Only Positive News

A month or so ago I told you about the “free hug” movement that had made it’s way from Australia to China.  This week the movement has made its way to Seoul, Korea where it was also met with a certain level of resistance.  Seems that the East still hasn’t learned to embrace its neighbors from the West — literally.  However, they are learning to appreciate a good supportive squeeze and slowly the resistance is lessening.  More and more people are exchanging hugs as a way of showing support to one another.  For example, Korean students are now organizing their own hugging events to offer support after exams are completed and Naver, a Korean online portal has reported that literally thousands of people have joined an online hugging community. 

Let’s face it folks we are making progress.  Not all think such progress is here to last however:  

“The free hug phenomenon can be translated as symbolic resistance against a society that is turning bleak and lonely,” Seoul National University sociology Prof. Jung Keun-sik told Stripes. “But I don’t think it will last long.”

I respectfully choose to disagree.  I think the hugging phenomenon is about more than just symbolic resistance to being lonely.  Squeezing another human being requires effort and energy.  No, hugging is about being supportive and showing compassion in a world that needs more than hugs to survive.  However, hugs are an excellent starting point and I’m more than willing to do my part.  Hugs, get your hugs!  If you want a hug, the line forms on the right. 

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Three years ago, he was lauded as a hero.  But today, he continues to help others, though not in means most people would consider brave or noteworthy.

Michael Travis, along with two friends, pulled a man from a fiery tanker about to explode in September of 2003.  He received nationwide recognition for his heroism.

These days you’ll find him looking for new places within Detroit for vegetable beds.  He’s working as the co-director of Urban Farming, whose goal is to reintroduce growth to the inner city, while producing edible goods for others.  The harvested produce is donated to area food banks and homeless shelters.

His day to day work is a new brand of heroism: living and working to improve the lives of others, while bettering the urban area he calls home.

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