I know what I'd do as this situation has presented itself on several occasions. I would NEVER walk away.

Over the years (33 being a Mom) my girls were constantly after me to be careful. "He might be crazy" they would say. Or "he might come after you."

But I WAS always careful. I never confronted a situation that would endanger me or my then little ones.

I would gather whatever information necessary and call the authorities.

On one such occasion we were eating in a restaurant. A family across the room was loud and the parents were chastising an obviously already upset little tyke. This was a fairly nice restaurant, though one we had never eaten in it before, as we were traveling and unfamiliar with the area.

I kept "staring/glaring" at the man who was verbally mean to the child. What amazed me is that no one, neither diners or staff seemed to notice or care about the event. I kept saying I was going to do something and my family kept saying no you're not. But they are used to me "doing something," especially when children are involved.

After about 2 minutes of this, he jerked toward the little girl and looked like he was going to hit her. I yelled something brilliant, like "Hey." It was then, he turned toward me, & looked back at me with an evil eye. REALLY MEAN. Sort of saying, "you want some of this?"

The safety of my own children was more important to me at that point than anything else.

It was just a minute later that the man (I assumed it was the father of the child) took the child outside and we could see that he "sat" her firmly on the hood of their car on her tender little bottom. That's when I went to the manager and said let me have your phone. I did not ask but demanded (before cell phones made it so easy to report and get help) and called 911. We then scooped up our girls, paid the bill and got in and locked our car. My husband drove across the parking lot to a safer spot where we could watch the man, until the police came but be where we could leave if he came toward us. had my girls not been with us, I would have been in his face. But sometimes getting involved does not mean physically if it endangers you. He was not physically hurting the little girl but emotionally he was a tyrant. He crossed the line when he sat her on the hood of a hot car. This was obviously not unusual behavior for this guy. Sometimes you can just tell.

The man saw us watching, and calmed a bit. In about 2 minutes the police arrived.

This is one of dozens of times when myself or my family have stepped up. Often more physically, but you have to remember your own safety. There are ways to prevent further abuse systematically. I would NEVER walk away however.

This entire event took about 10 minutes but seemed like an eternity. I have never understood when people walk away. But then maybe they don't. Maybe they go around the corner and call the police. We can all do SOMETHING. Even if it's just a phone call.

As a trained CPR, I have assisted in cpr in restaurants on 2 occasions to utter strangers as well. It's just who I am who my parents where and now who my beautiful grown children are. Caretakers of the less able.

God Bless and stay safe....Irish17020

What I would do is do nothing. My instincts take over when exposed to certain situations. When I am exposed to something uncomfortable, or something that is illegal or unsafe, I am now in a sense a victim and a witness.

Elena Esquivel

hey!

i'm so excited to watch the show @4.00pm .

Most of the time i defend people more than i defend my self.i witnessed the abuse in work place .i work in animal clinic and once my c-worker who was helping the doctor and who is also the hospital director asked me to give them a hand on a sedated dog.when i ran to help them the dr asked to help him to put the dog on a side while doing that we went in different directions he yelled and hit me on my hand .i dind't find the words what to say i made sure to put the animal safely on the scale and walked away. he said he was sorry and i forgave him.but there were many witnesses there :doctors and lvts and assistants everybody heard and saw what happened but nobody said anything!it actually gave some of them the green light to treat me wrong.the work place is so dramatic now.i decided to move forward and now i'm willing to look for a new job and leave my work place.i became very defencive since then and that is not me .

and also there was a lot of comments about my name....and some of them tried to call me with a nickname and i refused because i love my name and it's the only gift i have from my parents who live a half of the the world away.

Step up of course.

My question to Oprah is: Is it true that you said on national television that it is ok to tip 10 % when out eating at a restaurant? If so, will you step up and answer why you decided to take the pay of hundreds of thousands Americans in your hands?

Will you take a pay cut to make up for what we are losing out on that statement? Do you have any clue what you have done,Oprah?

Can you step up and apologize? And tell the people of our country that you are not an econimic advisor and that you made an enormous mistake?

Do you have it in you to admit you made a mistake so huge it is not even possible to measure?

I sure hope so, because you just made life harder for many families and hard working people of the United States of America.

Waiting to hear from you, Oprah

Amira Bichara, Dayton, Ohio.

A long time ago I stepped in while my best friend was being beaten by her husband and got punched in the jaw..would do it again in a heartbeat. used to be a caregiver for my ex fiance, he was 100% disabled, one time a guy said to him something about being drunk in public..I totally embarrassed the guy..but my bf was in awe...

As a teenager I was overweight, from the 5th grade to the 8th grade I was verbally abused, I was called everything you can think of that meant large, no one ever came to my defense, not even my "best" friend. It was the worst time of my life. I have since lost all that weight but at the age of 52 I can still hear those hurtful words. I will never allow any one else do that to another human being, no matter the cost.

Kudos to Jon Quinones. What a fabulous idea for a television show. This is the kind of thing that can make people prepare and plan in case they do come across a situation like the ones he presents. I think when people don't know what to do they are less likely to act. This presentation offers people the chance to consider an appropriate response and "practice" humanitarian behavior (if only by discussion) in a nonthreatenting situation. After thinking about the kind of person they want to be in various situations people are more likely to act as active and caring community members. This could really impact the American "community." Americans should be proud of themselves for helping their community members. Love it! I will be watching.

Well I would definately do something. Two years ago me and my husband and a couple of our freinds went out to a local bar, we were there maybe 15 minutes and I seen this couple fighting. The girl looked pretty scared so I went over to her and asked her if she wanted me to go and get help, so I told one of the bouncers. As I turn around to walk away the guy that was fighting with her was standing behind me and getting all up in my face. So we had words and we all got kicked out. I dont think that we should have been kicked out because I didnt do anything, I was just standing my ground with him. They left before we did and me and my husband left like 5 minutes later and here the guy was waiting outside for me and he started hitting me, I fell to the ground unconscous (my husband went to get the car because it was raining). So the police came and I was taken away in an ambulance. But still after all that, I would step in again, just a little more cautously. That is my story and I just wanted to share it, sometimes its ok to help, others times you need to watch your back.

I pray for you.

Oprah quoted someone who said something to the effect that "all evil needs to grow is for good people to do nothing."

I wonder: what is our definition of evil? Prejudice? Bigotry?

If it's so obvious that we should "step up" to protect a Muslim woman who would like to buy a pastry, then why can't we "step up" to save the life of an unborn child? Each one of us should ask, "If my mother aborted me at 8 weeks, would that mean that I never existed and therefore, it was not murder to kill me?" Or do mothers get a pass at murder? What about Casey Anthony, then? Or is the timing of the murder all that matters? Maybe next time John Quinones should visit an abortion clinic, and hire some 13-year old pregnant actors to create a "What Would You Do?" situation.

Hi my name is Diane Moreira, and I used to live in the United States, I left California in September 2008. I was a Specialist in teaching children with severe Autism and behavioral needs, and I am a Canadian of Portuguese decent. I obtained a work Visa to teach my wonderful students at The Help Group, the largest Eduational facility in the US for children with Autism. I am a very "ethnic" looking person, and that never bothered me I am very proud of my heritage - Portuguese people are mixed with much African and Arabic blood which I think is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately the Officers at Homeland Security did not agree. As a Canadian I have to leave the States annually and come back in, via Canadian border to reapply for my work VISA. Although I had all my paperwork in order, and was still the teacher of 12 wonderful Special needs Students who needed me very much, I was removed from the public, put in a small room, told to sit down rather forcefully while 2 very large men, stod over me, deminshing my human-ness. I was called a "sand nigger", which was a new term for me - but I understood it immediately. No matter what I told these men, they told me "your outta here, get your stuff and get out" - I explained I was in the middle of my Masters program and have been a productive citizen contributing to American culture - I was told I have "no right to go to school here - You People think you can bring in your dirty money and do whatever you want". At this point I was in tears, desperate, thinking of the thousands of dollars I invested in a degree I was being forced to leave without finish, students who's lives I changed, - praying I was allowed to go back to my apartment and get my cat and family pictures.

No one helped me. Other male officers from Homeland Security passed while they witnessed this man be degrading to myself. One Black officer came into the room to relieve the other Officer, and said to me firmly but with slight compassion "there is nothing I can do for you now miss, it's on the record... your a smart girl ... Masters degree and all, you'll figure something out." I was given 2 weeks to get my things together and leave the country - which by the way is illegal to do to a Canadian citizen, who for the record has a complete CLEAN Federal record check in the US, Canada and Europe because of the line of work I am in.

I contacted many people for help. Nothing. Many branches of government - Nothing. Lawyers, nothing. I left The United States broken financially and spiritually. My students went with out a permenant teacher for 5 months, because it's quite difficult to find someone with my experience. When I told Americans, my friends what had happened, well most were angry and disgusted, many cried. But no one, and I mean no one helped me.

Apathy and indefference destorys the souls of collective societies, and allows the citizens to become something other then human.

Yours,

Diane Moreira, Toronto, Canada

Oprah---I had a situation similar to this 21 years ago. I am handicapped with Spina Bifida since birth and have walked on crutches all my life. I was 8 months pregnant and working a few miles from my home when one winter morning on the way to work ended up in the ditch in snow up to the lights of my car. I was ok so I got out and waded through the snow and got up to the roadway and stood on the side of the road while 26 cars drove by, slowed down, looked at me and then drove on their way. Finally a very good samaritan lady who was going the opposite direction slowed down, looked, and then turned her car around and came back and picked me up and took me back home. I was so relieved that someone had enough concern to stop and help me. I could not believe how many people could look and then pass by a not only pregnant woman but one on crutches with a car deep in snow. I wonder what they were afraid of? Thanks for letting me share this with you. I love your program and you are one of my most admired people.

I really don't know what I'd do. There is considerable risk with getting involved. I know a man who got involved when a woman was screaming for help and that she was being killed. He asked others to call the police and then intervened. He was arrested, charged with 4 felonies and had to spend thousands of dollars to stay out of jail and them even more to keep from having his professional license revoked. He displayed a rifle but harmed no one. You see, the girl and her friend were "just playing" and the teenage boy was still a minor so the man was charged with child endangerment for having pointed the rifle at him to get him off the girl. Law enforcement in some locations is very jealous of its status and people need to think twice before doing good deeds. They are often severely punished.

Step up!!!! I have always been this way. I have never given a thought being a woman to the danger or ramifications associated with such an act. I always speak up or intervene when it is necessary.

I can remember an incident with a new friend who was going through a terrible divorce, she had been only married just weeks to a man who turned out to be someone he truly was not. Not til after the huge wedding shower, wedding, and a very expensive honeymoon did they return home to start a new life together as a loving couple. But, to find out the man she thought was the love of her life was a homosexual living another life charging up huge bills and was mentally and physically abusive. He was from a family with a lot of ties to a local community, and they went to all means to protect his reputation by destroying my friends. This surfaced one day with me when we went shopping for some plants at a local greenhouse and she attempted to pay for her items. I was still browsing in the general area and within hearing distance, when I heard some discussion and felt something was not right. I immediately went to register, to ask what the problem was. The owner refused to sell her the items she had placed on the counter. As I looked at my friend and the owner with some confusion as to why he wouldn't want to take her money. He spits out I hope you enjoyed the wedding gift! As my friend tried to explain that her ex had taken most all the wedding gifts and money, he didn't want to hear anything. He proceeded to say she could not purchase anything, but I could. Now my friend does not like confrontation and had already been humilated by everything that hadn't taken place, so she was embarrassed and distraught by what was happening at this moment. Now my first instinct was to reach over the counter and punch him out but that wouldn't be a civilized thing for a young woman to do, so I used what I knew was the next best thing, word of mouth. Not until after I told him what I thought of him and that I wouldn't purchase anything from his place if it was the last place on earth. (sounds silly now) But at that moment I was so flippin mad I could not believe what he had said. As we left, my friend apologized to me and said I could still purchase the things I wanted. I looked at her ad said, first things first, you never have to apologize to me, you are my friend and I couldn't tolerate and allow this man's behavior. And do you actually think after that I would purchase anything from this place? I told her he was a little man for not knowing the truths and and to remember that what comes around goes around. It has taken many years for her to recover from the untruths of her ex and his family. But she is happy now and I would step up again to protect her honor.

widesmiles

I was raised in Los Gatos, California in the 40's and 50's. We did not have any black people, or hispanic. We had a couple of Chinese girls (we had a home "The Ming Quong" it took in about 10 chinese girls of different ages. We had over 300 in our graduating class of 1959. What I am getting at, is that I had never talked to a black person until I was 18 years old. I had no real opinion one way or the other, I just didn't know what the big deal was, lestening to the people from the south etc. I went to work at Lockheed as a secretary for 13 guys, two were black men. They just seemed like anyone else. My grandmother used to take us to San Francisco a coule of times a year, we would have to get all dressed up, she would hat and gloves. There were a lot of black people around, and a lot of other races, but we never had any reason to talk with them. We were there shopping and going to the ice follies. When I moved to Seattle in the 60's, there were a few black people around, not many. But one day I just in my boyfriends little office, in his car lot. There were four big football players, that were black, in his office with me. I had been sitting there when they came in, and then my boyfriend came in, he was selling them a car. He had to leave the little office, and he closed the door when he went out for some business. I had the strangest feeling, being left there with these four huge black men. I don't know if it was because they were black, or whether they were just so big, it seemed like they were taking up the whole office.

I guess I am saying I have never had any opinion about black people one way or the other. I would have done the same thing the woman on the show did, about, the black couple fighting.

I would like to think that my reactions would have been the same as those heroic people on the show because their actions represent how I truly feel. Those people reconfirmed my belief that there are many very good people in this country who are very brave and take actions that advance all of our humanity.

However as an African-American female who has experienced discrimination and spoken out, I am ashamed to say that I may have been afraid that the bakery sales person would have called the police and had both the woman who was perceived as a Muslim and I thrown in jail without any rights. Its just that in certain situations and certain places, both of our rights would have been denied and in such instances it seems that the criminal justice department supports the locals in their discriminatory behavior in general As a person who is against discrimination and who would like to defend those being discriminated against, it is disheartening to think I would not have spoken out. for fear of us both going to jail How do I reconcile this within myself? The people who did take a positive action in those situations were encouraging and inspiring.

This show was very important for us to examine ourselves if we are to become the great nation that we are capable of being.