Human Kindness
Last week I took an Oracle class in Philadelphia. Between the getting up early to take the train and getting home late and STILL having to check e-mail at work, I haven’t had time to blog.
However, on Friday I saw something that re-affirmed my faith in Human Kindness.
The class got done early (yay!), so I took the 3:25 R7 Trenton train from Philadelphia’s Surburban Station. The next stop for the train is the Amtrak 30th Street Station. I got on the first car, which was fairly empty and stayed that way throughout the mid-afternoon trip.
A young woman got on the train the at 30th Street, and took a seat about 10 rows ahead of me. After pulling out from the station, the conductor came around asking for tickets. At this point, this young woman discovered that she’d left her purse on the platform. She became rather distraught. The conductor immediately went to radio the station to see if anyone found it. The woman was able to give a very precise location to search.
A few stations later, it appeared that the folks at 30th Street didn’t find the purse. The conductor gave her a train schedule and some suggestions on where to get off and take the train back the other way to check for herself. He also gave her the phone number for schedules and the phone number for the lost and found. He apparently gave her a free ride for this trip and the return trip to make sure that she got back.
She didn’t have her cell phone with her (also in the purse), so two businessmen lent her one for the ride. She called the SEPTA folks and then called someone to meet her in Trenton. (She apparently decided to continue to Trenton after hearing that the purse wasn’t found.) I think she may have even called to cancel the lost credit cards.
Another woman travelling on a weekly pass came up to her and gave her the pass (which was still good until Sunday – with the OK from the conductor to transfer the pass) so that she could get back to Philly without being stranded. An older man came up to make sure that she was taken care of.
I would have offered her money for train/cab fare, but it was easy to see that others got there first and she was well covered.
She got off the train in Trenton and disappeared. Her helpers all disappeared as they reached their stops.
One person in trouble, several people ready to help. All strangers.
Maybe mankind isn’t so bad after all.
USOC to Athletes – Hide Your Pride
This report in the Washington Times states that the US Olympic Committee has told athletes NOT to wave the flag after their wins or during medal ceremonies.
This gets the big Raspberry from me. It’s one thing for an athlete to avoid confrontation, but it’s entirely another for a country to tell its athletes to hide their national pride. This instruction is improper and must be reversed (or ignored).
Tell ’em what you think:
US Olympic Committee 719-866-4500
Mike Moran 719-331-7266
(Hat Tip: Garrulitas)
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