It was a bitterly cold day in Oregon City, Oregon. A mother and her three children were 'begging' (Is that too harsh of a term for the circumstance?) at the entrance to a local shopping center. One child was in a stroller, the two other children had to be under nine or ten. The mother held a sign. I can't remember the precise wording - something about desperately needing help.
I was driving and it wasn't appropriate to stop. It made me kind of sad and angry at the same time. What has our society become? Our governmental and charitable agencies seem overwhelmed. Many areas of the Portland Metro area are becoming virtual cesspools. However, I digress.
The woman... she might have genuinely needed help. But begging is not the answer. Where is local law enforcement at times like this? No, I'm not suggesting that she has, on the face of it, broken any laws. Well, perhaps, one might consider the mother's actions a form of child abuse. I don't know. Personally, I think it is humiliating and shameful that a child is subjected to this. It breaks your heart to see that sort of thing.
Again, where are our local police? There had to be patrols in the area. Said woman needs to be interviewed, helped. And asked... Why are you out here in the cold begging? What is your situation? What kind of help do you require? Are you being forced to do this by someone else? And, if her answers are evasive or not forthcoming, I think Child Protective Services should be notified without delay.
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