I'm not pre-menstrual so I can't blame hormones for my crying jag.
I've recently gained access to certain digital channels (thanks to an antenna and a converter box), and, of course, I spend a decent amount of time on the couch watching crap. Tonight I watched Extreme Makeover - Home Edition with Ty Pennington. Within three minutes, I was in tears. WTF?!? It so refreshing and invigorating to see such wonderful things happening for people in desperate need of help. It makes me doubt the barbarity and savagery that I assume to be human nature. People can actually be good and do decent things to improve the conditions of others.
It's so easy to forget that there really is so much good in the world. All we hear and see is the bad. Murders, rapes, victimization of the weak and defenseless, extortion, and just general disregard for others. But there really is a lot of beauty and wonderful things in this world. It just doesn't make headlines because it doesn't sell papers. But it's there. I was listening to the radio the other day and the DJ was talking about this young kid who sells sodas on the side of the road in Winston because he has no money for college. He's trying to raise some money so he can go to school. He's not running a scam and he's not taking advantage of anyone. He's just trying to improve his situation in the only way that he can. So, the DJ is talking about this young man, and a caller phones in to offer the young man a job. Point blank. No questions asked. He tells the DJ (who has the contact info for the young man and his family) that he wants the young man to come work for him and his catering business until the end of the summer so he can make some money. It was so generous and giving and selfless. Of course, hiring a young kid doesn't seem like a big deal, but to hear the story and be willing to take a leap of faith like that is so wonderful. Of course, I teared up in the car. The DJ was choked up. Everyone was weepy.
Why do such wonderful displays of humanity make us (or is it just me?) so emotional? It shouldn't. It should be so commonplace -- these random acts of kindness -- that we are immune to such behaviors. Instead, we are immune to acts of violence that devastate lives. How backwards is that? We lavish do-gooders with such glory for doing the "right thing." We shouldn't have to give such recognition for simply doing what is right. But in a world where there is so much wrong, I guess we have no choice. It just seems sad. And backwards.
But it is nice to know that there are still some good things happening out there. Hopefully it is contagious. Maybe we'll have an epidemic...
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