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I know, I know, it sounds corny, but after a few events over the last week that I've experienced I thought I'd see what some of you "political warriors" thoughts might be on the subject. But first, let me add some context to my question.
During the past week, whatever forces which control our existence chose to put three opportunities in my path to help people in need. The first occurred on Tuesday, when I saw an older black man on crutches traveling down the side of the highway. Now, ordinarily I might have continued on my way, but at the time I wasn't in a hurry to get to work or anything, so I passed the man, turned around, and came back and offered him a ride. It turned out he was only trying to get to the corner store, about a mile away, so I gave him a ride to the store and then back home, which was about another mile from where I originally picked him up. Our entire encounter only lasted about 20 minutes, but in that time we talked a bit. He told me about the reason for his current ailment (accident at work) and why he was trying to walk to the store instead of driving (flat tire/no spare). I also happened to notice the small "I voted" sticker on his jacket. I mentioned this and it lead to a conversation about politics and current events which lasted for the remainder of our time together. And one thing I found while talking to this man, who is a member of the party opposite of mine, was that we actually agreed on a number of issues currently affecting America. We didn't agree on everything, but we managed to have a completely ordinary conversation on the drive back to his home and for a few minutes in his driveway. I left feeling good that I had helped this man, and I'm pretty sure he felt the same.
Fast forward to Thursday evening, and I was presented with another opportunity to help out. This one was pretty weird though. I was at a local Dollar General store, and as I walked out I noticed an older white lady in near hysterics, talking to another man and pointing under her car. I walked over and asked what was going on, and she replied that there was a snake or something under her car. At this point, I got down on the asphalt and looked under her car, but could see nothing. That is, until a little nose popped out near her back driver's side tire. Turns out, it wasn't a snake at all. It was a baby possum. The possum must have climbed up into her car and traveled with her all the way from home. And now, it didn't want to come out. The woman was so upset, not wanting to drive her car off with a live animal underneath it, so I went inside and got a broom from the cashier, and proceeded to try and scare the animal out from under her car. After about 10 minutes of trying, I finally managed to get the little sucker to come out and he ran off across the parking lot. The women thanked me several times, and then she headed home. And I sat in my car for a moment, pondering the fact that this was twice this week I'd had an opportunity to help someone in need and actually seized that opportunity.
Which brings me to last night. One of my customers came in to pick up their order from my restaurant, and as she went to pull out her debit card she realized she didn't have it. So she went back out to her car. A few minutes later, she came back in with a card, but it wasn't the one she had actually meant to use. She asked me to please keep an eye out for a debit card that she had apparently lost somewhere between her car and the counter. It was dark and rainy outside, and she couldn't find it anywhere on the ground or in her car. So, after accepting her payment and getting her food, I told her I'd go look around outside for her card while she got her drinks together and everything. And after a few minutes of searching and getting more than a little soaked, I actually found the card. Apparently, when she got out of the car she had dropped the card, and the rain had washed it away almost to the back of our parking lot. I brought the card in to her and the look of relief on her face was more than worth the trouble I went through to find it. Now, let me just say, this woman is actually the head of the Democratic Party in the county I live in. I know this because I've actually dealt with her many times during elections. She will often come into the precinct I work in to ask for vote counts and things of that nature. She is quite an activist as well, and has often put forward beliefs in our local paper that I absolutely do not agree with. But in the end, these issues I have with her political beliefs did not stop me from helping her when she needed it. And I think that's exactly the point I'm trying to get to here.
In the end, we are truly all just Americans. And my willingness to help this woman, who I know to be a Democrat and who knows me to be a Republican, simply illustrates that the hatred we sometimes espouse towards each other does not extend to every aspect of our lives. I believe, if we seize these opportunities to help each other, we may find opportunities to come together when it comes to other issues that we all face. And maybe a little kindness will soften our thick skins just a bit, and we might be able to come together and understand that in the end, we really aren't that different from one another. Most of us really want the same things, we simply don't agree on the how to accomplish those goals.
So if you get a chance to help someone in need, try to seize that opportunity. You may just make a new friend, and you might just get a chance to make someone understand that although you don't agree with everything they may think or say, you are willing to listen and not opposed to working with those on the opposite side of the aisle to resolve our problems. At least, that's sort of what I took from my experiences this week. So after sharing my story, I'm just wondering what you folks think. Could simple kindness towards people, be they on our side politically or not, actually help us bridge this ever-widening gap we see forming between us in America today?
First of all, God bless you.
Second, I hope more people will try to do as you have done. It seems to me that the first step is seeing those with whom we disagree as fellow human beings first and above all.
Third, a word for those who say it's pointless to try: It's more pointless not to. Kindness may be our best and last chance to save ourselves.
You and I undoubtedly disagree about many things, in terms of policy, but I thank you with all of my heart for posting something that has given me a bit of hope when I've seriously been thinking that this country might be a lost cause.
the political extremists will be happier if they live in separate states, communities and state governments that codify their views. split for the sake of peace like india and Pakistan.
the moderates can still live in communities together....at least for a while.
no matter who is president, the animosity and fighting won't change because half of americans have completely different values and vision for the country than the other half. compromise isn't possible on basic values.
Last edited by texan2yankee; 10-27-2018 at 04:24 PM..
I know, I know, it sounds corny, but after a few events over the last week that I've experienced I thought I'd see what some of you "political warriors" thoughts might be on the subject. But first, let me add some context to my question.
During the past week, whatever forces which control our existence chose to put three opportunities in my path to help people in need. The first occurred on Tuesday, when I saw an older black man on crutches traveling down the side of the highway. Now, ordinarily I might have continued on my way, but at the time I wasn't in a hurry to get to work or anything, so I passed the man, turned around, and came back and offered him a ride. It turned out he was only trying to get to the corner store, about a mile away, so I gave him a ride to the store and then back home, which was about another mile from where I originally picked him up. Our entire encounter only lasted about 20 minutes, but in that time we talked a bit. He told me about the reason for his current ailment (accident at work) and why he was trying to walk to the store instead of driving (flat tire/no spare). I also happened to notice the small "I voted" sticker on his jacket. I mentioned this and it lead to a conversation about politics and current events which lasted for the remainder of our time together. And one thing I found while talking to this man, who is a member of the party opposite of mine, was that we actually agreed on a number of issues currently affecting America. We didn't agree on everything, but we managed to have a completely ordinary conversation on the drive back to his home and for a few minutes in his driveway. I left feeling good that I had helped this man, and I'm pretty sure he felt the same.
Fast forward to Thursday evening, and I was presented with another opportunity to help out. This one was pretty weird though. I was at a local Dollar General store, and as I walked out I noticed an older white lady in near hysterics, talking to another man and pointing under her car. I walked over and asked what was going on, and she replied that there was a snake or something under her car. At this point, I got down on the asphalt and looked under her car, but could see nothing. That is, until a little nose popped out near her back driver's side tire. Turns out, it wasn't a snake at all. It was a baby possum. The possum must have climbed up into her car and traveled with her all the way from home. And now, it didn't want to come out. The woman was so upset, not wanting to drive her car off with a live animal underneath it, so I went inside and got a broom from the cashier, and proceeded to try and scare the animal out from under her car. After about 10 minutes of trying, I finally managed to get the little sucker to come out and he ran off across the parking lot. The women thanked me several times, and then she headed home. And I sat in my car for a moment, pondering the fact that this was twice this week I'd had an opportunity to help someone in need and actually seized that opportunity.
Which brings me to last night. One of my customers came in to pick up their order from my restaurant, and as she went to pull out her debit card she realized she didn't have it. So she went back out to her car. A few minutes later, she came back in with a card, but it wasn't the one she had actually meant to use. She asked me to please keep an eye out for a debit card that she had apparently lost somewhere between her car and the counter. It was dark and rainy outside, and she couldn't find it anywhere on the ground or in her car. So, after accepting her payment and getting her food, I told her I'd go look around outside for her card while she got her drinks together and everything. And after a few minutes of searching and getting more than a little soaked, I actually found the card. Apparently, when she got out of the car she had dropped the card, and the rain had washed it away almost to the back of our parking lot. I brought the card in to her and the look of relief on her face was more than worth the trouble I went through to find it. Now, let me just say, this woman is actually the head of the Democratic Party in the county I live in. I know this because I've actually dealt with her many times during elections. She will often come into the precinct I work in to ask for vote counts and things of that nature. She is quite an activist as well, and has often put forward beliefs in our local paper that I absolutely do not agree with. But in the end, these issues I have with her political beliefs did not stop me from helping her when she needed it. And I think that's exactly the point I'm trying to get to here.
In the end, we are truly all just Americans. And my willingness to help this woman, who I know to be a Democrat and who knows me to be a Republican, simply illustrates that the hatred we sometimes espouse towards each other does not extend to every aspect of our lives. I believe, if we seize these opportunities to help each other, we may find opportunities to come together when it comes to other issues that we all face. And maybe a little kindness will soften our thick skins just a bit, and we might be able to come together and understand that in the end, we really aren't that different from one another. Most of us really want the same things, we simply don't agree on the how to accomplish those goals.
So if you get a chance to help someone in need, try to seize that opportunity. You may just make a new friend, and you might just get a chance to make someone understand that although you don't agree with everything they may think or say, you are willing to listen and not opposed to working with those on the opposite side of the aisle to resolve our problems. At least, that's sort of what I took from my experiences this week. So after sharing my story, I'm just wondering what you folks think. Could simple kindness towards people, be they on our side politically or not, actually help us bridge this ever-widening gap we see forming between us in America today?
Great post. I'd like to think that if everyone spent their emotional energy being kind instead of on hatred and divisiveness, the world would be a better place.
Could kindness and "good deeds" be the solution to bridging the current political divide in our country?
No. Unfortunately. Kindness won't stop tyranny.
Quote:
Originally Posted by texan2yankee
the political extremists will be happier if they live in separate states, communities and state governments that codify their views. split for the sake of peace like india and Pakistan.
I have some friends who voted for Trump and I respect that. I don't hate them for that. They are more to me than just a vote. The problem is with the lunatic fringe on both sides. Hopefully they will have their 15 minutes of despicable fame and go back into the back ground where they belong.
Look, if you see someone that needs help lets say after a car accident, are you going to ask them if they're a democrat or republican? I would say that the vast majority of people would say no. Lets say maybe one in ten wouldn't help someone based on either race or politics. I truly believe that the vast majority of people are good people. The lunatic fringe have big mouths right now and magnify the divide. I think most of us actually get along just fine.
Kindness and being the bigger man can exploited by too many people, sad to say. It's a very cynical viewpoint, and I'm probably part of the problem, I admit that.
You forgot to mention the most important thing. While you were doing all those good deeds, you weren’t polluting your mind with the 24/7 talking heads on CNN, MSNBC, and to be fair, FoxNews. People are wasting way too much time in the echo chamber and not enough time enjoying life.
There are people who have been murdered performing a kindness to strangers. Just like locks are for an honest man, kindness changes or affects only those who have some level of conscience.
Could kindness and "good deeds" be the solution to bridging the current political divide in our country?
Brett Kavanaugh practiced almost nothing but kindness and good deeds, all his life. And drank beer.
Did his kindness and good deeds solve the problem for him?
No. As long as you have haters and liars trying to destroy you, all the good deeds in the world won't help you.
Got any other suggestions?
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