Richard Wright was brightening the days of dozens of strangers in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) in Canada, by handing out C$50 and C$100 bills. As reported by Metro News , last week Wright was giving cash to different people he encountered in HRM and asking that the recipients, thank God for the gift and if they didnt need the money, to pass it on to someone else. The Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) Royal Canadian Mounted Police were called to conduct a wellness check on Wright. So, when he was seen driving, officers stopped the generous man. After speaking with him, they felt that Mr. Wright needed further assessment by a medical health person.
Mr. Wrights daughter, Chelsea, called attention to her fathers circumstances when she recently posted a photo of him and said that he had received unfair treatment by the hospital and the police. Her father has not been allowed to leave the hospital despite insistence that he is had no mental-health issues. Chelsea explained that her father worked hard to save money and when the family was on vacation in Halifax, he simply decided to share some extra money with those in need.
Health P.E.I. would not comment on Wrights specific case, but released a statement saying, A patient is always admitted at the clinical recommendation of a physician who has met with and assessed the patient.
In an earlier report, Metro News noted that some who met Wright said that he told people he lived in the woods and spoke about, a movement coming to take the wealth from the one percent and distribute it to the people. Questions were then raised about the mental-health of the man and if it was right to accept his money. But Bev Cadham of the Canadian Mental Health Associations local branch, said that that Wright had spoken to two people affiliated with the program. Cadham doesnt believe hes mentally ill, instead she said, Hes a generous individual and is wrapped up in the acts of kindness, and is wanting to help people.
Mr. Wright has many supporters who have started the Facebook group, #OpFreeRichardWright , calling for his release. In the groups description, Wrights advocates say that the giving man handed out the money anonymously because he did not want attention for his random acts of kindness.
More info: Metro News
Not surprising that a man engaging in acts of charity is arrested and 'assessed' as mentally unbalanced. He's lucky he's in Canada... here in the US he'd not only be crazy, but Un-American as well.
You could be right unfortunately . In the US we prefer our charity to be done through established organizations .Occasionally a guy can give a BIG TIP to a waitress though .
Theoretically people "prefer" it that way . The fact that many resent it is ignored by those elected to office .
I would suggest checking their cash flow inputs instead . Follow the money ...
Dear Friend Petey Coober: If giving charity is a sign of mental illness, call me crazy!
The big three for me and mine in our fall High Holy Day season are Tefilahm, Tesuhvah Veh Tzaddakah. That is, prayer, repentance and charity. We opine that the Almighty will re-write what he has in store for us in the coming New Year in the Book of Life should we communicate through prayer, be charitable in our acts (not only limited to donations) and turn away for the corrupting influences of society so that we may restore our souls to their initial purity given to us on loan at birth.
Charity (Tzaddakah) comes from the same verb shoresh (stem) as Tzeddek (righteousness). To the Biblical mind we see being charitable and righteous as connected. For some of us, being uncharitable and non-righteousare examples of choleh ruach (sickness of the spirit, mental hygiene challenges).
There is more than one way to view charity. It is not always in the pejorative.
Peace, Abundant Blessings, Righteousness and Charity to One and All.
Enoch.
Charity is an essential part of the good life . And it doesn't have to be money . There are other things to give especially if money is not abundant ...
Thanks for stopping in , you crazy guy !
As I've said elsewhere, the only reason we're out here and others are locked up in mental institutions is because we're the majority.
I think its because those who are inside are not as talented at butt kissing ...
Or else refuse to butt-kiss, like McMurphy.
Clearly you are deeply influenced by Ken Kesey . Or is it Jack Nicholson ?
Could be both. One of my favourite Nicholson scenes was in "Five Easy Pieces" when he swept all the dishes off the diner table.
That was an amazing movie ... They don't make them like that anymore , right ? How about the scene when he got out of the car which was stuck in traffic and climbed onto the back of a truck , sat at the piano and started to play ...
Back to the topic . Compare those who ends up in a mental hospital to who ends up in jail ...
Royal......love it!!!!
There are a lot of acts of kindness that go on daily that aren't on the front page of the newspaper. This is a warning to them to be careful.
Indeed . There have been groups in the US setting up soup kitchens for the homeless only to be shut down by the authorities .