A Muslim Mayor In Texas Proves Unity Is Possible

Texan. Muslim. Doctor. Mayor. These are words most people don't put together unless it's part of a joke but all four of them describe one man: Pakistani born Mayor Arjumand Hashmi. Hashmi isn't just a mayor, he's also a cardiologist, and a very beloved figure in the town of Paris, Texas. Paris is a small town, boasting only about 25,000 inhabitants and when Hashmi first ran for office all the usual prejudices were there to meet him. Was he a terrorist? Was he there to drive away the mostly white Christian community? Would he immediately build a mosque? Despite these bigoted concerns, he was voted into office a little over a year ago. The act was a huge blow for unity.

As soon as Hashmi was in office, he began proving his dedication and allaying people's fears. He planted rows of crepe myrtle trees around the city, visiting local businesses when he had the time to do so, and breaking up a lot of the old system of favoritism and "brother-in-law deals" that had led to corruption. The town's old regime had often seen money going to businesses simply because the owner knew someone in office and Hashmi was determined to put a stop to it. Coming from Pakistan, he had seen his homeleand also suffer from such dealings and he knew how much it could destroy a governance.

“In most of third world countries, yes, there are rules and laws and regulations. But it ends up that related people get things done,” Hashmi said. “I have lived it personally and seen why it doesn’t work."

Hashmi isn't just working as the mayor of Paris. He still works full time as a cardiologist too, rushing between surgeries and business meetings. He is also the leader of a local hospital catheterization laboratory. His days normally start at 3:30am with a prayer though he admits he doesn't always manage the five a day that he would like. He feels God will forgive him however since he is saving lives and making his city a better place to live. During his last election to office, he won by a landslide vote.

In today's atmosphere of fear and mistrust, the hurrying figure of Hashim as he heads from the city's waterplant to it's hospital for another surgery is a good sign of change.

DC Drivers Get A Boost On Monday Mornings

For most people, Mondays are that dreaded day when the rest of the weekend has come to an abrupt end and it's back to another long day fighting traffic and sitting in front of a computer screen. Residents of Washington, DC are getting a surprising morale boost however. Four volunteers, led by 29 year old Massoud Adibpour, have taken to standing on the corner of 14th street on the Mall holding aloft signs of good will for passing motorists. The signs include "Smile", "Be Happy", "Don't be so hard on yourself", and "Honk if you love someone!"

The act has been met with a lot of enthusiasm as cars honk, bicycles ring their bells, and pedestrians give thumbs up to the display. So far, Massoud and his friends have been able to get 307 honks as their personal record. They're aiming for 350 in the future. The efforts of these cheerful volunteers isn't to be taken too lightly either. Science has suggested that for every negative experience someone has, they need approximately five good ones to make up for it, however, seeing the signs might jog feelings of good will and gratitude that will assist in setting the tone for an entire day. In other words, the people who Massoud cheers are more likely to have a better day because they're already in a positive mood.

“No one wants to go to work on Monday, so we wanted to brighten people’s day,” he said. “D.C.’s really stressed out, so I wanted to spread a little bit of happiness in the city. I think it can go pretty far.”
Want to read more about the other efforts and amazing kindness Massoud and his friends are doing? Click here.

Man Creates Bicycle Library To Offer Books To The Homeless

Robson Mendonça spent a decade on the streets of San Paulo before a single book changed his life. After reason Orson Wells 'Animal Farm', Robson decided to stop drinking, study more, and finally got his life back on track. Now, the 61 year old former construction worker is working to bring that same hope to others who society may have written off. The homeless face many problems the average person doesn't think about, including not being able to check books out of a library. With no permanent address, they cannot borrow books by normal means. That's where Robson comes in. He began his initiative by walking around the busiest parts of the city and hand carrying books which the homeless could borrow from him.

When the non-profit Green Mobility heard about Robson's efforts, they donated a bicycle to him to assist. More donations began to roll in as well, these in the form of more books and now Robson's library boasts a hefty 30,000 volumes. He cycles around the city carrying as many as 300 books at a time and has so far had over 107,000 loans. The checkout process is one based on trust as there is no requirement for the borrower to be the one that brings the book back and often books are passed among a few people before being returned. The bicycle library also contains a solar powered laptop which three additional volunteers use to run literacy classes and help people find local shelters. Green Mobility is so excited about the success of Robson's library that they have decided to start more mobile libraries in as many as 12 other Brazilian cities. 

To read more, click here.

Auto Shop Stands Up For Bullied Teen

Hate is no stranger to Jordan Addison. As an openly gay teen attending Radford University in Roanoke, VA, he has been the target of a great deal of closed minded aggression. Within the span of three months, Jordan's car had been vandalized four times. Hate words, anti-homosexual slurs, and even threats have been carved and painted onto his vehicle. The word "DIE" had been keyed into one of the doors. When Jordan took his car into a local repair shop, the totals came out to a whopping $2500, an amount that he simply couldn't afford as a college student.

That's when Richard Henegar, Jr., the manager at Quality Auto Paint and Body, stepped in to help. He worked with some other local businesses to include Parts Unlimited in Vinton, Advance Auto Parts, Moon's Auto Body, Rice Toyota, Val's Automotive, The Rod Shop, B&C Exterminating, Twists & Turns, AJ's Landscaping and Sunnybrook Auto Spa. Together, they not only repaired the damage to Jordan's car, they also added an additional $10,000 in upgrades for him.

"Once I saw the vandalism that was done to it, I said 'that’s uncalled for. We’re gonna fix your car.'" Henegar told news station WTVR, "That’s the least we can do."

Addison was left speechless in the face of this act of kindness.

Vancouver Superhero Helps The Homeless

When you mention the word death, most people don't think of kindness and generosity but one Vancouver man is changing that perception. He calls himself Thanatos, named after the Greek god of death, and he's doing a lot of good for the homeless in his area. Thanatos, who prefers to keep his real identity secret, stated that one day while working downtown, he really began noticing all of the homeless in the area. People were living and dying in the street and the sight of that struck him.

"I was told by a police officer that some people on the street had nothing better to look forward to than death. That really stung, that really hurt me,” he told a local newspaper. "So I said if that’s the case, then death better get out there and start taking care of these people. I developed this persona to go out there and help."
With that, Thanatos set out to change as many lives as he could. He roams around doing good deeds for those who need them most including handing out water bottles and slips of paper with the word "friend" on them. Anything to bolster the morale of those who most people had forgotten. His efforts have paid off in large ways for at least one young woman who went from a $400 a day herion addiction to a full time job working downtown at a social services office.

When asked how she turned her life around, her answer is "Death came and told me I had to change the way I was living. Death saved me."

Thanatos is part of the Real Life Superhero Project, a group of like minded individuals who dress as heroes and perform acts of kindness. It may seem over-dramatic to some or childish behavior to others but Thanatos sees dressing up as a means to an end. By wearing the colorful costume, he can bring attention and light to the very real and somber issue of homelessness in Vancouver's downtown East Side neighborhood.

Good Samaritan Saves Life of 82-Yr-Old Veteran

When N.C. veteran Albert Cinquepalma entered O'Hare airport to make his connecting flight, he had no idea that his life was about to hang in the balance. The 82 year old veteran was taking an escalator when his travel bag got caught in the feed. Albert toppled backward and fell down the escalator, tearing the skin from his arm along the way. The bleeding was profuse and airport staff informed Albert that the medical staff would not be able to get to him for at least 20 minutes. Fortunately for Albert, more immediate aid was at hand.

A fellow traveler, Ted Russell, saw the commotion and stopped to offer his help. Ted is a salesman for a product called Quik Clot, an emergency clotting bandage currently used on the field of battle by deployed soldiers. Ted quickly bandaged the wounds on Albert's arm and the bleeding was finally stopped. Once assured that his charge would be ok, the humble salesman then left without thought of reward or applause.

Albert was later taken to Chicago's Resurrection Hospital and despite the severe injuries to his arm, he fully recovered. Moved by the kindness of the stranger who stopped to help him, Albert used the empty Quick Clot package to lead him back to the man who had saved him. He contacted Quick Clot who put him in touch with Ted where the veteran was finally able to express his thanks.

"If anyone is a hero, it’s Albert and what he did for our country," Russell said after the call from Cinquepalma.

Cinquepalma served in the Heavy Weapons Infantry, 7^th Division, 32nd Regiment, Company D for an 81mm mortar platoon during the Korean War. He took fire in the back on June 2, 1951, when he was a forward observer.

Aurora Man Pays For Movies For Strangers

For the people of Aurora, CO, and many around the country as well, the theatre has become a place of fear or, at the very least, some measure of concern after the brutal killing spree that left 12 dead and many more wounded. One Aurora man is doing something about that however. Jason Cole, a teacher and father, decided that the actions of one madman should not keep people living in fear. He worked with friends and family to raise money, enough for 1300 movie tickets, and then gave them all away to the people of Aurora.

On August 11th, Jason and his friends stood outside of a few theatres in Aurora and passed out the free tickets to those standing in line. The reactions ranged from cynasism to intense gratitude but Jason knows they made a difference that day. One woman who had been scared to go to the movies after the shootings, this act of kindness gave her the bravery to try again while being bolstered by the kindness of those around her. A mother brought her teenage son and and his friends to the Arapahoe Crossing theater in Aurora to hand out tickets in memory of their friends who were killed in the shootings on July 20. For them, it was a chance to heal and they told their story to those who recieved tickets. Tears were shed and hearts healed for the loss.

One family responded with cynisism at first, a discomfort at the idea of some company trying to do a promotion at the theatre but once Jason and his friend explained that the tickets were just for the sake of kindness, frowns turned to genuine smiles. Thanks to the bravery, kindness, and thoughtfulness of Jason and his friends, the people of Aurora were able to share joy and love in the face of tragedy.

"You can choose the light or the dark, and you change the world with each choice you make. I said that, in a world where one person can traumatize an entire region with his actions, it's up to the rest of us to choose the light." - Jason Cole

Ontario Theif Apologizes And Returns Stolen Goods

Canada has a reputation for being one of the most polite countries in the world and one remorseful thief may be proving that true. A family, who wish to remain unnamed, recently woke up to a surprise waiting for them on their front porch: a bag containing a game console, a digital camera, $50, and a note. The family was shocked to realize that the items were those that had been stolen from them earlier in the week while they were out walking their dog. The would-be thief had apparently had a change of heart and had returned all of the stolen goods along with $50 to repair the screen door that had been damaged during the theft.

Part of the note that was included read as follows:

"I can't put it into words how sorry I am ... This is the first and last time I will ever commit a crime ... Please find it in your hearts to forgive the stranger who harmed you. It was nothing personal and I didn’t go through any of your personal belongings. I have been having a very hard time financially lately and I made the worst mistake of my life."

Police are still looking for the theif but an on-line debate has begun raging on whether the person should still be arrested. If the point of jail is to punish the guilty and rehabilitate them, then this theif seems to have already learned that lesson and many are arguing that they should be left alone if not commended for beind kind enough to return the stolen goods rather than simply throw them away.

Click here for video.

Man's Dying Wish To Leave Tips Goes Viral

We recently brought you the story of Aaron Collins and his last wish for his family to raise $500 and leave it as a tip for some unsuspecting waiter or waitress at a pizza place. His family was able to fulfill that dream and they posted a video of the good deed on-line. Since that day, a little over a month ago, the video has gone viral along with the message of kindess that spurred it. People have generously donated to the Aaron's Last Wish fund with totals already breaching $50k and growing. The family now has enough funding to continue their kind acts once a week for the next 2 years. Sean, Aaron's brother, has already passed out another $1500 to 3 more service staff and videos can be seen on their facebok page.

For the people on the receiving end of these tips, they are a breath of relief during a time of economic turmoil. One waitress is working three jobs at once just to get through college while the other two have young children at home that they are trying to provide for. Aaron's legacy will go to good use with all three.

To read more, click here.

Company Turns Bombs Into Jewelry to Help Laos Farmers

The aftermath of a war is rarely thought about when the powers that be are coming up with tactics. Sadly, this was the case with the country of Laos during the Vietnam war. In an effort to prevent communism from taking hold there during a Lao rebellion, the US dropped over 2 million tons of explosives. The total population of Laos is only 6 million, making that one ton of explosives for every 3 people. The number is staggaring. With the war long behind most other countries, the people of Laos are still struggling with the daily reality of unexploded ordinance (UXOs) littered around their country. It makes farming an extremely risky undertaking.

That's where NY designer, Elizabeth Suda comes in. During her time working for Coach, she became curious about the countries where their merchandise came from and she was shocked to discover the story of Laos in the process of her travels. What she found there wasn't just a people living with daily terror, however, but a people trying to make the best of a bad situation. The locals had taken to disarming the bombs and melting down the metals they were made from to reforge them into spoons. This one simple idea, of turning items meant to destroy into items meant for daily use, inspired Suda to take up the cause. She has begun working heavily with the Lao people under her company Project: peaceBOMB.

"Watching the artisans transform deadly pieces of history into spoons, something useful, I felt this story had to be told," remembers Suda. "In an instant, I thought of making a bracelet and it was just one of those moments.They were already doing this: this was their own innovation through their own initiative."

Suda has worked hard to ensure that the jewelry created by the company isn't just your typical fare either. She designs the pieces to truly stand on their own as beautiful works of art that any person would be proud to own. The irony of US citizens buying back jewelry made from the very bombs their country dropped on Laos is not lost on her and she feels it's a fitting situation. The generousity of those who purchase from Project: peaceBOMB are helping the Lao people to clear their lands of deadly UXOs. Since the company started, they have sold enough jewelry to clear 10,000 square meters of bomb-littered land. To read more about this amazing inititive, click here.

Reddit Users Share Stories of Kindness

Who said the internet can't be full of kind people? It may not seem like the norm among all the nasty comments left on forums around cyberspace but popular site Reddit has proven that when given the opportunity, people are happy to discuss kindness as well. Recently a single thread was started asking who had experienced any acts of kindness. The response was overwhelming with well over a thousand comments pouring in. These stories were heartwarming and proof that despite what the media may want you to believe, there's still plenty of kindness out there. Here are a few of our favorites:

For the thread with the whole list of kind acts, please click here.

Taiwanese Vegetable Vendor Wins Ramon Magsaysay Awards

Most of our American readers may not have ever heard of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards but they are they Taiwanese version of the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to those who go above and beyond to help humanity. This year's winners include Filipino Romulo Davide, who helped farmers fight pest infestation on rice, bananas and other crops; Indian Kulandei Francis, head of a village self-help group; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an environmental lawyer from Bangladesh; Cambodian agronomist Yang Saing Koma who helps farmers' improve rice production; Indonesian Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto who is fighting to stop illegal logging; and Chen Shu-chu, a Taiwanese vegetable vendor who has donated over 7 million Taiwan dollars ($231,800) to several children's charities.

Chen Shu-chu isn't a rich person, she sleeps on the floor of her small home and her education stopped after the sixth grade, but her donations have helped build a library and provided food and shelter for at risk children as well as families displaced by disasters.

"Money serves its purpose only when it is used for those who need it," she said. "I feel happy whenever I could help other people."

Motorists in Wales Raise Money for Air Rescue Crew...During Accident

Everyone's been there at some point or another, stuck behind the wheel of a car on a highway jam-packed with other drivers. No one is moving because up ahead there has been a bad accident. For many, the typical reaction is a sigh of frustration or even irritation that this accident happened while they were in a hurry. We often forget that our inconvenience is someone else's very bad day. That fact didn't escape one group of motorists in Wales this weekend when they watched the descent of a Wales Air Ambulance after a bad traffic collision left a young man in critical condition.

While the medical crews worked to save the victim's life, one motorist got out of his car and began collecting money from others around him. He raised a quick £50 during the 15 minutes before the ambulance was ready to take off again. The money was passed into the hands of the air crew, a donation to help continue funding the good work they do. The crew of the ambulance were unfortunately unable to get the name of this incredibly generous person, or the others who donated, but they are immensely grateful.

"This gesture of public support is phenomenal. We were only on scene for a short amount of time, probably under ten minutes.But in that time the motorists on the M4 managed to group together to raise £50 for Wales Air Ambulance.I would like to thank the man who collected the donations and everyone who donated.It is thanks to public support and donations that we are able to provide a lifesaving air ambulance service to the people of Wales," said paramedic Chris Conners.

For more information, click here.

14 Year Old Boy Wins Award for Providing Shoes to the Homeless

14 year old Nicholas Cranston was recently awarded a Hero Award by the Build-A-Bear organization for his non-profit Gotta Have Sole. Nicholas works hand in hand with local homeless shelters to provide shoes to the children living in less thatn ideal conditions. The shelters provide Nicholas with the sizes the need most and he then purchases the shoes with donations made to his organization. He hand packs them and delivers them to children for whom this may be the first new shoes they've ever received. In the short time since his non-profit was started, Nicholas has raised an astounding $49,000 and purchsed 3,000 pairs of shoes for needy children.

The Nicest Place on the Internet

Sometimes you just need a hug.

Be sure to visit http://thenicestplaceontheinter.net/ for the full experience (it's really lovely).

Man Who Saved Over 600 Kids from Nazis Gets a Touching Surprise

50 years after Sir Nicholas Winton saved the lives of 669 children held in Nazi death camps, the children (now all grown up), got a chance to thank him, in person, on live TV.

He's very stoic, but... wait... does he have something in his eye? A bit of dust, perhaps. (You'll probably have something in your eye when you watch, too.)