Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Power Of Compassion


Someone send me this beautiful story on human virtue and I think maybe I should share it after that few health postings..
The word “compassion” is not just the quality of Holy Being or only right or possession of those who are religious be it the Buddhist, the Christian, the Muslim or Hindus. It is the common virtue and quality of human being. This quality in you will be covered out if you are bias on your own views and living.

LaGuardia Airport, aerial view (photo from allgraphicsonline.com)

LaGuardia airport is one of America 's busiest airports. It was named after Fiorella LaGuardia, the Mayor of New York City during the Great Depression and all of W.W.II. He was adored by many New Yorkers who took to calling him the "Little Flower," because he was so short and always wore a carnation in his lapel.

He was a colorful character -- he rode the
New York City fire trucks, raided city "speak easies" with the police department, took entire orphanages to baseball games, and when the New York newspapers went on strike, he got on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids.


One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a
night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself. Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter's husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It's a real bad neighborhood, your Honor," the man told the mayor. "She's got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed.

He turned to the woman and said, "I've got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions. Ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous hat, saying, "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr.Bailiff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant."

The following day, New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered woman who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren. Fifty cents of that amount was contributed by the grocery store owner himself, while some seventy petty criminals, people with
traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.

Someone beautifully said,
"Sympathy sees and says, 'I'm sorry.'
Compassion sees and says, ' I'll help.'
When we learn the difference, we can make a difference.

Take care.

12 comments:

Globalized Dayung said...

A true statesman...

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Ayoh Wang,
I've yet to see that here. Sorry state of affair. purrr....meow!

Al-Manar said...

Ayah Wan

I am in trouble again. The TM cable leading yo my area has been stolen again, the second time, by the drug addicts! I am now at at foodstall which has wifi. But this place opens at night only.

I ordered a vup of tea just sit down reading - praying that these addicts will have some compassion like you write, and spare the cable to my house.

Lee said...

Hi Wan Sharif, that is one real heart warming story. Love it. And yes, some people are fortunate, while others need a helping hand.
Keep well, Lee.

Unknown said...

A truly hearwarming post.

If only all of us could be as big hearted as LaGuardia!

Wan Sharif said...

Globalized Dayung ,
Thank you for dropping by and sharing your view on the subject.

Wan Sharif said...

Dear CiS,
Looks like life in Sydney is good, Alhamdulillah.

Wan Sharif said...

Pakcik,
Looks like cable theft has been going on for quite some time.. drugs addicts in KL even go to extend of stealing the iron grills that cover the drain or holes to access the drain in housing areas.. just to get their daily fix.
What surprised me the other day was a big roll of the telephone or electrical cable in front of neighbour house.. alahai.. bukan senang nak jadi kaya..
May Allah bless us all and hinder us from the bad impact of the selfish acts of these cable thieves.

Wan Sharif said...

Hi Lee,
Thank you for dropping by and putting up kind comments.
It is difficult to find some kindhearted souls that are willing to lend helping hand to those unfortunate one..
Malhereusement, as we modernize.. we tend to chuck away those humane virtues such as compassionate and selflessness

Wan Sharif said...

Dear Ahan,
To be as big hearted as Laguardia.. I believe that was asked of us Muslims.. unfortunately we have lost most of those beautiful virtues.. as we modernize or perhaps as we live in the capitalist environment..
I can see some of us bloggers are into voluntary work.. hopefully Allah give us the courage and energy to emulate those examples laid down by our fellow bloggers..

DrSam said...

Assalamualaikum Ayoh Wang. From time to time we hear such a heartwarming story. It is a good reminder for all of us - give more and expect less.

have a nice day Ayoh Wang.

Wan Sharif said...

Wa'alaikumussalam DrSam,
There are many such a heartwarming stories.. from the sohabahs, aulia and tabi'ins. Shared here is the story of another group of people of equally good virtue.
Agreed with you on the give more and expect less concept... oh there are so many more people who are more unfortunate.. for us Malaysian to fell low or down at all.
You too have a nice day DrSam.