Monday, July 20, 2015

Witnessing An Act Of Kindness

Very often when you live in a city, acts of public kindness go unnoticed because there are so many things going on around you, that you don't often see them. However, I've encountered many acts of kindness over the years - others being kind to me and me being kind to others.

Also, city policemen often get a bad rap for being smart-asses and power hungry by throwing their law enforcement weight around. But I have to say in all honestly, I've lived in both Philadelphia and New York, and every encounter I've ever had with a policeman or policewoman has been a very positive experience. They have always been approachable, friendly and extremely helpful.

Back on the 4th of July weekend, I went walking around the city with my camera in hand; taking pictures of the holiday festivities. It was later in the day that I spotted an elderly woman on the corner of Broad and Chestnut Streets, who was obviously having a hard time getting across the street and needed help. City traffic lights change extremely fast. And this is done so that they can move traffic (going both ways) much faster and with minimal back up. Yet, it's very challenging for those elderly pedestrians who have physical challenges. And I know it must be very frustrating and upsetting for them, realizing they're holding up traffic. But they can't help it because they simply cannot walk any faster. And I sure it's also very frightening for them.

Yet, no sooner had I noticed the elderly woman, I was able to capture a very touching moment (which incidentally made my heart swell), in which two Philadelphia policemen came to her rescue and patiently, sweetly, and ever-so gently, escorted her across the street while holding off traffic until she made it to the other side safely.

Here, see it for yourself...