John Quinones and His, "Primetime: What Would You Do?"

What would you do if you were taking a walk and happened to notice a stack of hundred dollar bills on the ground in front of you and no one was around to see it but you? Would you quickly pocket the cash and keep walking, look around to see if someone dropped it, or turn it in to authorities?

What would you do if you saw a mother slap a child in the face hard in a store? Would you speak up to the mother, give her a dirty look, call 911, or just walk away?

What would you do if you saw a group of teens bullying another teen or an elderly person? Would you ignore them, cross the street, or confront them?

"Primetime: What Would You Do?" is a television series airing on ABC on Friday nights with the host, John Quinones. John Quinones is a veteran, Emmy winning, ABC journalist, who has reported on varied human interest stories. "What Would You Do?" sets up confrontational and obvious scenarios with actors in public arenas in order to observe people's reactions. The situations cover many ethical dilemmas. ABC films the scenarios with hidden cameras, watching to see if people intervene, offer assistance, speak up or totally ignore the set-up tense situations. After individual scenario set-ups, John Quinones appears with a camera crew to question different people's reactions to the conflicts. He also speaks with the actors to get their take on what they just experienced.

On January 28, 2011, "What Would You Do?" touched on topics concerning an obviously rude customer to a waitress, a customer who fakes an accident in a grocery store, fake homeless people begging for money, and parents with children from an interracial relationship. The actors creating the scenarios are switched at times regarding sex, race and age, to observe whether these details make a difference in people's reactions.

What I like about, "What Would You Do?" is the fact that difficult social situations occur every day where you question whether you should interfere or speak out against injustices and public acts of abuse. Many people are afraid to offer assistance, maybe out of fear or ignorance, or because they simply feel it's not their business to intrude. Others become heroes, feeling they can't live with themselves without confronting or protecting another human being.

The last scenario on, January 28^th's, "What Would You Do?" concerning parents and their interracial children personally touched me, because I am the mother of interracial children with my children having lighter skin than mine. I have crossed paths with people who have loudly questioned whether I was the nanny or the caretaker and asked where was their parent? They have stopped me and questioned my children to see if I was really their mother. I have also come across rude people who have told me they don't agree with my choice, but also have come across many wonderful people who have told me how beautiful my children are. I've had to defend my rights to have my children while teaching a lesson on the damage fears and prejudice can do to a person's life.

John Quinones does an excellent job as the anchor on, "What Would You Do?" John Quinones has also experienced racial prejudice because he's of Mexican descent, but also reports he has come across many people he believes are real heroes in his eyes. He touches on this particular subject in his amazing book, "Heroes Among Us," based on ordinary people and extraordinary choices. He shares stories about the true heroes he has met in travels around the world. It's a truly uplifting and inspirational book. The book price is $24.95 hardcover in the USA, from Harper Collins.

You can voice your own opinion and find further information about John Quinones and, "Primetime: What Would You Do?" at the following website link.

http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/