I've been sort of following Nicole's political career since the start of the GE, and maybe I can shed some light.
Nicole broke down and cried on that day not because she felt helpless about the situation and couldn't work out a simple solution to help the older lady (eg loan the money). Neither was Nicole doing it to score cheap points. I don't think she's capable of doing that.
Nicole felt a keen sense of compassion for the auntie because from the auntie's story, it's appeared that she had been threatened and derided at by the RC volunteer(s), if you listen carefully to what Nicole's said to the auntie when she was sitting opposite her.
It matters not so much whether the RC did or didn't intend to ridicule the older woman, or they're playing by the rules. The meat of the matter was whether the auntie did feel hurt from her conversations with the RC volunteer(s). It's not what you say, but how you say it. According to the auntie, she was put in a room with a few others, and was spoken to without any empathy. They told the auntie something like, "it's not as if the amount is $1000; it's only $80."
Being in touch of her feelings, Nicole shed a tear, out of compassion for the auntie's situation, and partly out of indignation about the treatment the auntie had received.
Frankly from video of the RC volunteer, I could sense the haughtiness from her tone and facial expression. I'm inclined to believe the auntie's story.
As to whether Nicole did loan the money to the auntie to tie her over, I do not know the details. She might have. She did say in another interview (sorry, can't remember which) she would contact the auntie in that afternoon and would provide free tuition for the auntie's child.
From my perspective, her tears came from a heart that couldn't bear to see injustices done to the less fortunate ones in the society. She's young and she's full of idealism, and she's not jaded like some, well, many of us. We've become too cynical. Many have said that her tears aren't for real, but I think they are way off from the truth.
She's a rare breed, and totally worthy of our support for her cause.
Nicole broke down and cried on that day not because she felt helpless about the situation and couldn't work out a simple solution to help the older lady (eg loan the money). Neither was Nicole doing it to score cheap points. I don't think she's capable of doing that.
Nicole felt a keen sense of compassion for the auntie because from the auntie's story, it's appeared that she had been threatened and derided at by the RC volunteer(s), if you listen carefully to what Nicole's said to the auntie when she was sitting opposite her.
It matters not so much whether the RC did or didn't intend to ridicule the older woman, or they're playing by the rules. The meat of the matter was whether the auntie did feel hurt from her conversations with the RC volunteer(s). It's not what you say, but how you say it. According to the auntie, she was put in a room with a few others, and was spoken to without any empathy. They told the auntie something like, "it's not as if the amount is $1000; it's only $80."
Being in touch of her feelings, Nicole shed a tear, out of compassion for the auntie's situation, and partly out of indignation about the treatment the auntie had received.
Frankly from video of the RC volunteer, I could sense the haughtiness from her tone and facial expression. I'm inclined to believe the auntie's story.
As to whether Nicole did loan the money to the auntie to tie her over, I do not know the details. She might have. She did say in another interview (sorry, can't remember which) she would contact the auntie in that afternoon and would provide free tuition for the auntie's child.
From my perspective, her tears came from a heart that couldn't bear to see injustices done to the less fortunate ones in the society. She's young and she's full of idealism, and she's not jaded like some, well, many of us. We've become too cynical. Many have said that her tears aren't for real, but I think they are way off from the truth.
She's a rare breed, and totally worthy of our support for her cause.
