Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Kindness is important

I became an American citizen in 1960 on St. Patrick’s Day.

The present-day racial divisions in our country seem so alien to that day when I raised my hand to voluntarily become a member of my adopted country.

It is impossible to compose a short letter to focus on many of the important issues, such as race in America today. I must admit that many of the letters to our local paper are long on verbiage but short on understanding and compassion.

I would like to focus on one incident that happened to me in Bonsall Sunday, March 14; the time was 5:44 p.m. The Peking Wok is one of the restaurants that I have ordered takeout for much of this recent pandemic. The food and service are always good.

I paid my order with a credit card and proceeded to walk out and head to my vehicle. Within seconds, a gentleman ran out after me and inquired if I were the person listed on a credit card that had been left on the counter. Indeed, I was that person. I did not ask his religion, politics, blood type, ethnic background or any of the other myriad factors that seem to divide us.

I was very happy to receive my card and thanked him. The person appeared to be a patron of the restaurant, and his background appeared to be from the Far East. The only important factor to me was his kindness in retrieving my credit card.

Perhaps this behavior is too simple and naive in today’s world.

Let us hope that we can treat each other as we would like to be treated. It might lead to a better conversation and a direction for a better understanding.

Bill O’Connor

 

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