11.15.07
Take Your Hand Off The Trigger, Love A Little
This is the column that I wrote and I thought I’d share it. 
Has everyone lost their faith in humanity? Does everyone seem to believe that the rest of the people in the world are out to get them? Come on, open your eyes. I’m sorry that someone bumped into you without apologizing, but that doesn’t mean that everyone you meet will do the same. When did it become wrong for someone to simply try to help another?
Last Christmas, I was working at KFC. You always hear stories from people who work in customer service about angry customers who aren’t always right. Let’s see what you make of this. There are three main people in this story, let’s call them Bob, Fred, and Nancy. So Bob came into the store, looking cold, hungry, and wet. Fred walked in behind him dressed in a business suit and a nice leather jacket and patiently waited his turn. Bob then told me that he only had $10.00 and had a wife and two kids to feed at home. Then Nancy walked in and stood behind Fred, waiting. I told Bob what he could get for $10.00. Bob hung his head, and was about to buy whatever he could, when Fred walked forward, laid $40.00 on the table and asked me to serve Bob a Family Feast.
We rarely ever hear stories like this. Does that mean that this doesn’t happen? Not at all. These random acts of kindness happen all the time, everywhere we go. So, why is it that we don’t hear of them? I guess for some, it’s hard to believe that some people actually care about strangers.
Bob started crying. He thanked Fred from the bottom of his heart and hugged him. Nancy couldn’t handle it. She walked to the counter and told us that we shouldn’t accept the money because Bob wasn’t the one who paid for the food.
Let’s stop right there. What the hell, Nancy. How is it wrong for Fred to give Bob enough money to feed his family? I’m sick and tired of this. Something is seriously wrong when one man can’t help another.
So to appease Nancy, Fred tells Bob that he’s loaning him the money, and that Bob can pay him back. Way to go, Nancy. You just put a poor man with a family in debt. Hope you’re happy, sweetheart.
Let’s put Bob, Nancy, and Fred aside. Did we learn nothing from ‘Pay It Forward?’ Or are we just living in a world where rudeness, anger, selfishness, and narcissism are social norms?
Hey, if they’re not in your circle of friends, or they’re not family, they don’t deserve your time, money, or love, right? WRONG. Have a heart. All this world really needs is a few more people who are fully prepared to love. So maybe it means you have to shell out an extra five bucks for the woman in front of you. Perhaps you have to sacrifice your spot in line for someone who is in a hurry. Jeez, maybe you’ll even have to go as far as smile at a stranger. I know it’s difficult, but you can do it!
As for humanity? I haven’t lost my faith in it yet. We’re on the right track. Maybe it’s as simple as being positive. Having hope that not everyone is as bad as we think. Belief that the person in front of you short of change isn’t going to pull a gun on you if you try to help them out.
jcvetichwo said,
November 15, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Ashley,
I have a lot of hope for humanity-and most of it comes from the re-assurances I get reading your blogs. As a group, this class is intelligent, compassionate, caring, respectful and fun. I believe there are a lot more like you out there, wishing they could emerge with the attitude you have. Keep being who you are, spread the word through your actions, model your humanity, and people will follow you.
JoeCool
crogerswo said,
November 15, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I honestly belive that I try to be Fred everyday of my life and consider myself someone who cares about others and would do pretty much anything for anyone…even my “enimies”. It matters. People need to care for one another cuz like Martina Mcbride says…love is the only house big enough for all the pain in the world.
Go Ashley!! Ur opinion is the one that keeps this world goin and makes peace posible…hear the ppl? CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER!!!
mratcliffewo said,
November 16, 2007 at 2:10 am
I love your column. You were right when you said it was awesome this morning after checking me out = D. I have to admit, i know what that is like. Working as a cashier for the summer was really hard. Were not supposed to sell mouth wash, hairspray, or other inexpensive items to natives (aboriginals, there lots up north) . It’s only for if they bring up the single or both items. But people think just because a native buys those items there going to try to get high or drunk off them, its quite sad. I’ve given my money for perchases from my wallet when people were short (really not supposed to do), but if someone tipped me (which were not allowed to take) i stuck in my wallet and used it on other customers. =S really don’t know why i did that. But i never ended up with an over or under float, so i think i did something right. Anyways. I like your column once again. Its really good. I agree with mr. cvetich.
atabbertwo said,
November 21, 2007 at 1:55 pm
i really agree, I worked at Tim Hortons for abut a year in Stratfrod. Pople would aways (at least 4 times a day) ask to ay for the order of the persn behind thm in Drive Thru. They sometimes kew eahother, but usually they didn’t. It was always a really nice surprse fr the person behind them, and sometimes they would pay for the next person. I really loved making people happy and seeing their surprise at someone’s kindness.
Three companies in stratford even had policies about it, the CJCS radio station, Samsonite, and F.A.G. They all had a policy that thir employees who went on a coffee run for other workers had to pay for the order behind them. The company even re-embursed them for it. This just goes to show that there are still good people out there, people who do nice things for no reason. These people are rarely recognised, and they’re okay with that. Awesome article Ashley
fritty little said,
November 26, 2007 at 5:05 am
your column reminds me of the Christmas Shoes song. if you havent heard it, its about a little boy who wants to buy his mom(who’s really sick” a pair of shoes so she’ll look beautiful if she meets jesus after christmas, and the guy behind him pays for it because the little boy doesnt have enough money.
youre completely right, I think nancy needs a reality check. people always seem to be more given during christmas time, which is nice since its cold and all. I think the whole.. pay for the person behind you thing is a great idea! I never really thought about that to be honest