Would you return a bag of diamond rings?

[Lance]

I am impressed with you guys. I hope that I would have the courage to do what the cabbie did but I don’t believe the average person would do so. You guys are all posting on a Catholic web site so you are probably very religious people, I believe the average person would have kept them. From the cabbie’s name I assume he was not Catholic or Christian, but we all know what happens when we assume. This is not at all to imply that people of other religions are less honest than Christians, I just think the average Christian or other faith would have kept them. I think the media should have made a big deal out of what he did.

 

[Mr.Bee]

Yes, absolutely.

I’d rather sleep well at night than be rich.

 

[Augustine22]

I agree with Beckers. That cabbie was really something after the lousy tip. He didn’t have to go that far to do the moral thing. Above and beyond.

 

[Iowa_Mike]

I am impressed with you guys. I hope that I would have the courage to do what the cabbie did but I don’t believe the average person would do so. You guys are all posting on a Catholic web site so you are probably very religious people, I believe the average person would have kept them. From the cabbie’s name I assume he was not Catholic or Christian, but we all know what happens when we assume. This is not at all to imply that people of other religions are less honest than Christians, I just think the average Christian or other faith would have kept them. I think the media should have made a big deal out of what he did.

Lance,

I’m sorry you’re so cynical. I’ve been around for awhile and I’ve seen my share of larcenous people, God knows there’s enough of them out there. But, I’ve also seen many more honest people…people who dig deep to help each other when disaster strikes, people who return lost or stolen items even when they are almost destitute themsleves and people who render aid to complete strangers at accidents, etc. Look at what’s going on with our military people fighting in Iraq, etc…I’m amazed and humbled by their example.

Iowa Mike

 

[Lance]

Lance,

I’m sorry you’re so cynical. I’ve been around for awhile and I’ve seen my share of larcenous people, God knows there’s enough of them out there. But, I’ve also seen many more honest people…people who dig deep to help each other when disaster strikes, people who return lost or stolen items even when they are almost destitute themsleves and people who render aid to complete strangers at accidents, etc. Look at what’s going on with our military people fighting in Iraq, etc…I’m amazed and humbled by their example.

Iowa Mike

My cynacism is earned. I have had my car broken into and Christmas gifts, CD’s, radio and change(money) stolen. My home has been vandalized, beer can through a window because a kid did not like my son. My wife had her purse taken from her desk at work right after she cashed her check. Companies declaring bankruptcy a few days after my son in law did work for them and before he was paid. These are just a few, I could go on and on. I have been around probably as long or longer than you and I too have seen incredible acts of kindness and generosity as well as selfishness and greed. I agree with you about our military. The only person who willingly died for you, other than Christ, was a member of either the military, police force or fire department.

 

[Iowa_Mike]

My cynacism is earned. I have had my car broken into and Christmas gifts, CD’s, radio and change(money) stolen. My home has been vandalized, beer can through a window because a kid did not like my son. My wife had her purse taken from her desk at work right after she cashed her check. Companies declaring bankruptcy a few days after my son in law did work for them and before he was paid. These are just a few, I could go on and on. I have been around probably as long or longer than you and I too have seen incredible acts of kindness and generosity as well as selfishness and greed. I agree with you about our military. The only person who willingly died for you, other than Christ, was a member of either the military, police force or fire department.

Lance,

The trick is not to let the life’s problems blind you to the wonderful things that are going on. Cynicism can be a debilitating problem. I have some close relatives that live in dark places. Their glasses are always 1/2 empty. If they won the lottery they’d moan about having to pay taxes. They can see the bad side of every wonderful thing. That’s not a place I allow myelf to dwell. This morning my computer went nuts and took me 4 hours to fix it…now I’m way behind on some commitments (while I’m writing this to you), my wife had a flat tire, my niece wants to discuss her annulment application with me…I’m just waiting for my dog to bite me today and it will be complete.

Keep the faith brother…remember, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”

[In regione caecorum rex est luscus.]

Desiderius Erasmus, Adagia (III, IV, 96)
Dutch author, philosopher, & scholar (1466 - 1536)

Iowa Mike

 

[Lance]

Lance,

The trick is not to let the life’s problems blind you to the wonderful things that are going on. Cynicism can be a debilitating problem. I have some close relatives that live in dark places. Their glasses are always 1/2 empty. If they won the lottery they’d moan about having to pay taxes. They can see the bad side of every wonderful thing. That’s not a place I allow myelf to dwell. This morning my computer went nuts and took me 4 hours to fix it…now I’m way behind on some commitments (while I’m writing this to you), my wife had a flat tire, my niece wants to discuss her annulment application with me…I’m just waiting for my dog to bite me today and it will be complete.

Keep the faith brother…remember, “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”

[In regione caecorum rex est luscus.]

Desiderius Erasmus, Adagia (III, IV, 96)
Dutch author, philosopher, & scholar (1466 - 1536)

Iowa Mike

Sorry if I mislead you Mike, I am one of those who always think things could have been worse. I thank God every day for the unbelievable blessings he has given me. I am truely a blessed person who has 3 great kids, 3 wonderful grandsons, 2 of the worlds best son in laws and the best wife I could ever ask for. I just look at life realistically and think that there are a lot of people who would not have done what this cabbie did. I think it should have gotten more MSM play, if he had stolen the rings from her it would have been bigger news. IMO.

 

[TOP]

Be honest if you were this cabbie what would you have done? I hope I would have the moral strength and courage to do what he did. I don’t believe there are many people who would do as he did. His story deserves a lot of publicity.

A taxi driver returned a black bag carrying 31 diamond rings to a passenger who earlier had given him a 30-cent tip on an $11 ride.

Hours after Osman Chowdhury dropped off the passenger, he tracked her down through a flurry of phone calls and returned the bag, which she had left in the taxi’s trunk.

The unidentified woman, who said she was a jeweler, offered a $100 reward.

msnbc.msn.com/id/17024253/?GT1=9033

What would I want a bag of rings for?

 

[Margaret33]

Without a second thought. And I’d feel great doing it Have done this before (not quite diamonds or that high a price tag, but high enough…) I was down & out financially, but it didn’t matter. Boils down to… would I want someone else to return them if I had left them behind? Of course! Nothing is worth having if you have to get it at someone else’s expense. And I usually find when I return things of value, God turns around and somehow gives me a blessing even bigger or better (and meant for me).

 

[Lance]

What would I want a bag of rings for?

That’s what I keep asking my wife! Why do you want diamond rings?

 

[Joan_M]

Why would I keep something valuable that did not belong to me? Of course I’d try to return them. I doubt I would turn them over to the police (where I live, it is possible that they would not get returned to their owner!). I would probably go to the newspapers or the tv station and have them do a public service announvement. Of course, the person claiming them would have to be able to properly describe them.

Years ago, when I was 17 or so, while walking home I found a pay envelope with money in it on the street. I was not far from the presbytery at the time, so I went there. The priests were not home at the time, but I gave the envelope to the housekeeper. It happened that there was a parish mission going on at the time, so an announcement was made. The rightful owner got his pay packet back. He was a coal miner and that was his week’s pay. Without it his family would have had a very hard time until next pay day. I was very happy that I found his money and that he got it back. I never had a second’s temptation to keep it.

The coal miner was very happy too. He came to my home to personally thank me and give me a small reward. I didn’t want to take it, but did when it became clear that he really wanted me to take it.

It was a really good feeling to do the right thing.