If you see something that's not right, do something about it. It's easy to be an innocent bystander, letting the world pass you by without participating, but where's the merit in that? We're here on earth as a single entity. We're here to better ourselves and better one another, contribute and do what's right. Stand up for what's right. Despite the potential consequences, it's always worth it.
Unless you're Valeria Couturier. In her case, doing the right thing is cause to be fired. Couturier, a 23-year-old waitress, was wrapping up her shift on August 16 at Montreal restaurant Le Chene Blanc when she noticed a man who had been generously drinking climb into his car to drive home.
"Me and my friend tried to stop him and ask him if he wanted to call a cab," she told CBS News. "The guy just took his keys and left," claiming that he didn't want to leave his car at the restaurant.
Couturier and her friend calmly went outside and tried to convince the man to call a cab instead. He refused. She then called the police and took his keys. The police arrived and drove the man home without charge.
Couturier then walked back into the restaurant, her chin high and her ego beaming. And then it was brutally shot down. A week later, Couturier's bosses told her that her actions could ruin their reputation and gave her the axe.
"They told me what I did was inacceptable," she said. "They said they didn't have a choice other than to fire me."
The owners claim that there were other issues tied to her termination, but they wouldn't provide any details. "It's not that fact that she [tried to stop] someone who was intoxicated," said Dave Baillargeon, co-owner of the restaurant. "But unfortunately, I can't tell you for the moment why because of the risk of litigation."
Couturier just wanted to make a difference. She wanted to stand up for what's right, and she faced the consequences.
"What I want to do is really change things," she said. "Maybe if some charges are made... people would not be afraid to call police."