By Margie Reins Smith
I love newspapers. The Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, issue of the Detroit Free Press was packed with the usual razzle dazzle bad news – a promising med student’s terrible last moments of life when he caught a couple of thugs breaking into his apartment; Detroit’s city retirees’concern about their promised pensions, now in jeopardy because of the city’s pending bankruptcy settlement; various crashes – a helicopter in Glasgow and an airplane in Nambia; protests-turned-violent in Thailand and Ukraine; the Syrian War. And more. Much, much more.
Stay with me, here.
The December 1 Freep also contained heart-warming stories about humans displaying their intrinsic goodness. I’ve noted an increasing trend by this newspaper to dig up good news about the human condition and report it on the first few pages. I like that.
I read about a fundraising campaign to repair the toppled steeple from a 112-year-old Detroit church. I read an article promoting something called an Owl Prowl – a hike through the woods, then a lecture about owls, a bonfire and S’mores. I saw good news about the Goodfellows’ annual newspaper sale which raises money for holiday gifts for 35,000 kids. I read about the amazing number of shoppers who supported Small Business Saturday and an inspiring article about Judge Damon Keith’s life and accomplishments.
Hang in there. There’s more.
I also read about two amazing ways to make silk purses out of sow’s ears, so to speak, as well as good ways to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Here’s what I found:
With the property owner’s permission, a bunch of homeless, jobless men are clearing scrap metal on the site of a former junkyard. They have his OK to sell what they find. Some of these men make as much as $150 a day. It’s honest work. They have formed a community, a family of sorts. They share conversation and meals. The land owner would have to clean up the land anyway before selling or building on the site. The men earn an honest day’s pay. The owner wins. The men win. Who can argue with that?
Selected inmates in Michigan prisons are raising puppies as future leader dogs for the blind. Prison must be a lonely, depressing existence. A new puppy, bubbling with unconditional love and licks and wags and optimism would be just the thing, so to speak. Potential leader dogs need to be socialized. Inmates need hope and a sense of usefulness and self-worth. Inmates win. Leader Dogs for the Blind wins. Puppies win. Who can argue with that?
Merry Christmas and Good Will to Men and Women.
The December 1 Freep also contained heart-warming stories about humans displaying their intrinsic goodness. I’ve noted an increasing trend by this newspaper to dig up good news about the human condition and report it on the first few pages. I like that.
I read about a fundraising campaign to repair the toppled steeple from a 112-year-old Detroit church. I read an article promoting something called an Owl Prowl – a hike through the woods, then a lecture about owls, a bonfire and S’mores. I saw good news about the Goodfellows’ annual newspaper sale which raises money for holiday gifts for 35,000 kids. I read about the amazing number of shoppers who supported Small Business Saturday and an inspiring article about Judge Damon Keith’s life and accomplishments.
Hang in there. There’s more.
I also read about two amazing ways to make silk purses out of sow’s ears, so to speak, as well as good ways to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Here’s what I found:
With the property owner’s permission, a bunch of homeless, jobless men are clearing scrap metal on the site of a former junkyard. They have his OK to sell what they find. Some of these men make as much as $150 a day. It’s honest work. They have formed a community, a family of sorts. They share conversation and meals. The land owner would have to clean up the land anyway before selling or building on the site. The men earn an honest day’s pay. The owner wins. The men win. Who can argue with that?
Selected inmates in Michigan prisons are raising puppies as future leader dogs for the blind. Prison must be a lonely, depressing existence. A new puppy, bubbling with unconditional love and licks and wags and optimism would be just the thing, so to speak. Potential leader dogs need to be socialized. Inmates need hope and a sense of usefulness and self-worth. Inmates win. Leader Dogs for the Blind wins. Puppies win. Who can argue with that?
Merry Christmas and Good Will to Men and Women.
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