The tragedy in Boston has given our country a unique opportunity. So quick we are to focus on blame when a situation like this happens. We're quick to flood the media with spouts against foreigners as terrorists, or to fire back hateful things at certain religious groups... But look at what happens when we don't know who to blame; when we can't start pointing fingers (although, some media outlets have started trying).
What happens is; we get to hear, in detail, about the goodness of people!
There's an excellent quote by Mr. (Fred) Rogers floating around facebook and twitter today:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
There are many people who think that it takes a tragedy for this kind of selflessness to happen. I completely and wholeheartedly disagree, because it happens everyday. For example: homeless shelters, clothing drives, the Red Cross, the Human Society, food pantries, volunteer firefighters, the Goodwill, soup kitchens, groups like AA and NA... these groups and places that exist because there's a need and a call to help.
I have to say that I learned most of these things from my parents. My mom and dad make food deliveries to the food pantry at my church back home, my father helps once a month at a meal site, and I can't tell you how many dinners they took me to as a kid, to support a cause. My father also taught me the valuable lesson; never pass up a bake sale or a lemonade stand, something I have no problem following up on.
The bottom line is; there are many more good people in the world than bad people. (Maybe that's my optimistic opinion, but it's my blog, so it can be). However Utopian it may be, let's flood the media with the helpers, and shed light on the humanity we have faith in everyday.
Thank for reading.
Em.