Acts of kindness are all around us, but don’t get the attention bad deeds do
THERE are a lot of good things happening around the world; they just don’t get much attention. But when a famous hip hop artist does something good, the media takes notice.
When Drake, the 32-year-old Grammy winner, read about the gruelling daily commute of a 63-year-old Haitian housekeeper in Miami, who would wake up every day at 4.30am and return home at 7pm, he decided to take action.
Drake began with his mission and gave away close to a million dollars to various people in Miami, who were carefully chosen with local authorities based on their needs.
Among the recipients were a student at Miami Senior High School who received a scholarship to the University of Miami, a homeless shelter, and various individuals and families that needed financial aid.
He also went to a supermarket and announced through the speaker that he would pay the bills of every shopper inside the store.
The Grammy-winner was very happy with the reaction he received and wrote: “Last three days were the best I have had in a very long time… there’s nothing like seeing people experience a joyful moment when you can tell they need it the most.”
The experience, featured in his music video God’s Plan, was “the most important thing I’ve ever done in my career.”
Yet stories like this, of good people helping others, happen all the time all around the world. But one has to pay attention to see them. These good stories strongly affirm the goodness of humanity and love that stays in hearts despite the current culture of hate.
Take the story of Trenton Lewis, a 21-year-old father who had to walk 18km every day to his work in Arkansas, US. When his colleagues found out, they quietly told everyone, pitched in cash and bought him a new car. He hadn’t even told anyone about his dilemma; they just found out and decided to take action. This was another unconditional offering of love.
Then there is the story of a human chain made up of 80 people, who rushed in to save two young children and seven other people in danger of drowning.
No one thought about themselves; anyone in the chain could get swept by the waves, but they stood their ground and together saved nine people.
On another occasion, a homeless man saved the life of a 64-year-old architect who collapsed in front of him after having a heart attack.
Homeless man Austin Davis conducted CPR for 10 minutes before paramedics arrived. They said the architect would be dead if not for the help of Davis, as it was the most deadly form of heart attack, known as the “widow-maker”. After 18 more minutes of professional care, his heart began to beat again.
Another man, in China, bravely saved the life of a 2-year-old girl who was about to fall from a third floor. He risked his own life and dangerously climbed out of the window to haul her back to safety. Someone was filming the incident, which brought him the admiration he deserved.
We all know about the ordeal of millions of Syrians who were made refugees after they literally lost their country to a never-ending civil war. But what didn’t get equal coverage was how the people of the world rushed in to help them.
For every racist remark, every cold face full of rejection, there were thousands of welcoming faces and helping hands. From ordinary people to Hollywood celebrities, from famous footballers to businessmen and poor families, many people gave their homes to refugees.
After Turkey welcomed 3.5 million refugees, Turkish people from all walks of life showed beautiful examples of help and solidarity with their new guests.
For example, a Turkish businessman gave his six houses to refugee families and said that if everyone took in one family, there would be no problem.
A Greek mayor allocated an empty village to Syrian refugees and now 320 000 refugees are happily living there. The media also didn’t pay much attention to the Europeans who rushed to welcome the incoming flux of Syrians after they walked for days to reach Europe.
The waiting Europeans, ordinary people who were either on their way to work, or shopping, stopped and ran to help the incomers with water bottles, blankets and others things they thought the refugees might need. They weren’t the only ones. There are Hungarian volunteers that provide 24/7 support to refugees from Syria and Afghanistan, Spanish priests who help migrants, Germans who help refugees find proper accommodation among others.
Good people are everywhere, they help, they sacrifice, they make each other happy, and share joy.
Despite an insistent effort to promote and spread a culture of hate, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and the glorification of violence, most people refuse to be affected by the negativity. They just need to see each other and connect.
They should set aside their differences and see the diversity as a beautiful richness that God created.
They should see the common values they share and lead the world with their love and kindness.
When this happens, and they connect based on the commonalities, there is no doubt that the media and governments around the world will take notice and will be encouraged to follow their lead.
Yahya is a Turkish author and Islamic creationist.