Dear Editor,
I am 27 years old, and growing up, I was always taught to treat others the way you want to be treated, and that everyone is equal.
I was also taught not to judge others by their appearance, race, or how much or how little money they have.
My boyfriend and I were waiting in Tim Hortons (on 200th by Willowbrook Shopping Centre) for our ride home, when our friend Jack showed up. Jack is homeless, and has been since I’ve known him. He panhandles on the median for a living.
Jack talked to us for a bit, then offered to buy us each a coffee and a doughnut. He stood in line and waited to order – but when it came to his turn and he began to order, the employee said, “We can’t serve your kind anymore.â€
It wasn’t like Jack had no money; he had two Tim cards which had plenty of money on them. And he wasn’t loud or rude.
So Jack asked my boyfriend to order the same thing, with the same cards (and the exact same employee saw Jack ask my boyfriend), and what do you know, my boyfriend had no problem at all.
That seriously angered me. Homeless people are people just like anyone else. Shouldn’t people treat others how they themselves would like to be treated? We should be helping out homeless people like Jack, not pushing them down.
This is not the first I’ve seen this type of harsh and uncalled-for behaviour in Langley. It’s so bad, I’m ashamed of saying it’s where I was born and raised. It’s time for Langley to stop judging and discriminating.
Crystal Penner, Langley