The world needs more kindness

By Bill Fox/Columnist

Are we becoming a nation of cynics and skeptics? I’m not sure of the source of this, but I believe that during the two world wars, people banded together against a common enemy and maybe there was less criticism at home because of our common values and the realization that people needed each other. Let me give three examples of how we are now being unkind:

1. I remember being taught that you never call anyone stupid. You may point out that an action they did might have been stupid, but they themselves are not stupid! I tried to follow that advice, in raising our own children in particular. But now I’m seeing it in all sorts of relations within our own society. A man beside me at a hotel, shouting into his cell phone, telling his wife (I presume) that she was late meeting him at a certain point, and he berated her with insults. Same hotel, a little six-year-old, angry with her older sister, because her older sister was  an idiot because they got off on the wrong floor of the elevator.
2. Look at Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical weekly magazine. The publication describes itself as secular and atheist, publishing articles about the extreme right (especially the nationalist National Front party), religion (Catholicism, Islam, Judaism), politics and culture. Unfortunately, being satirical and criticizing people, places and things seems to be the way of the Toronto Sun lately. I was particularly bothered when they criticized our prime minister for his efforts on the programme 60 Minutes after he suggested that some Americans should be a little more aware of what is going on outside of American borders. I remember Talking to Americans, a show that proved the point as interviewers persuaded Americans to congratulate Canada on legalizing VCRs or adopting the 24-hour day (even ex-Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was fooled by this one).
3. Our own government, whether it be federal or provincial. Do you ever get embarrassed at how some politicians carry themselves? No matter what party brings forth a budget, the opposition quickly tears it apart. There are ways to constructively criticize so as to show more respect for politicians who try to do what they feel is best for our country. I would love to hear these words after a budget is presented: “While we disagree with some points raised in the budget, we think it might have been better to …” Alberta Premier Rachel Notley seems to be the whipping girl of Albertans who are in a state of shock as a result of falling oil prices and the resulting lost jobs in the tar sands. From reading some of the views of political pundits, you would think Notley is the cause of all Alberta’s problems.

 

I did not vote for Trudeau, but I’m proud as a Canadian that we have shown such kindness in bringing in Syrian refugees, while realizing we must do more for our own disenfranchised Canadians, especially our Native Canadians, and our unemployed youth. But wasn’t it an act of kindness that allowed my family, and perhaps yours, to come to Canada?

I found this “Spring Garden Planting Tips” that I share here, in the hopes of increasing our kindness, and therefore our happiness:

For the garden of your daily living, plant three rows of peas:

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

No garden is without turnips:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

To conclude, our garden must have thyme:

1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. There is much fruit in your garden because you reap what you sow.