Glen James, role model.
This is straightforward: Glen James, a Boston man who lives in shelters and has no money, found a backpack over the weekend that contained $2,400 in cash, $39,500 in traveler’s checks, passports, and other personal items. James flagged down a passing Boston police officer and gave him the backpack. As is often the case with stories like this, he doesn’t think what he did was a big deal: after all, isn’t this what anyone would do?
We all know the answer to that question.
He was honored by Boston police at a ceremony yesterday, at which James said only, “I don’t talk too much because I stutter.” Instead of an oral statement, he prepared a handwritten one saying,
“Even if I were desperate for money, I would not have kept even a … penny of the money I found. I am extremely religious — God has always very well looked after me. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone — every pedestrian stranger — who has given me spare change. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
No, thank you, Mr. James.
He had so many rationalizations available to take what wasn’t his, yet took the ethical course instead. Class, wealth and social status does not correlate with character and values, and Glen James demonstrated once again that the best of humanity can can be found in the humblest of homes. He is better role model for your children than thousands of better known, more celebrated, more powerful and honored Americans.
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Facts and Graphic: Boston.com
– See more at: http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/09/16/glen-james-homeless-man-who-returned-bag-cash-honored-boston-police/Cuy1OJqQ5PmGAwRxSRXKmO/story.html#sthash.AI2LPIzi.dpuf
found the backpack Saturday at the South Bay Center in Dorchester, a sprawling suburban-style shopping complex in Boston visible from the Southeast Expressway.
After making his discovery, James flagged down a passing Boston police officer and handed over the backpack. The backpack contained $2,400 in cash, $39,500 in traveler’s checks, passports, and various personal papers, police said.
found the backpack Saturday at the South Bay Center in Dorchester, a sprawling suburban-style shopping complex in Boston visible from the Southeast Expressway.
After making his discovery, James flagged down a passing Boston police officer and handed over the backpack. The backpack contained $2,400 in cash, $39,500 in traveler’s checks, passports, and various personal papers, police said.
found the backpack Saturday at the South Bay Center in Dorchester, a sprawling suburban-style shopping complex in Boston visible from the Southeast Expressway.
After making his discovery, James flagged down a passing Boston police officer and handed over the backpack. The backpack contained $2,400 in cash, $39,500 in traveler’s checks, passports, and various personal papers, police said.
found the backpack Saturday at the South Bay Center in Dorchester, a sprawling suburban-style shopping complex in Boston visible from the Southeast Expressway.
After making his discovery, James flagged down a passing Boston police officer and handed over the backpack. The backpack contained $2,400 in cash, $39,500 in traveler’s checks, passports, and various personal papers, police said.
Ethics Alarms 
He is a better role model than 90% (if not all) “better known, more celebrated, more powerful and honored Americans.” He is honest, he is moral, he is ethical, and is grateful for those kind people who help him in the least caring way — tossing change to him on the streets. Anyone ever talk to him about helping him get a job? Did the police do anything but have a ceremony? Any small job he could do for them?
We care about the big issues — political, financial, societal (personal and otherwise) — but few of us care about the individuals who deserve more than life has given them but still have managed to become honorable men and women.
I once found a large amount of money, passports (for a family), and traveler’s checks in a money envelope in the womens’ bathroom at Miami International Airport. My husband turned it into security, but he first made several officers come together before turning it over. Human nature being what it is, we thought there was a risk even turning the money over to one officer.
What always boggles me is how astounded people are when good is done for them- I found a disc with a name and phone number on it at the local disc golf course and the owner was 1) surprised that I called him, and 2) flabbergasted that I said he didn’t need to pay me for his own property. It’s depressing, when you think about it, that he expected either of those to be the reverse.
Why is it that a man of honor and integrity is out on the street while the Boston city hall denizens, from the demogogue mayor down to his racketeering henchman, live on the fat of the land and are hailed by the media? Life isn’t fair by nature, but one would think that even Massachusetts could do better than this.