Kindness: 'Catalyst For Change'

Kindness – “Catalyst for Change”
“Being different is a good thing, it means you are special,” was the phrase I use to hear a lot from my parents growing up. Being one of the few Filipinos among a predominantly white community, especially in school, it was only a matter of time before I was being confronted with a question about my race. I became conscious about how others identified me. I became aware of my own actions when interacting with others of a different race. I learned that I have to consider my own life and what has shaped my beliefs, whether cultural, family traditions or the virtues instilled in me by my own parents, before I can consider other’s personal narrative. By looking within myself, only then can I begin to understand
Saunders shares a story about “Ellen,” an awkward little girl who moved into his neighborhood when he was in middle school. She was a lonely shy girl who was made fun of because she was a little different. He goes on to tell the story of how decades later, what still bothers him are “(t)hose moments when another human being was there in front of (him), suffering and (he) responded… sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly” (Saunders). What George Saunders regrets is that perhaps through a simple act of kindness he could have made Ellen feel included and accepted. George Saunders asks, “(w)hy are we not kinder?” This he believes is because of some innate “confusion” that “we’re central to the universe (that is, our personal story is the main and most interesting story, the only story, really)” (Saunders). In order to be kinder we must step outside our personal “bubble,” embrace and value other’s personal narrative in order to understand the individual and find out what they can contribute to the
As she addresses a very diverse graduating class of 150 different races and nationalities, she shares an important point; “(t)hey tell us to be afraid of those who are different, to be suspicious of those with whom we disagree” (Obama). We as individuals and as a society tend to react negatively, aggressively and even dismissively to people and things we do not understand. Which brings us back to the idea that in order to be a kinder person, we must rid ourselves of the ignorance. Obama continues to say that “anger and intolerance” should not be our “default state” but rather “optimism and openness (which) have always been the engine of our progress.” By paying it forward and by being selflessly committed to showing others we respectfully care in any way we can, a random act of kindness can be a “catalyst for change.” Michelle Obama reminds the graduates, “that with those successes comes a set of obligations to pass on the lessons learned…,” and “(t)he obligation to use the opportunities you’ve had to help others” (Obama). She encourages them to raise their voices by “speaking out for our most cherished values of liberty, opportunity, inclusion, and respect…” (Obama). In addition, we have to respect people’s cultures and traditions, and we must be mindful of their values and beliefs because kindness and