Thursday, June 5, 2008

Not getting involved

In March of 1964 a public stir was caused when Kitty Genovese, a 28-year-old woman living in Queens, NY, was stabbed and raped while a number of people -- at the time 38 was the number cited, but that is disputed today -- heard or saw part of the crime and did nothing. Famously, one neighbor said, "I didn't want to get involved."

A week ago, pedestrians and motorists on a busy Hartford, Conn. street looked on but did not rush to the aid of a 78-year-old man who was hit by a car and lay bleeding in the road. While police say that four people quickly dialed 9-1-1, video from a surveillance camera -- which seems to show a reluctance to offer help -- is drawing outrage from the public.

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