ID :
34667
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 16:17
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http://m.oananews.org//node/34667
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(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Dec. 9) - Heroic acts of kindness
You don't need to be a billionaire philanthropist or have high social status in order to make the world a better place. The Korea National Council on Social Welfare conferred the title of Citizen Hero for the first time this year to ordinary people, the same folks we run into daily in our neighborhoods, such as a college student, a housewife, a cab driver and a company employee.
They may be ordinary people but the awardees worked up extraordinary courage and
made brave sacrifices when they found people in trouble around them. Their heroic
acts ranged from rescuing a person who was drowning, attending to a person who
was run over by a car, taking on a violent person and rescuing a child who was on
the verge of being sexually assaulted. These heroic citizens risked their lives
to rescue others and didn???t expect any reward for their acts. We feel great
admiration and respect for their attitude and deeds. It is pleasing that our
society has found a way to express our gratitude to them.
Knowing that we have such people among us, we are reminded that the world is
still a good place to live. Although the world seems like it???s been getting
darker as time goes by, we won???t lose hope thanks to our brave and warmhearted
neighbors.
The American news channel CNN also names a citizen hero every week. Recipients of
the award include an employee of a cafe who donated a kidney to one of its
patrons, even though the employee didn???t know the customer's name. Another
awardee is a college student who enlisted volunteers over the Internet to treat
people with eye diseases who couldn???t afford to see a doctor.
Back in Korea, there are yet more good-hearted people. Times may be hard but many
tightened their belts and reached deep into their pockets to help their
less-privileged neighbors.
The Community Chest of Korea's contributions since early this month are already
up 13.7 billion won ($9,272,984) more than last year???s. One recent graduate
working at a company donated 200,000 won from his first paycheck. A housewife
said she would help others instead of going out to a restaurant on her birthday
and donated 100,000 won. A company employee saved all his rebates for oil
purchases and donated the sum to the charity. All of them are everyday heroes who
make the world a better place.
We hope that their spirit of sharing and sacrifice will spread into every corner
of our society. We need more heroes to overcome this unprecedented crisis.
(END)
They may be ordinary people but the awardees worked up extraordinary courage and
made brave sacrifices when they found people in trouble around them. Their heroic
acts ranged from rescuing a person who was drowning, attending to a person who
was run over by a car, taking on a violent person and rescuing a child who was on
the verge of being sexually assaulted. These heroic citizens risked their lives
to rescue others and didn???t expect any reward for their acts. We feel great
admiration and respect for their attitude and deeds. It is pleasing that our
society has found a way to express our gratitude to them.
Knowing that we have such people among us, we are reminded that the world is
still a good place to live. Although the world seems like it???s been getting
darker as time goes by, we won???t lose hope thanks to our brave and warmhearted
neighbors.
The American news channel CNN also names a citizen hero every week. Recipients of
the award include an employee of a cafe who donated a kidney to one of its
patrons, even though the employee didn???t know the customer's name. Another
awardee is a college student who enlisted volunteers over the Internet to treat
people with eye diseases who couldn???t afford to see a doctor.
Back in Korea, there are yet more good-hearted people. Times may be hard but many
tightened their belts and reached deep into their pockets to help their
less-privileged neighbors.
The Community Chest of Korea's contributions since early this month are already
up 13.7 billion won ($9,272,984) more than last year???s. One recent graduate
working at a company donated 200,000 won from his first paycheck. A housewife
said she would help others instead of going out to a restaurant on her birthday
and donated 100,000 won. A company employee saved all his rebates for oil
purchases and donated the sum to the charity. All of them are everyday heroes who
make the world a better place.
We hope that their spirit of sharing and sacrifice will spread into every corner
of our society. We need more heroes to overcome this unprecedented crisis.
(END)
