Small steps for mankind
Your article on small steps we can take to change the world (“The power of one,” Aug. 19) brought back some wonderful memories for me. For the last eight years or so of my career as an English teacher, my students did many random acts of kindness as part of a classroom assignment to read excerpts from one of the “Chicken Soup” books, then write about what they’d done to make someone else’s day just a bit better.
These wonderful teenagers, many of whom came from rather poor families, donated their lunch money to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, created holiday cards to be distributed to the homeless as they came to shelters for Thanksgiving dinner, donated winter clothing to the poor, anonymously left their childhood toys on the doorsteps of neighbors who couldn’t afford toys for their families, and much more.
Their generosity and creativity often brought tears to my eyes, and I know that most of them felt proud of what they’d done and (hopefully) continued to perform random acts of kindness as the years passed.
NANCY GIURIATI / Chicago
SINCERE GRATITUDE AND praise for the spirited individuals profiled in “The power of one” who have discovered one of life’s greatest purposes and pleasures–to serve others.
Thanks to Desiree Chen for the list of modest deeds that one can choose from. I suggest one additional opportunity that everyone can participate in at this very moment that also has the power to transform the world: a smile.
JENNIFER MOLSKI / Chicago
THANK YOU SO much for this story. I too have been trying to change the world, and I know many people like the ones you wrote about who selflessly do for others. I believe that if more of these things were written about, our world would change. Issues like this one encourage! They enlighten! They inspire!
CATHY TRUESDALE / Wheaton
I AM SURE there are a lot of us who do what we can. In the early 1970s, I got involved in recycling, and with other left-over hippies and do-gooders, we founded the Uptown Recycling Station at Sheridan and Leland, which still exists.
To this day, when I’m out walking the dogs, I collect aluminum cans to pay the shipping of math, science, business and public-health books to people in Malawi and Kenya.
Unfortunately, the Postal Service eliminated international surface mail a couple of months ago. We’re trying to get Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), who heads the House subcommittee that deals with the postal service, to hold a hearing on the matter, but that’s slow going.
ROBYN MICHAELS / Chicago
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Getting back on track
An In the Loop item about New Orleans (“The big breezy,” Aug. 19) stated, “The storm-ravaged trolley system is grounded.” Not so!
The newer Canal Street line suffered only minor damage, but all of its air-conditioned trolleys were located in a car barn that was flooded by Katrina, and all of them must eventually be rebuilt.
The older St. Charles line suffered major damage, but its car barn was on slightly higher ground and these older, open-window cars survived.
So the St. Charles cars were put on the Canal Street line soon after the city started its recovery, and recently the St. Charles line was put back into service. The St. Charles cars now cover both lines and the “tourist oriented” Riverfront line.
LES BECKMAN / Crown Point, Ind.
EDITOR”S NOTE: The short Riverfront line and the Canal Street line are running, but the St. Charles line is only partially operational. Our latest information is that it is running in the Central Business District and will reopen in stages between now and next spring.
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A vital refuge
Rick Kogan’s article on the International Crane Foundation (Sidewalks, Aug. 19) was great. One of the founders, Ron Sauey, was my nephew, so I saw how it began and grew over the years. It was a grand adventure by two very dedicated ornithologists, Dr. George Archibald and Ron.
Doubtless, many people will never know the importance of their work, but like all environmental and species-enhancement programs, the benefits will be realized by the generations that follow.
RUTH FEMALI / Bloomingdale
IT WAS ENTHRALLING to read about the wonderful wildlife stewardship at the International Crane Foundation. All 15 of the world’s crane species have benefited from the compassionate guardians of the 225 acres of prairie, savanna and marsh where cranes can flourish.
BRIEN COMERFORD / Glenview
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Bring back civility
I loved your story about the Girl Scouts and bullying among young girls (“Tough cookies,” July 22).
I was a Girl Scout and attended Catholic schools in the 1960s. Most kids treated others with respect, and the “bad girl” was not the norm. People’s behavior has gotten so unacceptable.
It’s time to put manners and life skills back in the schools. . . . Some of the younger people I have worked with as a substitute teacher at a local grammar school were so out of control I do not see how they could learn anything.
PAT NAVADOMSKIS / Evergreen Park
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Write us
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