I am tired of being stereotyped as apathetic. The Sept. 27 editorial “Lend a helping hand,” praises the admirably selfless acts of the few who have made sacrifices to improve the lives of others, while laying a heavy blanket of guilt on anyone who has never done anything as impressive or noteworthy.

It is pleasant to hear good news instead of the trash that sells. But to insinuate that not participating in an extravagant civic duty makes what everyone else does worthless and unimportant is not the way our world should be made to feel.

Tragedy brings out the best in all of us. During severe disasters is when the goodwill of humans reaches its peak. There is a feeling of being obligated to do their part to make the world right.

Real personal fulfillment comes from choosing without being pressured to share your good fortune with others.

I may not have raised hundreds of dollars to aid the suffering, but I know that I have touched several lives in a positive and supportive manner.

Never stop giving but have an open mind and realize that even the little things can mean as much as a gift to the human race that would eliminate all of life’s complications.

So many problems curse our world, they cannot be listed. Life gives birth to setbacks.

We use less than 15 percent of our brain’s potential. Even if we tried to worry about half of everything that is wrong, a fully functional brain would become a pile of mush.

Each person cares about different things, has interests in endless areas, and has his or her own way of lending a helping hand.

If it were not for the loving and caring hearts of people all over the world, there would be no world. We need to take situations like that in Monday’s editorial and use them to realize that everyone, not only the founders, contributors or donators, in some way deserve the same gratification, and no one should ever have to feel like they are an insignificant or selfish.

Paul R. Hunt

Freshman

Engineering