Basking in Human Goodness

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." What a timely, important reminder from The Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews. I hereby take a stand for the abundance of human goodness. Lost in media glare and the dull ache of negativity is the reality that most people are good at heart, an acknowledgment that Anne Frank willingly made towards the end of her too short life.

Scottish philosopher David Hume intrigues students with his belief in a feeling of natural sympathy that courses through human society. By and large we care about each other: I want what's best for you and regret your misfortunes. Cynicism often comes almost automatically in 2010 (and in his day as well), however, and some students are quick to suggest that such naiveté would never be possible today; times must have been better in Hume's 18th century. But even a cursory look at European history during his time refutes this jump to conclusion, with a plentitude of religious and civil war. Hume did admit, based on his personal experience and career as an historian, to a tiny fraction of humanity which appears to be devoid of any trace of this innate sympathy. This "bestial lot" defies any explanation; he lets this miniscule population remain a mystery, to him and for his readers.

I ask you, as I ask my students, this question: On any given day, what is your experience of humanity? Are most people you encounter decent? Though almost all will remain "strangers" and you won't cross paths again, was this one exchange amicable? If you are primed to look for it, do you see evidence of this flowing current of sympathy that binds us together? My answer is a resounding "yes." Almost all students of all ages agree. The "bestial lot" may garner the limelight, but pockets of good will wait to be picked. The good-natured Hume can point to all-too-many cases in which he and we go against this spirit of good will. We hurt each other, ‘tis true. We have bad days, atrocious days. But sympathy is real; even when we turn away from it, we know better. General good will links us securely. Are we predisposed these days, somehow, to assume the worst? Is pessimism cool? Any assumption was anathema for Hume and unwarranted opinions were always his primary philosophical targets. So he asks us again: Where in your experience have you found support for your beliefs about human nature? What does your experience of the world teach you? Not the news, twittered or blogged; not movies, magazines, or music - - - what about your own, everyday, very personal experience of humanity?

Really looking forward to writing this article, I turned to my own experience, here and now, day in and day out for the past few weeks. Here's a small sample from my survey of human nature: Members of a biking group spend their weekends painting and restoring the home for a couple selling their house, a bittersweet and loving farewell. A server in a busy restaurant waits with absolute patience and respect for an elderly diner to form the words for his order, never losing eye contact with his smiling customer. A hair cutter offers to come to the shop on a Sunday for a client who can't make it, due to health issues, any other day. Unasked, a good cook fixes soup from scratch, customized for her pal's mother, simply saying "Come and get it, it's on the porch." After delivering firewood cut just so for a modest price, the man returns and leaves kindling, without a knock or a dollar. A retired police officer, facing foreclosure and cancer treatments, asks a former colleague for information on rental houses, soon to find his mortgage paid for the foreseeable future by his coworkers as well as by "strangers." Congressman Tom Perriello, the consummate public servant, asks his supporters on the night of his defeat to join him in a round of applause for the victor and promises to do all that he can to make the transition smooth and productive for the new congressman-elect. Sitting in a physician's waiting room, the man across from me, who had also brought a patient for an examination, nodded at my feet and said, "Like your crocs." "Thanks, do you like yours? I replied. "Yes, my children gave me two pairs." There! The anxious wait was softened by a fellow croc-wearer. Over this brief period of canvassing for good will, I used the services of four independent, very small (one or two workers) businesses. In each case, I experienced excellent work and their pride in the outcome, fine jobs completed with easy kindness for better than a fair price. Perhaps these aren't the lead stories for "The News at 7," but, strangers/angels run rampant! Have you noticed?

In all about love, bell hooks joins St. Paul: "Enjoying the benefits of living and loving in community empowers us to meet strangers without fear and extend to them the gift of openness and recognition. Just by speaking to a stranger, acknowledging their presence on the planet, we make a connection.... We can begin the process of making community wherever we are. We can begin by sharing a smile, a warm greeting, a bit of conversation...."

What do you think? Is Hume on to something? If you disagree with him, make sure it's based on experience and that you have numbers to back you up. Or, did you already know that human goodness triumphs over the reverse? Had you forgotten? Today, will you meet any angels unawares?

I think I'll let this photo speak for itself. Indeed, may it speak for all of us.