They are out there—just good, kind, ethical people who quietly do what they can to make society a little better whenever they can.
I was just at a 7-11 in Alexandria, Virginia. I was sitting in the car, waiting for Grace to pick up some things, along with Rugby, who loves sticking his head out the window and flirting with people going in and out of the store. He’s shameless and adorable, and almost every time we go there one or more shoppers will come over to the car, pat him and talk with him…and sometimes even me.
As I waited, I noticed a grim, middle-aged African American man standing quietly to the side of the store front, apparently asking people for spare change as they left the 7-11. He wasn’t having much luck. Then an SUV pulled up by my car, and a jolly, pudgy, smiley guy with curly gray hair and wearing baggy shorts, with a loud, boisterous manner, got out. He immediately greeted Rugby, asking his name, scratching him behind the ears. “Does he have water?” he asked. I explained that we were just minutes from home. “Bye, Rugby!” he shouted, and started to enter the store.
I saw him stop as he opened the door and eye the other man. “Hi, brother!” he said loudly. “How are you doing?”
“Not too good,” was the soft reply.
“Really? Hey, come on in,” the curly haired man beckoned. The sad-looking black man followed him into the store. Grace returned, but I lingered in the parking space a bit. Sure enough, the man who had been asking for change emerged a few minutes later carrying a plastic bag that held a hot dog, a bottle of coke and some other items.
And he didn’t look quite so grim.
Nice.
In fact, perfect.
They are out there, all right.
There is hope.
Ethics Alarms 
I needed to read a nice story today.
If race is relevant to the recipient of the charitable act, is it not relevant to the doer of the charitable act?
-Debbie Downer
Sure. I assumed that if I designated the minority figure in the story as such, a reader would assume that the other figure wasn’t a minority, a.k.a, white. I also reasoned that specifically mentioning the race of the Hero would make the racial component the main feature, which it was not, in my view.
I’d have said it isn’t relevant for either…
The gray hair, shorts and Coke aren’t essential either. “Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.”
OK, without googling: SOURCE?
Actually, believe it or not I thought you intentionally placed the Coke detail as it relates to the previous discussions about *public assistance* and that some think there should be *no* niceties and small pleasures distributed in public assistance.
And perhaps I did…
When it comes to backwards associations of quotes to movies or books or people, I’m pathetically inept. Ask Sarge983. He’s a veritable lexicon of who said what in what book/movie.
Neither a book, nor a movie…
Fortune cookie or Hallmark greeting card?
Sounds like something Rolling Stone would have said about Sabrina Erbin Rudely’s fabricated rape story.
Pirates of Penzance
Close enough…right author! It’s Pooh-Bah, in “The Mikado”!
The only literate reader here, I guess…
Mikado, Gilbert & Sullivan.
Rats, someone got in before me. But that one’s obvious.
OK, a hard one:
Your question is – who is the kid acting as guitar holder in the bottom left hand of the screen at 00:28-00:29?
45 years ago now….
That was bad of me…I should have given you a chance, and since Australia isn’t in a G&S black-out zone, as the U.S. currently is most places (I’m not worried: Bill and Art always come back, because their stuff us just plain solid), you were a good bet to win.
NP. That was gracious of you to say that though, thanks.
While we’re on the subject of the Pirates of Penzance…there’s the Pirates of Pergamum
http://www.scn.org/~lilandbr/xena.html
Wasn’t that in that Gibert and Sullivan show? The one with the Japenese people? God my memory is shot.
And I should read the entire thread before commenting.
But it’s a great story. I love hearing about material goods being given to those in need.
Thanks for that.
Nice. Very nice.
Good start for the day. The world generally looks upon you with a strange, comedic look when you do something like this. I can only salute and say, Hats off!!!!
Paraphrasing… If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?
http://www.lbc.co.uk/unicyclist-trapped-under-bus-in-east-london-110421
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-06/man-freed-after-leg-trapped-in-gap-on-perth-train-station/5652486
I’m surprised he didn’t give you a pat on the head and a hot dog as well, Jack.
I just didn’t mention it.
We all need a little pat on occasion!