Joey Prusak, a nineteen year old employee at Dairy Queen, has been applauded and labeled as a Good Samaritan after he gave $20 out of his own wallet to a blind customer, who dropped $20 and the money was taken by a woman who refused to return it.
His story has become viral, and he has been rewarded generously by many well-known and unanimous citizens. People have offered him higher paying jobs and money for college. He even received a call from billionaire Warren Buffett, whose company owns Dairy Queen, as well as Dairy Queen president and CEO John Gainor. Although the reward has not been announced, Buffet has promised that Joey's act of kindness will not go unnoticed, and while it is difficult to match such an act, Buffet will find a suitable reward.
While I praise Joey Prusak's honorable deed, I question the morals I was taught as a child, and how they fit into our society today. I was taught to help a stranger out of the kindness of my heart, and do as Jesus would do: love and cherish others. Is a simple act of kindness so rare, that it must be celebrated to such great measures? I'm not trying to downplay Joey's sacrifice of his own paycheck, as I'm sure he is on a tight budget as a nineteen year old college student, but I find it odd how this story is so unique to so many. I have the same mind set as Joey , thinking that others would do this without a second thought. In a news article I read, he told the Associated Press,
"I was just doing what I thought was right. I did it without even really thinking about it. ... Ninety-nine out of 100 people would've done the same thing as me."
But would have others really taken their time and money to help out a stranger? Am I naive to have faith that there are people who would help? As a society, we are so wrapped up in our self, that our hearts have hardened to the helpless, and our eyes have become blind to the needy.
"I was just doing what I thought was right. I did it without even really thinking about it. ... Ninety-nine out of 100 people would've done the same thing as me."
But would have others really taken their time and money to help out a stranger? Am I naive to have faith that there are people who would help? As a society, we are so wrapped up in our self, that our hearts have hardened to the helpless, and our eyes have become blind to the needy.
I applaud Joey, and his awareness of the actions around him. I have no doubt that people were moved by this story, and I hope they are inspired to complete daily acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, and reach out to others. Kudos to Joey Prusak, for teaching and reminding us of a simple act of kindness.
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