A bum you can trust - honest!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

A bum you can trust - honest!
Reunion with AmEx angel

By KEVIN FASICK and TODD VENEZIA

A Manhattan homeless man had an emotional reunion yesterday with the kindhearted ad executive who lent him her American Express Platinum Card outside a SoHo restaurant, in what became a shining act of generosity, trust and honesty.

"I didn't have to thank him. I trusted him all along," said Merrie Harris, 45, as she hugged Jay Valentine, 32, outside La Esquina on Kenmare Street.

Harris lent her card to Valentine there Monday after he asked her for change. Most people who witnessed the act of extreme generosity doubted he would ever come back. But a short time later, he returned with the card, stunning many and earning Valentine the title of Most Honest Homeless Man in the City.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/reunion_with_amex_angel_dFCLsWzzXEj2mwhFn6g2IJ#ixzz0wUL6tIOo

[uncommon]

1. Interesting story --

it's too bad the generosity to those in need is a headline, but I am glad these two people had that experience.

[existentialist]

2. Somehow I read this similarly as I read Bill O'Rielly's

account of his experience at Sylvia's(?),

He was astonished that black people acted civilized at a black restaurant.

Here the rich folks were shocked at the honestly of a homeless person.

I have known some good hearted and honest wealthy people (I think I can say that).

I have known far more honest and good hearted poor.

I actually find it somewhat less likely that the rich lady would lend her card than that the homeless man would return it.


But it is the astonishment of the rich ladies friends that is worth commentary; they have molded their expectations to the point that a contrary happening surprised them. What is really newsworthy is not the contrary happening, but the molded expectations.

[uncommon]

4. Agreed - I found much more shocking that she gave it, not that he returned it.

Indeed I didn't even realize how classist the headline was until just now.

[ipaint]

3. I wonder if the real "bums" are the not nice people who can't afford a roof over thier heads. nt