Mr. Philately�s values always have been family-oriented in a real world sense if not in the sense that the political right has appropriated. He believes in supporting families, in treating children with respect and helping them to grow, and in treating elders with dignity. He treats animals with respect and would rather convince a raccoon to move on than harm it. He not only believes in these values. He also practices these values. More than that, he lives these values. Or at least he did until this week.

This week, Mr. Philately turned a young couple who was just starting a family out into the cold, cruel world and left them homeless. Like many a wrongdoer, he has diminished his deeds by thinking of his victims as something less than they are. The bounds of his empathy and sympathy appear in his description. Who was this young couple? In his parlance, they were merely two sky rats. In other words, they were pigeons�and they wanted to nest on the little balcony that comes off of his third floor office.

He admits that from the very beginning, he did his best to make them feel unwelcome. If he spotted either Mr. Pigeon or Mrs. Pigeon out there, he would pick up wads of paper he reserved for just such an occasion and hurl them as hard as he could at the window of the door to the balcony. That he could find the papers quickly on that messy desk of his indicates his devotion to running them off. K-thwack and off they�d fly! But pigeons apparently have limited long-term memories and they would be back the next day.

A few days ago, he came to work and saw a nest out there, an empty nest. Overnight, without his crumpled paper harassment, they had started their dream home. It wasn�t much of a home in human terms but it was lovely in bird terms and it was theirs. He took one look at that nest, gave it a quick malevolent thought, went on to the balcony, pushed it with his foot, and watched it go over. They were young birds, he reasoned, and they could build a nest anywhere. They would find a more appropriate spot and all would be well. He thought that was the end of it�but it wasn�t.

The next day, he noticed an egg on his balcony�no nest, just the egg. The man thought about removing the egg but his conscience suddenly kicked in. He couldn�t just destroy their baby, even if they were sky rats. The egg had little chance of making it but still he did not act. He did not see Mr. or Mrs. Pigeon and he wondered what he would do when the egg started to rot. The day went by peacefully as he hesitated. He still wanted the sky rats and their egg gone but it was not a day for direct action. He waited.

The day after, he saw a crudely-built nest fashioned around the egg. It was not as splendid a nest as their previous one. It seemed inadequate. Yet, Mrs. Pigeon was sitting on it and he looked at her. Perhaps she looked at him. Then he opened his door to the balcony and he spoke. He told her that she was not welcome and that his balcony was no place to raise a child. He told her it would be best if she would just move along. Then he closed the door and went about his business.

The next morning, Mr. and Mrs. Pigeon were gone. The egg was gone. The nest was gone. He went out on the balcony and looked over but nothing appeared to have fallen over the side. He saw no nest. He saw no broken egg. He saw no birds. He saw nothing.

And now, he feels a twinge. He sent them out homeless into the world. He may have contributed to the death of their baby. He may have destroyed their family. Yes, he feels a pang of conscience or two but he would do it all again so that counts for naught.

He may feel guilt but there�s no atonement. When it comes right down to his own convenience, he�s just not a family values type of guy.

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