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Want your input about a situation that happened this morning.
I live in a neighborhood in which there are some Hispanic families...one family lives right behind me, another lives a couple of doors up from me, and there are several others. Obviously, the members of these families speak Spanish. This morning there were two Hispanic men who knocked on my door and asked, in very good English, if I knew if there was anyone in the neighborhood who spoke Spanish.
I said "I don't know". Obviously that was a lie, because I do know.
The men thanked me, then walked across the street and asked my neighbor. He walked outside, proceeded to go out onto the street and pointed out the homes of my Hispanic neighbors.
The reason I lied to the men is simply because I had no idea who in the world they were. (I suppose in hindsight I could have asked them before giving an answer, but I didn't think about that at the time.) The men were nicely dressed and carrying briefcases. They could have been Mormons, but I doubt it because Mormons usually wear white shirts while out proselytizing. Maybe they were Jehovah's Witnesses, I don't know. But the thing is, why would they ask if there was anyone in the neighborhood who spoke Spanish? Do Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses have members who specifically seek out Spanish-speaking people while proselytizing?
So what do you think? Was it a good thing for me to lie to those men? My general thinking at the time was that I didn't want to possibly endanger the lives of my Spanish-speaking neighbors. Who knows what those two men may have been up to. They could have been looking for someone specific in order to carry out some sort of vendetta, for all I know. I wouldn't have felt right leading them to their victim.
What would you have done?
None of us are perfect, I bet a lot of people would've said I don't know.
Oh good grief, what is the big deal? You did the right thing, your other neighbor did not. This world is too wicked to trust ANYONE who comes knocking at your door. The only thing I would have done differently is to not answer the door!
Exactly! Now what if..... what if they were shady characters and you did in fact direct them to your neighbours? Then you would be feeling much worse about your decision. You see, unfortunately we live in a world where we have to think of worst case scnerios and err on the side of safety with strangers. I believe in God's eyes you did absolutely no wrong.
Maybe you can't remember, but if you can, I'd be curious to know how the conversation went. For starters, LDS missionaries ALWAYS travel in twos. A lone Mormon missionary is so against all the rules that it's not even funny. Also, the question he asked (about your neighbors) doesn't seem quite like something Mormon missionaries would ask. I'd tend to be suspicious about it being a Mormon missionary.
That's just the point -- in afterthought, I don't think he was a Mormon.
All I remember about the incident was that I was busy, already at the door, painting the threshold or the door, and he rode his bike up my driveway. He was dressed in the usual white shirt and black slacks. I don't remember what he said initially, but I was nice to him -- it's just that I was busy. Since I was nice, he assumed more than I was willing to give. However, because I didn't turn and really look at him, I realized afterward that I didn't look for a "elder" badge, so I don't know if he had one on -- but anyone can fake one of those! I do remember he was wearing a bike helmet.
But this is the problem! Anyone can fake anything! Anyone can pull together the outfit. Anyone can come up with a story.
For example, I could easily put on one of my suits, grab one of my attache cases, put together a presentation book, then go out and "sell" whatever, from brushes to religion. People would probably at least let me stand on their porch, where I could easily survey their front room. Less savvy people would let me in, where I could survey their front room and more.
She did the right thing to send these guys off without information, because they could have used it against her or the neighbors. If they were legitimate, they still did the wrong thing.
Want your input about a situation that happened this morning.
I live in a neighborhood in which there are some Hispanic families...one family lives right behind me, another lives a couple of doors up from me, and there are several others. Obviously, the members of these families speak Spanish. This morning there were two Hispanic men who knocked on my door and asked, in very good English, if I knew if there was anyone in the neighborhood who spoke Spanish.
I said "I don't know". Obviously that was a lie, because I do know.
The men thanked me, then walked across the street and asked my neighbor. He walked outside, proceeded to go out onto the street and pointed out the homes of my Hispanic neighbors.
The reason I lied to the men is simply because I had no idea who in the world they were. (I suppose in hindsight I could have asked them before giving an answer, but I didn't think about that at the time.) The men were nicely dressed and carrying briefcases. They could have been Mormons, but I doubt it because Mormons usually wear white shirts while out proselytizing. Maybe they were Jehovah's Witnesses, I don't know. But the thing is, why would they ask if there was anyone in the neighborhood who spoke Spanish? Do Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses have members who specifically seek out Spanish-speaking people while proselytizing?
So what do you think? Was it a good thing for me to lie to those men? My general thinking at the time was that I didn't want to possibly endanger the lives of my Spanish-speaking neighbors. Who knows what those two men may have been up to. They could have been looking for someone specific in order to carry out some sort of vendetta, for all I know. I wouldn't have felt right leading them to their victim.
One should go to a confessional and confess to God. You can absolve these sins in the sacrament of confession. Perhaps something small like this could be wiped away by the Holy Eucharist. Why are you putting your faith in strangers to clear up the guilt in your heart?
Are you serious? How do you get through a day as a human being?
I was talking to my mom about this today, and she thinks I did the right thing. She also told me something I hadn't really thought about, and that's the problem with drug gangs in Mexico that could be looking to recruit Spanish-speaking immigrants in the U.S. who might be willing to join the gang in order to facilitate the drug shipments into parts of the country. Ouch! Of course, I have no idea if my Hispanic neighbors would be involved in that sort of thing, but yeah I'm glad I lied to those guys.
Telling Jehovah's Witnesses to go away accomplishes nothing, really. It does show anyone watching that you're a coward and God doesn't accept cowards. Jehovah's Witnesses are the bravest, kindest people on the earth.
Want your input about a situation that happened this morning.
I live in a neighborhood in which there are some Hispanic families...one family lives right behind me, another lives a couple of doors up from me, and there are several others. Obviously, the members of these families speak Spanish. This morning there were two Hispanic men who knocked on my door and asked, in very good English, if I knew if there was anyone in the neighborhood who spoke Spanish.
I said "I don't know". Obviously that was a lie, because I do know.
The men thanked me, then walked across the street and asked my neighbor. He walked outside, proceeded to go out onto the street and pointed out the homes of my Hispanic neighbors.
The reason I lied to the men is simply because I had no idea who in the world they were. (I suppose in hindsight I could have asked them before giving an answer, but I didn't think about that at the time.) The men were nicely dressed and carrying briefcases. They could have been Mormons, but I doubt it because Mormons usually wear white shirts while out proselytizing. Maybe they were Jehovah's Witnesses, I don't know. But the thing is, why would they ask if there was anyone in the neighborhood who spoke Spanish? Do Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses have members who specifically seek out Spanish-speaking people while proselytizing?
So what do you think? Was it a good thing for me to lie to those men? My general thinking at the time was that I didn't want to possibly endanger the lives of my Spanish-speaking neighbors. Who knows what those two men may have been up to. They could have been looking for someone specific in order to carry out some sort of vendetta, for all I know. I wouldn't have felt right leading them to their victim.
What would you have done?
I would not have given out any information. You did not know what they wanted. It is a really strange request.
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