Sunday, May 17, 2009

DON'T Do Random Acts of Kindness!


OK, alright, yes, they're better than random acts of malice or stupidity. They beat random acts of vulgarity, destruction, or violence any day of the week. So what's my beef? It's that random acts have unintended consequences! Think about it: you're driving down Bleak Street in Poorsville and you spontaneously decide to randomly toss five-dollar bills out the window of your Prius. Ghetto kids and crack addicts come flying out of the alleys and mom-n-pop stores and into the street after those bills faster than five Baptist deacons after a new visitor. Bam! Next thing you know, the car with 10k spinners is plowing into kids quicker'n you can say, "turn that blankety-blank stereo down, I'm in the middle of a random act of kindness and trying to savor the freakin' moment!" All I am trying to say is that I much prefer purposeful acts of kindness; something with real intention and aimed at making a targeted improvement where it is really needed--and will be most effective. Like the motto I read on the Acton Institute site: "Don't just care--think!"

2 comments:

  1. Allen,
    Okay so now I won't write what you said in my blog! This blog is going to be Something Special and I 'inspired' you! Yeah! That really makes me happy...just have to blog about what Melvin said to me.... It was awesome. Do you think it's OK to use his real name? Oh and write one about the the 'doing something we hate because it let's us keep our addiction..which causes us to want our addiction even more.'
    Thanks, Cindyred60

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  2. I got a comment! My first one! This is a real milestone. I am SO excited!

    Cindy; thanks for your kind words and encouragement I don't see any problem using Melvin's name, especially if you are just going to share some conversation recounting his opinion and perspective. My policy: I use a pseudonym if I am mentioning anything at all I felt the person might be embarassed for others to know, like drug addiction, mental illness, family disfunction etc.
    Because you suggested it, I'll write about how addictions can drive one to do things which amp up the addiction even further.

    My wife is very interested in the Hebrew holidays. I'll have to send her a link to your blog.
    God bless you!

    PS--Now I know why you carry a clipboard around. I'd better start a place on my PDA for blog ideas.(I'd loose a clipboard before you could say blogspot!)

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