Kindness
"Simple acts of goodwill go a long way, as was documented in a Reader's Digest article. After remembering a note that read "practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty" on a friend's refrigerator, a woman paid the toll for herself and the six people behind her."
Jennifer Artemis Carr, Aubrey High School, Aubrey, Texas
"Random Acts of Kindness was the theme of the February 15th edition of The Oprah Winfrey Show. On the show were several instances of responsible actions causing kindness. Oprah started off with her own example. With the aid of a toll operator, Oprah performed, 'a random act of kindness to make the world a better place.' She paid everyone's tolls that drove through after her, having the operator tell the drivers that the car in front of them had paid their $2 toll fee. When asked how they felt, many of the drivers were shocked, happy, and wanting to be kind in return. Several paid the toll for the car following them. One man came back with a $500 check for Oprah to donate to a given charity. It just went to show that kindness will provoke kindness. Oprah's one responsible act moved many other people to become responsible and kind. She went on to say, 'What we hope is, we do a kind thing and it spreads.'"
Scott Knapp, Eureka High School, Eureka, Illinois
On May 3, 1994, Congressman Walter Tucker of California introduced Random Acts of Kindness Week, effective February 12, 1995. The stated purpose was to lessen the perception of violence which permeates our culture. In an obvious imitation of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Mr. Tucker said on the floor of Congress, "How many will pay the toll for the guy behind us [them]?" He went on to suggest that people consider deeds such as helping the elderly across the street and giving a quarter to a homeless person. The congressman said these acts would be a step against violence. What do you think?
"Amy Hagedorn suffers from cerebral palsy and her wish was to have one day when she would not be teased by her classmates. And her wish came true when students at South Wayne Elementary School held a day in honor of Amy. Doesn't this show there is still some good left in kids today?"
Crystal Bearley, Kensington High School, Kensington, Kansas
"In the United States one woman was touched by a black woman's fight with AIDS. Though shadowed by death, she would not rest until she found new parents to care for her two girls. Her story was aired on national television and one woman decided she and her family, members of an all white community, could give these children the home they needed. She immediately set up an interview with the mother and later became her friend and nurse. This [is] one example of the good that comes from caring. But, there is another lesson to be learned: racism can set no boundaries on love."
Farrah D. Gunter, Plainview High School, Ardmore, Okahoma
"Friends of my family are foster parents. They especially like housing babies. They took in a baby that had hydrocephalus----water on the brain. [The child's] medical bills far exceeded any compensation they received. They also took in, and adopted, a crack baby knowing [he] may develop AIDS."
Lindsay Mannelin, Deer River High School, Deer River, Minnesota
"A nearby school has an exchange teacher from Finland. While she [was] visiting a large city recently, her car was stolen and totaled. Now the Teachers' Associations from area schools are sponsoring a raffle to raise money to buy her a new car. Instead of this teacher returning to Finland with a bad impression of Americans, now she will take with her the knowledge that most of us are very caring people."
Leanne Abell, Ramsey High School, Ramsey, Illinois