The news lately has brought back a number of memories of various \u201cforeigners\u201d that I\u2019ve had dealings with over the years. Some I\u2019ve been able to help and others, for one reason or another, I couldn\u2019t. One incident I\u2019ll never forget happened in the early 70\u2019s \u2014 I remember it like it was yesterday\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a rainy night \u2014 I was to meet someone at a particular restaurant. When I arrived, I stood across the street and looked at the restaurant \u2014 I could see a few heads in the window, eating and drinking and it looked a bit smoky because most everyone smoked back then. I waited because the person I was meeting didn\u2019t appear to be inside. But then a small Asian man wearing a cheap windbreaker came walking down the street from the direction of the bus stop and went into the restaurant. I waited for about five minutes \u2014 a few people came by, but it looked clear. There didn\u2019t appear to be any surveillance so I crossed the street and went into the restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was at a table by the back wall, still wearing his wet jacket. He smiled when he saw me \u2014 he was smoking, but hadn\u2019t ordered a drink\u2026 probably because he couldn\u2019t afford it. We shook hands and talked about the weather and family. His wife and children were fine, but he didn\u2019t have heat or air conditioning or running water in his two room \u201chouse.\u201d I asked if he wanted coffee \u2014 he asked for tea. We sipped our drinks and smiled at each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I pointed to the menu and motioned for a bored-looking waiter. But he said the food could wait \u2014 he had to know the answer\u2026 it was important to him. Had we found him a job \u2014 a job that would give him what his alien status couldn\u2019t. A chance to earn a salary, to be the breadwinner in his family and to earn his neighbors respect. A steady job was all he wanted in return for his help with our mission. Just paying him wasn\u2019t the same thing \u2014 didn\u2019t I understand that? I did, but I couldn\u2019t tell him the truth \u2014 that my management thought he was of poor moral character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My superiors agreed that, of course, we had an obligation to \u201cdefectors\u201d but we had done more than enough for him years ago, even though he still had certain potential. No \u2014 all I could say was I couldn\u2019t help him with a job. We stared at one another for what seemed like forever. Thank you, he said and carefully put out his cigarette. He pushed his tea cup away, stood up and wished me a good evening. He went out the restaurant door without looking back \u2014 out into the rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I sat and finished my coffee. The waiter came over and asked me if I\u2019d like to order now. I just asked for the check, pointing to the drinks. Then I walked out \u2014 into the rain.
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The news lately has brought back a number of memories of various \u201cforeigners\u201d that I\u2019ve had dealings with over the years. Some I\u2019ve been able to help and others, for one reason or another, I couldn\u2019t. One incident I\u2019ll never … Continue reading