going today.
It is a great opportunity.

I can't go today but pretty much any other Saturday. I sent you a friend request on Facebook Robin. I'd love to get involved with the great things that you do.

Beth
Just picked up Bea.. we are at Central Avenue this morning if anyone else is interested!

God Bless!

Robin

Thank you, Robin.
It was a wonderful experience to be part of the work you all do on a daily basis.
I would strongly recommend a day of volunteering to make one thankful for the gifts they have.
When you watch the faces of those thrilled to pick out school clothes for their children; food for their pantry; milk for their refrigerator; and the basic staples of pasta, cereal, applesauce, etc. then you know that good work is happening.
I listened to the stories. These are proud people. Some are putting children through college; others are retired; and others are the working poor. The children, oh, bless the children, who loved rummaging through the bag of toys. The stuffed animals were a tremendous hit.
Many thanks to Bruce and his congregation, in Clarence.
They answered his call for donations of good school clothes, especially for boys.

Maybe she was smoking pot?
Did you ever think of that?
And YOU PEOPLE want to make pot illeagal. She could have MS, which is very painful, and you want to take away those few breif moments when she's toking up and she escapes from a reality full of pain and suffering. And why don't you get off the computer and get a job. I can only presume by the amount that you people comment on every post that you either have no job, or you have a job that requires very little effort so you can spend your time surfing the internet, on facebook, or trying to defend those who don't deserve to be defended.