Woman on the Train

I have shared this story several times. I think I do it in the hopes that I may absolve myself of some guilt every time it is told.

I was in San Diego in 2004 for a rugby trip. My best friend and I were taking the train back from Tijuana when a woman came on board. She was older and clearly homeless, and and struggled to carry two suitcases onto the train. No one helped her do this. We all just sat and stared.

A few stops later she stood to get off. She opened the door, lugged one heavy suitcase outside, then boarded the train to take off the second when suddenly the doors closed and the train took off.

The woman panicked, watching half of her worldly possessions fly by through the window. My friend tried to comfort her by saying that the transit police would pick it up and it would be saved for her when she returned.

Other than these kind words, nobody said anything. Nobody did anything.

I can't help but wonder, did we sit and stare and do nothing because she was different, because she was dirty and homeless and mumbling to herself (and therefore obviously "crazy", someone to be scared of)? If it were any other ordinary citizen, would someone have helped?

I feel guilty every time I remember this incident. I allowed my prejudices to dictate my actions and because of that I needlessly allowed another human being to suffer.

And now you all know my war against complacency.